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Published on: August 18, 2023
A general theory of evolution based on energy efficiency: its implications for diseases
Anthony J Yun1, Patrick Y Lee, John D Doux
1Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 470 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA. ayun@stanford.edu
Medical Hypotheses
|August 27, 2005
Summary
Life
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Biophysics
- Systems biology
Background:
- Life emerges from energy conversion, with organisms competing for available energy resources.
- Photosynthetic organisms directly convert light energy, while others indirectly utilize the food chain.
- Energy efficiency is crucial for survival and competitive advantage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a general theory of evolution centered on energy efficiency.
- To introduce and define Return on Energy (ROE) as a metric for energy efficiency.
- To explore post-Darwinian evolutionary mechanisms driven by energy competition.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual framework development based on energy flow and efficiency.
- Introduction of Return on Energy (ROE) as a quantitative measure.
- Analysis of evolutionary strategies, including life-death cycling and non-genetic trait exchange.
Main Results:
- Energy efficiency, measured by ROE, is a primary driver of evolutionary advantage.
- Darwinian evolution's variation-selection may be a tactic, not the sole paradigm.
- Non-genetic traits (e.g., memes) can enhance ROE within a lifespan, favoring persistence over life-death cycles.
Conclusions:
- A unified theory of evolution based on energy efficiency and ROE encompasses existing and novel evolutionary concepts.
- Improvements in ROE can be achieved through non-genetic means, potentially altering evolutionary trajectories.
- Understanding energy efficiency has implications for health, cognitive plasticity, and human diseases.
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