Download How Do Things Evolve? - James Madison University

Lynn S. Fichter
Dept Geology/Envir Science
James Madison University
Wednesday,
June 29, 2011
3:15-4:45
How Do Things Evolve?
Ask the average person on the street what the
theory of evolution is . . .
. . . and they are likely to answer . . .
• Natural selection ?
• Darwin’s theory of evolution ?
• Survival of the fittest ?
a.k.a.
The Modern
Synthesis
1
But we acknowledge and take for granted
that many systems evolve
But we acknowledge and take for granted
that many systems evolve
But we acknowledge and take for granted
that many systems evolve
2
Even our Earth Science text books take for
granted that the Earth is an evolutionary system.
But, if we ask, “What is the theory of Earth
evolution?” you will likely get a blank stare, . . .
. . . or at best a superficial discussion of the fossil record.
3
Even our Earth Science text books take for
granted that the Earth is an evolutionary system.
. . . any process that leads to increases in:
• Complexity
• Order and/or
• Diversity
• Interconnectedness
with time
. . . then, lots of things evolve.
4
Biological things are not the only
things that evolve.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Economies evolve.
Cities evolve.
Political systems evolve.
Earthquake systems evolve.
Earth Environments evolve.
Neural networks (ideas) in the brain evolve.
Elements in stars evolve.
Can we assume that biological evolutionary
theory is a general theory of evolution ?
No !
Take, for example an economic system.
. . . What in an economic system is
equivalent to . .
• A Gene?
• An individual?
• A species?
Is it accurate to say economic
systems evolve like biological
systems?
• A mutation and genetic recombination?
If biological things evolve and
economies evolve . . .
And we cannot make a direct one-for-one
comparison of the units and processes
between them . . .
Then Darwinian evolutionary theory (the
Modern Synthesis) is a special theory of
evolution, not a general theory. . .
Like . . . .
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Einstein’s special and general
theories of relativity.
The special theory applies the principle of relativity only
to inertial frames i.e. does not account for gravity, but it
can deal with accelerations.
The general theory applies the principle of relativity
generally, that is, to any frame including gravity.
The expression "elephant in the room" refers to a situation where something major is
going on, it's on everyone's mind and impossible to ignore -- like an elephant in the room.
But nobody talks about the "elephant" because nobody knows what to do about it.
A General Evolutionary Algorithm that
applies to both biological and economic
systems
1. Differentiate Create
diversity
fromgeneral
a progenitor
So,a lotisofthis
the
don t work well
2. Select Cull out all those that don’t
theory of evolution we
3. Amplify Reproduce from survivors with mutation
are looking for ?
Repeat
The units of selection and the information
carriers are different in each kind of system
but the algorithm is the same . . .
6
Well, not really . . .
Differentiate, select, and amplify do not really
explain how . . .
• Rocks evolve
• The atmosphere has evolved
• The Earth has evolved
They evolve by completely different mechanisms
from the evolution of life or economies and it is
meaningless to talk about life evolution without the
evolution of Earth environments
Fractionation - the separation of components of a whole
into fractions each of which has a different composition from
the whole.
Parent Material
Add energy:
not too much,
not too little
Mixed, but differing in
size, weight, valence,
reactivity, etc.
This means there are at least two
General Evolutionary Algorithms . . .
1. Elaborating evolution
Begin with something simple and increase in
abundance, diversity, and complexity with time.
More Energy
Systems increase in
• Abundance
• Complexity
More Energy
• Diversity
2. Fractionating evolution
Begin with something complex and subdivide it
into fractions.
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Is this it then – two theories of
evolution?
Elaborating Evolutionary theory
Fractionating Evolution theory
Hummm . . .
An Example of the Problem
But this is
Non-Life
Simple
Elements
Increasing
Energy
Complexity
to
“Life”
Life
More Energy
Life increases in:
• Abundance
• Complexity
• Diversity
Elaborating Evolution
by Natural Selection
How can something be biologically
naturally selected for before it has
become biological, before it has come
into existence?
AnThis
Example
of of
thecreating
Problem
process
But this is
something
Lifeis
Non-Lifeout of nothing
Simple
Elements
Increasing
to
“Life”
More Energy
Life increases in:
• Abundance
Self Organizing
Evolution
Energy
Complexity
• Complexity
• Diversity
Elaborating Evolution
by Natural Selection
How can something be biologically
naturally selected for before it has
become biological, before it has come
into existence?
8
Natural Examples of Self Organizing Evolution
Origin of Life
Natural Examples of Self Organizing Evolution
Spiral Galaxy
Natural Examples of Self Organizing Evolution
Termite Mounds
9
Natural Examples of Self Organizing Evolution
Dendritic Drainage Patterns
When it comes to evolution, this is the
elephant in the room.
The expression "elephant in the room" refers to a situation where something major is
going on, it's on everyone's mind and impossible to ignore -- like an elephant in the room.
But nobody talks about the "elephant" because nobody knows what to do about it.
Self-Organizing
Evolution
Creating structures and
patterns from random agents
by the application of simple
rules
Elaborating
Evolution
• Diversity
•Select
•Amplify
•Repeat
Fractionating
Evolution
Dividing a complex parent into
fractions because of differences
in the size, weight, valence,
reactivity, etc.
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. . . studies how systems with
many “agents” that exist at high
energy/information flow interact
and behave.
the individual units that are
interacting, like . . .
Complex systems theory (or complexity
theory) studies how systems with many
“agents” that are already at high
energy/information flow interact and
behave.
Complex systems theory (or complexity
theory) studies how systems with many
“agents” that are already at high
energy/information flow interact and
behave.
11
Units of
friction
along a
fault zone
Sand grains
in a
migrating
ripple
Organisms
in an
ecosystem
12
Self-Organized Criticality
Cellular
Automata
Complex Systems
Theory
The central dogma is
complex systems are Self
Self-Organizing
Complex systems theory studies how systems
with many “agents” that are already at high
energy/information dissipation interact and
behave.
Boids
Oscillating
Reactions
Self-Organizing
Evolution
Creating structures and
patterns from random agents
by the application of simple
rules
Elaborating
Evolution
• Diversity
•Select
•Amplify
•Repeat
Fractionating
Evolution
Dividing a complex parent into
fractions because of differences
in the size, weight, valence,
reactivity, etc.
Elaborating
Evolutionary
Mechanisms
1. Differentiate Create a lot of diversity from a progenitor
2. Select Cull out all those that don’t work well
3. Amplify Reproduce from survivors with mutation
Repeat
13
General Evolutionary Algorithm in Biology
Differentiate
Select
Amplify
Repeat
Elaborating Evolution
Word Evolv
Genetic Algorithms
The John Muir Trail
The Ant gene consists of 512 bits of information, a series
of 1's and 0's. The genetic makeup is changed each
generation at some low frequency either by cross over—
two individuals exchange part of their string of genes—or
by mutation—one gene has its bit flipped from 1 to 0 or
vice versa.
14
Elaborating Evolution
John Muir Trail
Can we evolve via
natural selection an
electronic “ant” that
can learn to run a
maze?
Self-Organizing
Evolutionary
Mechanisms
Begin with an initial state of random agents,
apply simple rules of interaction to evolve a
system of ordered patterns.
Cellular Automata (CA) are simply grids of
cells, where the individual cells change
states according to a set of rules. The CA
may be one dimensional, or linear, like a
string of cells in a row (below), or two
dimensional, like a checkerboard
1
2
3
8
?
4
7
6
1
5
a live cell survives to
the next generation if at least 2 but no more than
three of the surrounding 8 cells are alive. Less than 2
and it dies of loneliness; more than 3 and it dies of
over crowding.-
Birth Rules – 3/3
2
8
7
Optimal Local Rule Set
Survival Rules – 2/3
3
4
6
5
a dead cells comes alive the
next generation if 3, any 3, of the surrounding 8 cells
are also alive.
Life3000
LifeWin
Merick’sCelebration
Applet
15
16
Classical Systems – Chemical Reactions
A+B
A
X
Y
Reaction 1
Reaction 2
Reaction 3
Reaction 4
Reaction
Inhibition
A
X
B+X
2X + Y
X
E
C+D
E
B
or
D
A
B+X
2X + Y
X
Energy releasing
Y + D X Consuming
3X
Autocatalytic X
Moves fast
Moves slow
X
Y+D
3X
E
The BZ (Belousov-Zhabotinsky)
Reaction
Applet 1
Applet 3
Applet 2
Ilya
Moving
Waves
http://delfin.klte.hu/~gasparv/menuh.html
Inhibitor
Activator
Stationary
Waves/Spots
From patterns in animal hides, butterfly wings, and shells, to the distribution of organisms in a
ecosystems, activator-inhibitor systems provide explanatory mechanisms.
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Natural Examples of Self Organizing Evolution
Weathering and Leisagang
Natural Examples of Self Organizing Evolution
Agate Structure
Reaction-Diffusion/Activator-Inhibitor in Geology
Agate Structure
18
Fractionating
Evolutionary
Mechanisms
Begin with a complex or random parent and
physically, chemically, or biologically divided it
into fractions because of differences in the size,
weight, valence, reactivity, etc. of the
component particles.
Thomas Schelling’s Model of Segregation as a
Fractionation Process
The Evolution of Segregation: Agents want to Live in Neighbourhoods where 50%
or More are Like Themselves (Small Circles Represent Dissatisfied Agents)
Schelling’s Model of Segregation as a
Fractionation Process
19
Perthite
Graphic Granite
20
Migmatite _ a partially melted rock. In the picture the light areas are the melted fractions; they are
light because their composition is lower on the reaction series. The dark areas are the unmelted
residues with a concentration of dark minerals from higher in the reaction series. If the rock were
to completely melt the fractions would melt together and no fractionation would occur.
1.
– as Earth scientists we now have an
evolutionary theory that encompasses all parts of the
Earth as a complete evolutionary system.
1.
– as Earth scientists we now have an
evolutionary theory that encompasses all parts of the
Earth as a complete evolutionary system.
2.
– the SOL’s tend to be descriptive and
narrow. Teaching evolutionary systems allows us to
narrow
tell a story.
21
Tectonic
Initial molten state + Radioactive
heat + its counter force, gravity
Heat causes things to expand which causes
them to move
Solar
Heat from the sun
Heat warms the air and water, setting up
different pressures which causes them to move.
Chemical
Inorganic reactions, of which there
are many, many, many – some of
which we need to understand
Biological
Organic chemistry, plus biological
modifications of environments
22
Putting astronomical observations and astrophysical theory together with their observations and
calculations, Meibom and colleagues come up with a complicated picture of the solar nebula. There is
a hot central disk, which may be uniform in temperature near the Sun. The temperature is lower
farther from the Sun. In-falling interstellar material becomes heated as it accretes to the disk.
Convection causes clouds to rise near the inner, hottest part of the disk; this is where the metal
grains may have formed. Powerful jets (or bipolar outflow) and strong solar winds called the "x-wind"
transport hot gas and dust away from the Sun. In some regions, transient, localized heating events
recycle materials. Eventually, planetesimals and then planets begin to form from the dust.
http://www.psrd.hawaii.edu/Sept00/primitiveFeNi.html
ANORTHOSITE
OLIVINE/
PYROXENE
IRON
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To
Atmosphere
Volcanic
Emissions
(Abundant)
H2O
(Abundant)
CO2
(Common)
H2
(< 10%)
N2
(few %)
Scompounds
Lost to space
Atmospheric
H2O
Ocean
Sink
photodissociation
H2 + O2
+
Final Mars/Earth/Venus
Equilibrium Atmosphere
CO2
N2
S
~ 95%
few %
traces
Soluble
Reduced
Elements
Insoluble
Oxidized
Element
Banded
Iron
Formation
Sediment
Sequestering
Closed,
dead,
equilibrium
systems
Earth Evolution Could Have Come to an end at this Point,
as it Did on Mars
Bitter cold (-53o C), dry, with an atmosphere weighing only .06 times the Earth’s.
Self-Organizing
Evolution
Elaborating
Evolution
Fractionating
Evolution
24
Every limitation is also
an opportunity
Every advance
leads to a
limitation
New
Energy
Source
Potential
Extinction
New solution
to resource
limitation
Exploitation of
energy source
Population enlarges,
territory expands
Next Solution
NEXT
CRISIS
CRISIS
Every limitation is also
an opportunity
Every advance
leads to a
limitation
New
Energy
Source
Potential
Extinction
Exploitation of
energy source
Population enlarges,
territory expands
CRISIS
New solution
to resource
limitation
Next Solution
NEXT
CRISIS
25
Igneous Rock Evolution
Fractionating Evolutionary-Attractor
Complex
Parent
O
Local
Attractor
P
O
Na
Ca
P
O
Diorite/
Andesite
M
Qtz
Ca/Na
A
B
Na
O
M
dark gray/black
Qtz
Basalt
B
Na
O
M
Local
Attractor
A
Ca/Na
A
M
Qtz
INTERMEDIATE
ROCKS
Ca/Na
B
Na
O
fractionation
MAGMA
(Open system)
(Chaotic attractor)
Ca
Basalt/
Gabbro
Ca
O
B
(Closed system)
(Point attractor)
P
Ca/Na
A
heating
O
Sterile End
Product
Ca
P
Diorite
salt and pepper
Qtz
fractionation
PLAGIOFELSIC
ROCKS
fractionation
Local
Attractor
O
Ca
P
ALKALIFELSIC
ROCKS
Local
Attractor
Ca/Na
A
Plagiogranite/
Rhyolite
B
O
Na
Ca
P
O
Ca/Na
A
M
B
Qtz
Plagiogranite
gray
Alkaligranite/
Rhyolite
Na
O
M
Qtz
Alkaligranite
pink
Gabbro
Color images of these rocks can be found at:
http://geollab.jmu.edu/Fichter/IgnRx/IgHome.html
Soluble
Soluble
In the absence of oxygen
Soluble
Th sea is salty
The
l
Clastic Rocks
Carbonate Rocks
26
Mechanical
Weathering
Arkose
Breccia
Rounding
Arkose Sorting
Congl.
Proximal
Braided
River
Arkosic
Sandy
Congl.
Alluvial
Fan
Arkose Chem. Weathering
SS
SubMeander
Distal
Arkose
River
wacke
Braided
River
Weathering
Meander
River
Alluvial
Fan
Lithic Rounding
Breccia
1.
Proximal
Braided
River
Quartz
wacke
Distal
SubBraided Meander
Lithic
River
River
wacke
Lithic
Chem. Weathering
SS
CaCO3 dissolved in solution
Dumped on
beach
Quartz
SS
Beach
Sorting
Shale
Near
Shelf
Lime
stone
Far
Shelf
Lithic Sorting
Congl.
– as Earth scientists we now have an
evolutionary theory that encompasses all parts of the
Earth as a complete evolutionary system.
2.
– the SOL’s tend to be descriptive and
narrow. Teaching evolutionary systems allows us to
narrow
tell a story.
2.
–
we can blunt the criticisms
of . . .
27
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