Multi-level+modeling+(conclusion)

Prev: Genetic pattern formation and modelling morphogenesis (Paulien's critters) Next: Phenotype-first evolution


 * TODO List**
 * CLARIFY: common ancestor actually has a lower fitness: comes form the best phenotype (?)

=Multi-level modeling=

The lac-operon study demonstrates errors
 * parameters measured in well mixed systems
 * parameters measured across systems, not on one system, over 40 years, while evolution occurs in weeks!

The critters study
 * using just a few known facts
 * exploit side-effects of evolutionary process to get to know something non-predefined
 * in CA: rules are predefined, then study behaviour
 * RNA world: predefined genotype-phenotype mapping, then evolve to something predefined (structure)
 * Critters: evolve cell differentiation, but study morphogenetic process and evolutionary process as side-effect of evolutionary process.
 * morphogenetic processes known from morphology
 * evolutionary process: neutral path and reinvention in evolutionary sequence

The coupling of genotype and phenotype could be looser: Critters:
 * i.e. phenotypic plasticity: how evolutionary reaction (selection of phenotype)?
 * multiple attractors: phenotype first evolution
 * there are always critters with minimum fitness
 * in short time frame fitness goes up: but in bifurcations (jumps)
 * half of evolutionary run: two types of critters which can co-exist even though half fitness: quasi-species?
 * in fact it is two morphs (attractors) from the same genotype
 * i.e. fitness is not heritable: low fitness can have high fitness offspring (cf turtles which are slow but survive more)
 * just one generation unfit doesn't matter in the face of luck
 * from there the best phenotype of the two is selected
 * common ancestor actually has a lower fitness: comes form the best phenotype (?)

Such phenotype first evolution is known from biology
 * developmental canalization
 * phenotypic plasticity is individual-based diversity
 * specialization is often in terms of features of phenotypic plasticity: blowing up of phenotypic plasiticity. In models we see this is possible.

Next: Phenotype-first evolution


 * References**