On searching generic properties of non generic phenomena: an approach to bioinformatic theory formation

Abstract

In this paper we first shortly review the current view of the evolution of complexity and novelty in biotic evo- lution. Next we show that the basic processes thereof do happen automatically and are generic properties of systems including the basic mechanisms of Darwini- an evolution plus local as opposed to global interac- tions. Thus we show that the so generated multilevel evolution can be studied within the paradigm 'simple rules lead to complex phenomena'. We derive some re- sults demonstrating the power of such multilevel evolu- tionary 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 hoc- ness and over-determinedness, rather than fundamen- tally new behavior of the system, and often to less understanding of that behavior. Nevertheless biologi- cal 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 choic- es and to zoom in to interesting non generic phenom- ena and their general properties. . We thus derive insights in relationships between sets of derived prop- erties at several scales. We discuss how this approach can be used in biological theory formation, focusing on information accumulation and utilization in replicator systems and immune systems.