an illuminating metaphor for the process of biological evolution

Clement Valla asked 500 people to consecutively trace what was, at first, a single line. As each person traces the last person's line, the result becomes more and more jumbled and complex.

• Category

  Science & Technology

[Noah Atwi]

This video does not represent evolution accurately, because it does not take into account selective forces. In fact, selective forces eliminate most mutations, so 99.99% of those crappy lines would be erased.

[mb7hl]

think about it.... 99.99% of those lines were erased.

[Gorski TCB]

where's the song from, sounds familiar

[Michael McRae]

I think this video was meant to be oversimplified for ignorant people.

[JohnnyWishbone85]

You must be an engineer. Your assertion is 100% correct, and completely beside the point.

[Smoosh Magoosh]

This is incredible. Finally something that improves on the telephone game example.

[dessertraider91]

lol exactly. Nobody even gives a shit about the original.

[h2oquality2010]

Shows error in perception and coordination.

[QuinCOBOL]

It's an example in how genetic mutations formed from DNA that is copying itself. It eventually makes a mistake which is then built off that mistake into something new entirely. That mutation being a good or bad thing is entirely subjective.

Just further proof that life is like someone drawing a strait line; perfection is not a part of nature itself.

[QuinCOBOL]

One person draws a line, then handed to another person to trace it, then that one that is traced gets handed to the next person, then so on and so forth.

The very next person did not draw the line as strait and the next (moved his hand wrong or something), then the next person traces and the next, then the next.

Basically everyone tracing a further mistake that turns into something that isn't even a strait line anymore.

We're seeing everything rather than single previously traced line.

[solidoustopher]

Are these people absolutely retarded, under the age of 2, or was he asking people currently rollerblading? That wasn't deviation, that was just asking 500 people who couldn't care less of an outcome.

[hylassatyr]

whos the dick at 1:11