Zero-Force Evolutionary Law

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The Zero-Force Evolutionary Law (ZFEL) is a theory proposed by Robert Brandon and Dan McShea regarding the evolution of diversity when complexity grows by the process of constructive neutral evolution.[1]

Under the ZFEL, diversity is defined as the variation between organisms and complexity being variation among parts within an organism.[2] A part is defined as a system that is internally integrated and isolated from its surroundings, such as the epidermis.[3] As an analogue to the theory of relativity, the theory has a special and general formulation. The special formulation states in the absence of natural selection, an evolutionary system with variation and heredity will diversify and complexify through other forces or constraints. The general formulation states that evolutionary systems have a tendency to diversify and complexify, and that these processes may be amplified or constrained by other forces including natural selection. The mechanism is an inherently error-prone system for replication and reproduction, where neutral variations are capable of freely accumulating over time. As variance is equivalent to complexity and diversity, both increase over time so long as they are not eliminated by negative selection.[2][4]

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References[]

  1. ^ Zimmer, Carl (2013-07-16). "The Surprising Origins of Life's Complexity". Quanta Magazine. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  2. ^ a b McShea, Daniel W.; Brandon, Robert N. (2010). Biology's First Law: The Tendency for Diversity and Complexity to Increase in Evolutionary Systems. The University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226562254.
  3. ^ McShea, D. W.; Venit, E. P. (2001). "What is a part?". In Günter P. Wagner (ed.). The Character Concept in Evolutionary Biology. pp. 259–284. doi:10.1016/B978-012730055-9/50022-7. ISBN 9780127300559.
  4. ^ Brunet, T. D. P.; Doolittle, W. Ford (2018-03-19). "The generality of Constructive Neutral Evolution". Biology & Philosophy. 33 (1): 2. doi:10.1007/s10539-018-9614-6. ISSN 1572-8404.
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