Yes, prion evolution is sliding between fixed points, One way to reduce fixed points would be to measure and test the finished duplicate, and destroy it if it fails the tests. Without tests, you just need A to build A, and A’ to build A’. No prion can reside exclusively in the testing mechanisms, so either the difference between A and A’ is something that the tests can’t measure, or A’ builds A’ and also T’, a tester that has a prion making A’ pass the tests. This is a much more stringent set of conditions, so there are less prions. Of course, a self reproducing program is always a fixed point. You can’t stop those (nanomachines that self reproduce without looking at your instructions) from being possible, just avoid making them.
Yes, prion evolution is sliding between fixed points, One way to reduce fixed points would be to measure and test the finished duplicate, and destroy it if it fails the tests. Without tests, you just need A to build A, and A’ to build A’. No prion can reside exclusively in the testing mechanisms, so either the difference between A and A’ is something that the tests can’t measure, or A’ builds A’ and also T’, a tester that has a prion making A’ pass the tests. This is a much more stringent set of conditions, so there are less prions. Of course, a self reproducing program is always a fixed point. You can’t stop those (nanomachines that self reproduce without looking at your instructions) from being possible, just avoid making them.