Red Queen hypothesis

The Red Queen's hypothesis is a hypothesis in evolutionary biology proposed in 1973 by Leigh Van Valen. The hypothesis was intended to explain the constant (age-independent) extinction probability as observed in the paleontological record caused by co-evolution between competing species. It has also been suggested that the Red Queen hypothesis explains the advantage of sexual reproduction (as opposed to asexual reproduction) at the level of individuals. The Red Queen dynamics could affect what host and parasite types will become dominant or rare in multi-host and multi-parasite coevolution. It was popularized by Matt Ridley in connection with sexual selection in his 1993 book The RedQueen. The connection arises from the fact that the traditionally accepted Vicar of Bray hypothesis showed adaptive benefit at thelevel of the species or group, but not at the levels of the gene or gene group. However, a Red-Queen-type thesis suggests that organisms are running with their parasites with their cyclic arms, and that sexual reproduction can explain the utility of such races. It is very useful to some species that belong to the lower levels of a food chain.