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Biological evolution of replicator systems: towards a quantitative approach
1Departamento de Física, Universidad Central de Las Villas, Santa Clara, Cuba. osmel@uclv.edu.cu
Summary
Environmental fluctuations drive evolution by favoring fast replicators and causing population crashes. This suggests a link between mass extinctions and evolutionary recovery patterns, supporting maximum principles in natural selection.
Area of Science:
- Chemical kinetics
- Theoretical biology
- Systems chemistry
Background:
- Replicator models are crucial for understanding chemical evolution.
- Kinetic stability and entropy production are key factors in evolutionary processes.
- External perturbations can significantly influence the dynamics of chemical systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between kinetic stability and entropy production in a simple chemical replicator model.
- To explore evolutionary pathways under external perturbations using a revised model.
- To propose new criteria for defining kinetic stability in evolving systems.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative analysis of a toy model with two competing replicators.
- Revision of a previously established chemical evolution scenario.
- Analysis of the impact of stochastic environmental fluctuations and large-scale perturbations.
Main Results:
- Fast replicator populations are favored by strong environmental fluctuations.
- Population crashes serve as indicators of catastrophic environmental events.
- Perturbations drive evolutionary processes, with larger perturbations enhancing observed behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Evolution is significantly driven by strong environmental perturbations, not solely by inherent replicator speed.
- The study provides a dynamical footprint for understanding species recovery post-mass extinction.
- Findings support the hypothesis that natural selection favors faster processes, aligning with maximum principles like MEPP.
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