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Concepts, measurements and scientific problems of biocomplexity
1Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
Integrative Zoology
|March 15, 2011
Summary
Biological systems are adaptive and grow more complex over time, driven by natural selection favoring complexity. Key properties include sustained energy intake, non-polynomial (NP)-hard problem-solving, and stability, with hierarchy potentially crucial for managing complexity.
Area of Science:
- Biocomplexity
- Evolutionary Biology
- Systems Biology
Background:
- Biocomplexity is an emerging field with evolving definitions among biologists.
- The study of biocomplexity is significantly influenced by complexity science, which addresses challenges in complex systems.
- Current evolutionary theories, particularly gene-dominant models, inadequately explain the full spectrum of biological complexity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review fundamental concepts and scientific challenges within biocomplexity.
- To propose that biological systems are adaptive complex systems that increase in complexity over evolutionary time.
- To hypothesize that natural selection favors complexity in biological systems.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual review and synthesis of existing theories in biocomplexity and evolutionary biology.
- Analysis of biological systems as adaptive complex systems.
- Hypothesis formulation regarding natural selection and complexity.
Main Results:
- Identified two primary evolutionary pathways for complexity: gene-guided and neural-guided systems.
- Highlighted three critical properties of biological systems: sustained energy intake, non-polynomial (NP)-hard problem-solving, and stability (thermodynamic, non-linear, evolutionary).
- Introduced the concept of 'ordergy' to measure total work in biological systems, accounting for energy reuse and transformation efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Biological complexity is an adaptive trait favored by natural selection, evolving through distinct gene-guided and neural-guided mechanisms.
- Understanding biological systems requires considering sustained energy intake, NP-hard problem-solving capabilities, and various forms of stability.
- Hierarchical structures may be essential for managing complex problems and mitigating non-linear instabilities in biological systems.
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