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Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
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Randomness + determinism = progresses: why random processes could be favored by evolution.

Nicolas Schabanel1

  • 1CNRS, Université Paris Diderot (LIAFA UMR 7089), Case 7014, 175 rue du Chevaleret, 75205 Paris, France. nicolas.schabanel@liafa.univ-paris-diderot.fr

Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology
|June 16, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Randomness drives evolution and offers faster, cheaper computational solutions than deterministic methods. Exploring random processes can inspire new ways to study complex systems, both biological and artificial.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Computer Science
  • Systems Theory

Background:

  • Biologists recognize randomness as a key driver of evolution through variation and natural selection.
  • Computer science research over 40 years reveals that randomness offers powerful, efficient computational possibilities.
  • Random processes are often discovered faster and are more cost-effective than deterministic approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight counter-intuitive results from computer science regarding randomness.
  • To inspire researchers studying systems that utilize random sources.
  • To demonstrate the potential of random exploration in generating stochastic processes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of computer science studies on randomness.
  • Analysis of evolutionary principles driven by random variation.
  • Conceptual comparison of random versus deterministic processes.

Main Results:

  • Random exploration can yield stochastic processes significantly faster than deterministic methods.
  • Random-based computational approaches are exponentially more economical.
  • These findings suggest evolutionary systems may favor random processes.

Conclusions:

  • Randomness presents unexpected computational power and efficiency.
  • Understanding random processes is crucial for studying diverse systems.
  • This work encourages further investigation into randomness as an inspirational tool.