A unifying theory of evolution : generated by means of information modelling / Jytte Brender McNair.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Brender McNair, Jytte, author.

Series:

Studies in health technology and informatics ; Volume 230.

Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 1879-8635 ; Volume 230

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Evolution (Biology).

Information theory in biology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (236 pages) : illustrations.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

IOS Press 2016

Amsterdam, Netherlands : IOS Press, 2016.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Stringent ways of thinking, 'conceptual frameworks', are necessary in science. The drawback is that the associated assumptions, concepts, rules and practice may become so deeply entrenched that they turn into tacit knowledge and hence give rise to constraints in scientific thought and practice - that is, a new kind of plethora that seriously blinds and thereby hampers scientific progress. This book, 'A Unifying Theory of Evolution Generated by Means of Information Modelling', presents a methodology for describing complex knowledge domains. It applies a template information model based on a dynamic structure of interrelated functions, called the Mereon Matrix. Application of this template model to the field of evolutionary theories enabled the unification of the sometimes chaotic and competing field of evolutionary theories, large and small, seamlessly in a shared framework. The author has Masters degrees in both biochemistry and computer science, as well as a European Doctorate and PhD in health informatics and has spent 35 years in full-time research. It is her particular combination of professional experience and expertise together with the template information model which has enabled her to write this book. Whilst primarily aimed at a scientific audience, and evolutionary biologists in particular, the book will be of interest to all those looking for new approaches to exploring and explaining phenomena in nature, and because the text is largely non-technical in nature, much of the content will also be accessible to a wider readership.-- Source other than the Library of Congresss.

Contents:

Title Page

A Note for the Reader

About the Author/Contributors

Acknowledgements

Conflicting Interests

Contents

Foreword

Part 1: Basics First

1 Introduction

1.1 Background

1.2 An Essential Question

1.3 Delimitation

2 Methods and Basic Terminology

2.1 Outline of the Template Model

2.2 Modelling Methodology

2.2.1 Step 1: Defining the 3rd Level Mereonic Function

2.2.2 Step 2: Getting an Overview of the Knowledge Domain

2.2.3 Step 3: Matching the Template Model with the Application Domain's Functionality

2.2.4 Step 4: Filling Details for the Micro-Micro-Level Functions

2.2.5 Step 5: Defining the Emergent Properties

2.2.6 Step 6: Identifying Holes in the Model

2.2.7 Step 7: Evaluation of the Model

2.3 Quality Management of Input Sources

2.4 The Concept of Perspectives

Part 2: The Unifying Theory of Evolution

3 Perspectives in Evolution

4 Materialisation: Readying for the Evolutionary Pressure, Survival of the Fitted

4.1 Physical Foundation Behind Evolution, `Inevitable Evolution Theory'

4.1.1 Self-Organised Criticality and Punctuated Equilibria

4.2 Genotype Change as Driver of Evolution, `Standard Evolutionary Theory'

4.2.1 Self-Organised Criticality and Punctuated Equilibria

4.3 Regulation of Gene Expression as Driver of Evolution, `Extended Evolutionary Synthesis'

4.3.1 Epigenetics as an Evolutionary Factor

4.3.2 Plasticity

4.3.3 Genetic Stabilisation and Disruptive Selection

4.3.4 Genetic Accommodation and Phenotypic Accommodation

4.3.5 Genetic Assimilation and Compensation

4.3.6 Modularity and Supergenes

5 Communicative Interaction: Contributing Relational Aspects to Evolutionary Processes

5.1 Inter-Individual Dynamics, `Inevitable Evolution Theory'

5.1.1 Communication

5.1.2 Frequency-Dependent Competitive Interaction.

5.2 Kin Selection, `Standard Evolutionary Theory'

5.2.1 Altruism and Inclusive Fitness

5.2.2 Cooperation

5.2.3 Greenbeards

5.2.4 Reciprocity

5.2.5 Aposematism

5.2.6 Prokaryotic Adaptive Immunity System

5.3 Regulatory Adaptation, `Extended Evolutionary Synthesis'

5.3.1 The Genetic/Epigenetic Foundation of Behavioural Patterns

5.3.2 Plasticity

5.3.3 Prokaryotic Adaptive Immunity System

6 Stabilisation: Balancing Efficiency and Effectiveness at Evolution

6.1 Meta-Population Dynamics, `Inevitable Evolution Theory'

6.1.1 Flock Dynamics

6.2 Meta-Population Dynamics (Group Selection), `Standard Evolutionary Theory'

6.2.1 Multilevel Selection

6.3 Group Dynamics (Acquired Team Behaviour), `Extended Evolutionary Synthesis'

6.3.1 Acquired Team Behaviour

7 Prioritization: Maximising Effectiveness of Evolution

7.1 Collective Decision-Making, `Inevitable Evolution Theory'

7.1.1 Decision Making in Relation to Dispersal/Migration

7.2 Collective Decision-Making, `Standard Evolutionary Theory'

7.2.1 Scaling from the Individual to a Group

7.2.2 Overall Mechanisms of Animal Decision-Making

7.2.3 Handling Conflicting Information

7.2.4 Moderating Mechanisms for Decision-Making

7.2.5 Personality and Group Decision-Making

7.2.6 Decision Making in Relation to Dispersal/Migration

7.2.7 Decision-Making in Fission-Fusion Societies

7.2.8 In Summary

7.3 Cultural Factors in Evolution and Survivability, `Extended Evolutionary Synthesis'

7.3.1 Cultural Group Selection

7.3.2 Decision Making in Relation to Informed (Adaptive) Dispersal/Migration

8 Differentiation: Survival of the Fittest Orchestration

8.1 Orchestration at Evolution, `Inevitable Evolution Theory'

8.1.1 Interspecies Dynamics

8.1.2 Time and Timing

8.1.3 Fidelity.

8.2 Orchestration at Evolution, `Standard Evolutionary Theory'

8.2.1 Speciation

8.2.2 Specialisation

8.2.3 Time and Timing

8.2.4 Fidelity

8.3 Orchestration at Evolution, `Extended Evolutionary Synthesis'

8.3.1 Speciation

8.3.2 Specialisation, Eusociality

8.3.3 Time and Timing

8.3.4 Fidelity

9 Evolution of Evolvability, Survival of the Fittest Evolutionary Mechanisms

9.1 Inevitable Evolution, `Inevitable Evolution Theory'

9.2 Evolution of Evolvability, `Standard Evolutionary Theory'

9.2.1 Population Genetics

9.2.2 Horizontal Gene Transfer and Selfish Genes

9.3 Homeorhesis, `Extended Evolutionary Synthesis'

9.3.1 Population Genetics

9.3.2 Constructive Neutral Evolution

9.3.3 Horizontal Gene Transfer and Selfish Genes

10 Integration of Phenotype Within the Environment, Niche Construction

10.1 Niche Construction, `Inevitable Evolution Theory'

10.2 Niche Construction, `Standard Evolutionary Theory'

10.3 Niche Construction, `Extended Evolutionary Synthesis'

Part 3: Discussion

11 Pre-Life Evolutionary Changes

12 Strengths and Weaknesses of the Work

12.1 Self-Assessment and Assessment of Assumptions

12.2 Reflections on the Quality Criteria

12.3 Potential Bias

12.4 Reflections on the Validity of the Unifying Model

13 Conclusion

Part 4: Information Model

14 The Mereon Matrix's Template Information Model

14.1 About the Mereon Matrix

14.2 About the Modelling Methodology

14.2.1 Step 1: Defining the 3rd Level Mereonic Function

14.2.2 Step 2: Getting an Overview of the Knowledge Domain

14.2.3 Step 3: Matching the Template Model with the Application Domain's Functionality

14.2.4 Step 4: Filling Details for the Micro-Micro-Level Functions

14.2.5 Step 5: Defining the Emergent Properties

14.2.6 Step 6: Identifying Holes in the Model.

14.2.7 Step 7: Evaluation of the Model

14.2.8 Step 8: Assessing Supplementary Information from the Mereon Matrix

15 The Overall Mereon Matrix Model of Human Molecular Genetics

16 Extending Parts of the Template Information Model

16.1 F6(F4(F1)) Readying for the Evolutionary Pressure: Survival of the Fitted

16.2 F6(F4(F2)) Communicative Interaction Contributing Relational Aspects to Evolutionary Processes

16.3 F6(F4(F3)) Balancing Efficiency and Effectiveness of Evolution

16.4 F6(F4(F4)) Maximising Prioritization for Effectiveness of Evolution

16.5 F6(F4(F5)) Differentiation, Survival of the Fittest Orchestration

16.6 F6(F4(F6)) Evolution of Evolvability

16.7 F6(F4(F7)) Integration of Phenotype Within the Environment, Niche Construction

17 Assessment Against Supplementary Information from the Template Information Model

17.1 Structural Aspects

17.2 First Principle 0, Spatial-Temporal Nexus

17.3 First Principle 1, Unity and Diversity

17.4 First Principle 2, Context and Core

17.5 First Principle 3, Possibilities

17.6 The Genesis

17.7 Jitterbugging

17.8 Input, Throughput, and Output (Chapter 6, Page 105 in [2])

17.9 Quantitative Aspects

17.10 Breathing and Birthing

17.11 In Summary

18 Reflecting on Validity

18.1 Validity of the Template Information Model

18.2 The Risk of Bias

18.2.1 Local Minima Bias

18.2.2 Judgemental Bias

18.2.3 Hypothesis Fixation

18.2.4 Circular Inference

18.2.5 Inclusion Bias

18.2.6 In Summary

18.3 Validity of the Unifying Theory of Evolution

18.3.1 Indicators of Validity

18.3.2 Mastering the Template Information Model

18.3.3 Confounding Factors in the Resulting Model

18.3.4 The Chicken \&amp

Egg Problem Explained

18.3.5 The Literature's Lack of Insight into Actual Mechanisms

18.3.6 Exploitation of References.

18.3.7 What about the Author's (Lacking) Prior Insight into Evolution?

18.3.8 What about That, Which is Still Unknown?

18.4 Opportunities for a General Systems Theory?

18.5 Postscript

18.5.1 Back to the Essential Question

18.5.2 Now, What about the Existing Evolutionary Theories?

18.5.3 What's the use of The Unifying Theory?

18.5.4 Competing or Conflicting Unifying Theories?

18.5.5 Lessons Learned

19 References

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapters and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-61499-688-1

OCLC:

965196174

Access Restriction:

Open access Unrestricted online access