COSMID

An artificially constructed vector (carrier) used in cloning pieces of DNA. (On a technical level, a cosmid contains the cos gene of phage lambda and can be packaged in a lambda phage particle for infection into E. coli, permitting cloning of larger DNA fragments that can be introduced into bacterial hosts in plasmid vectors). Cultural evolution: By contrast with biologic evolution, A.G. Motulsky in 1968 noted that social evolution is mediated by ideas, shows a rapid (exponential) rate of change, is usually purposeful, often beneficial, is widely disseminated by diverse means, is frequently transmitted in complex ways, further complexity comes from the frequent formation of new ideas and new technologies. Cultural evolution is unique to humans among all forms of life. Human culture required biologic evolution to achieve the human brain. See Biologic evolution.