# Neutrally Evolving Interlocking Complexity in the Quandary Den

**URL:** <https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/neutrally-evolving-interlocking-complexity-in-the-quandary-den/17870>\
**Category:** Side Conversation\
**Tags:** Science\
**Created:** [June 11, 2026, 1:28am UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/neutrally-evolving-interlocking-complexity-in-the-quandary-den/17870 "2026-06-11T01:28:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![AndyWalsh](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/andywalsh/32/506_2.png) [@AndyWalsh](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/AndyWalsh)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 1:28am UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/neutrally-evolving-interlocking-complexity-in-the-quandary-den/17870/1 "2026-06-11T01:28:26Z")

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I submitted this manuscript to the [ALife conference](https://2026.alife.org/) and just found out it was rejected. The main reason cited was that there was too much crammed into one conference paper. I was trying to be thorough in addressing potential critiques; maybe I overdid it, maybe it was just a mismatch.

> **[Neutrally Evolving Interlocking Complexity in the Quandary Den](https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.18361)**
>
> Molecular biology features numerous complexes of proteins that coordinate in an interlocking fashion to fulfill different functions. Adaptive evolution explains some of this complexity, but needn't be the default when neutral explanations suffice. A...

Since this work has [its origins in this forum](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/x-men-constructive-neutral-evolution/4950), I thought perhaps this might be a good place to solicit advice and feedback. Mostly I’m curious if anyone has recommendations of a journal that would be a good fit for the manuscript more-or-less as is, or for a revised version. I am unlikely to be in a position to submit to the same conference next year.

Thanks in advance for any comments or DMs.