Self-developing genome

The theory of the self-developing genome is a systems-based solution to the problem of explaining the source of variety which acts as the raw material for natural selection. There is a three-fold requirement for any natural evolutionary process, namely, reproduction, variety and competition. According to the theory of the self-developing genome any natural system satisfying these requirements will evolve a mechanism of evolvability. The copying error, which is a cornerstone of neo-Darwinian theory, will evolve into a system of variety generation and variety maintenance at the level of the heritable sub-unit. The critical objection to this idea, emanating from the strict adherence to the principle of selfish survival, is overcome by recognising that many traits of life such as sexual reproduction (or gene exchange), cell structure, multi-cellularity and the genetic code itself are universal characteristics and are not subject to the same environmental scrutiny as more manifest physical characteristics.

Underpinning the inevitable evolution of evolvability is the fact that the environment of every heritable unit (which is composed of all other heritable units) is never stable and this, coupled with the restrictions placed on design possibility by the limitations of physical and chemical possibility and the limitations of the DNA code, enable the system to ‘learn’ in an algorithmic sense something about this varying environment. Increasing complexity, whilst by no means necessary, can naturally evolve from this system due to the fact that heritable sub-units are linked together in a cooperating whole to form the genome. Increasing complexity can then emerge from the twin phenomena of variety-maintenance and cooperation which together can create genomes with novel combinations of sub-units. These unique combinations of sub-units can lead to the emergence of organisms of novel design which might find a suitable, available, vacant niche to which they are pre-adapted.

Links

> Derek Hough on Evolutionary Theory

> The Evolution of Evolvability

> Charles Darwin and Richard Dawkins on Evolutionary Theory