On Searching for Generic Properties of Non-Generic Phenomena: An Approach to Bioinformatic Theory Formation
P. Hogeweg
Utrecht University
binf.biol.ruu.nl
Abstract
In this paper we first shortly review the current view of the
evolution of complexity and novelty in biotic evolution. Next we show that the basic
processes thereof do happen automatically and are generic properties
of systems including the basic mechanisms
of Darwinian evolution {\it plus} {\bf local} as opposed to
global interactions. Thus we show that the so generated
multilevel evolution can be studied within the paradigm 'simple rules lead to complex
phenomena'. We derive some results demonstrating
the power of such multilevel evolutionary processes to integrate
information at multiple space and time scales.
Nevertheless we also point out shortcomings of such an
approach which necessarily uses a priori chosen and preferentially relatively simple
interaction schemes. However straightforward extensions towards more
complex interaction schemes generally leads to ad hocness and over-determinedness,
rather than fundamentally new behavior of the system, and often to less
understanding of that behavior. Nevertheless biological theory formation
needs a method to go beyond the generic behavior of simple interaction
schemes.
We propose to use evolutionary optimization of very
trivial fitness functions which are obtainable in many different ways
to push back the necessary a priori choices and to zoom in to interesting non generic
phenomena and their general properties. . We thus derive insights in
relationships between sets of derived properties at several scales.
We discuss how these approaches can be used in biological theory formation.
focusing on information accumulation and utilization in replicator systems
and immune systems.
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