Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026
06:00
Experimental Manipulation of Body Size to Estimate Morphological Scaling Relationships in Drosophila
Published on: October 1, 2011
16.1K
Environmental influence on the evolution of morphological complexity in machines
Joshua E Auerbach1, Josh C Bongard2
1Laboratory of Intelligent Systems, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
Plos Computational Biology
|January 7, 2014
Summary
Evolution drives increased biological complexity, especially in complex environments. Organismal complexity evolves beyond random chance, with simpler forms favored in less complex niches.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Computational Biology
- Complexity Science
Background:
- The evolution of biological complexity is a fundamental, yet unresolved, question in evolutionary biology.
- Understanding the drivers and patterns of increasing complexity in populations is crucial for comprehending life's diversity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how environmental complexity influences the evolution of morphological complexity in organisms.
- To determine if evolutionary trends towards complexity are driven by selection or are merely passive outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a novel method for evolving virtual organisms.
- Employed an information-theoretic metric to quantify morphological complexity.
- Simulated evolution under different environmental conditions with and without a cost of complexity.
Main Results:
- Selection for locomotion led to a significant, non-random increase in morphological complexity over evolutionary time.
- More complex morphologies evolved in simulated complex environments compared to simple environments.
- A cost of complexity influenced the evolutionary trajectory, favoring simpler body plans in certain conditions.
Conclusions:
- Evolutionary processes can actively drive an increase in biological complexity, not just passively accumulate it.
- Environmental complexity is a key factor influencing the degree of morphological complexity that evolves.
- Niche-specific selection pressures can favor either complex or simple body plans, highlighting the context-dependency of evolutionary trends.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Microbial Morphologies
4.8K
Bacterial and archaeal cells exhibit remarkable diversity in shape and structure, critical in their adaptability and functionality. Among bacteria, the most commonly observed shapes include cocci and bacilli. Cocci are spherical and may exist singly or in groupings such as pairs (diplococci), chains (streptococci), clusters (staphylococci), or tetrads. Bacilli, in contrast, are rod-shaped and can also occur as single cells, in pairs, or chains, depending on their environmental and genetic...
4.8K
01:24Evolution of New Traits in Microbes
199
Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...
199
02:55The Evidence for Evolution
40.1K
Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
40.1K
01:38Limits to Natural Selection
30.0K
Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly adapted organisms. Several factors constrain natural selection.
30.0K
01:20Evolutionary Psychology
1.3K
Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the...
1.3K
01:26Evolutionary Processes in Microbes
202
Microbial evolution occurs rapidly due to short generation times and a variety of genetic processes, including horizontal gene transfer, mutation, recombination, and genetic drift. These mechanisms collectively enable microbes to adapt swiftly to changing environments.Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) allows genes to move between different species and occurs through three main mechanisms: conjugation, transformation, and transduction. Conjugation involves direct cell-to-cell contact for DNA...
202