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Is evolvability involved in the origin of modular variation?
1Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, United Kingdom. Andy.Gardner@ed.ac.uk
Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|August 5, 2003
Summary
This study challenges the idea that modularity automatically arises in evolving systems. The authors demonstrate that the measure used to track modularity is influenced by selection, questioning its link to evolvability.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Artificial life
- Complex systems
Background:
- Lipson et al. (2002) proposed a linear algebraic framework to study modularity evolution in artificial systems.
- Their work suggested spontaneous modularity arises from selection for evolvability in fluctuating environments.
Discussion:
- The study critically examines the relationship between modularity and evolvability.
- It questions whether the observed modularity in Lipson et al.'s simulations truly enhances evolvability.
Key Insights:
- The metric used to quantify modularity in Lipson et al.'s study is itself subject to selection.
- This finding implies the metric is not a definitive indicator of selection for modularity itself.
Outlook:
- Further research is needed to clarify the precise mechanisms driving modularity.
- Investigating alternative measures and systems may be necessary to understand modularity's role in evolution.
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