Nature often gets praised for its perfect designs. But what happens when things don't go as planned? Fig wasps show us that evolution isn't always perfect. These tiny insects have a tricky job. They need to balance the number of males and females they produce. But sometimes, they get it wrong. Why does this happen?

Fig wasps live in a complex world. They don't live in a lab. They live in real figs, with other wasps around. These other wasps can mess things up. They can interfere with the fig wasp's plans. This interference can lead to a bad sex ratio. Too many males or too few females. Not good for survival.

Scientists studied this problem. They found that the fig wasps have simple mechanisms. These mechanisms work well in simple situations. But in the real world, they fail. The wasps can't adjust fast enough. They end up with a bad sex ratio. This hurts their chances of survival.

Why does this happen? It's because of history. The wasps evolved in a certain way. They didn't have time to adapt to new challenges. Their mechanisms are stuck in the past. They can't handle the complexity of today's world.

This shows that evolution isn't always perfect. It's not a smooth process. It's full of trade-offs and limitations. Nature doesn't always get it right. Sometimes, it gets it wrong. But that's okay. It's part of the process. It's how life evolves and adapts.

FIG WASP

When Nature Gets It Wrong: The Fig Wasp's Sex Ratio Mix-Up

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