The Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics of Natural Selection: From Molecules to the Biosphere
Evolutionary theory suggests that the origin, persistence, and evolution of biology is driven by the “natural selection” of characteristics improving the differential reproductive success of the organism in the given environment. The theory, however, lacks physical foundation, and, therefore, at bes...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Entropy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/25/7/1059 |
| _version_ | 1797589365991407616 |
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| author | Karo Michaelian |
| author_facet | Karo Michaelian |
| author_sort | Karo Michaelian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Evolutionary theory suggests that the origin, persistence, and evolution of biology is driven by the “natural selection” of characteristics improving the differential reproductive success of the organism in the given environment. The theory, however, lacks physical foundation, and, therefore, at best, can only be considered a heuristic narrative, of some utility for assimilating the biological and paleontological data at the level of the organism. On deeper analysis, it becomes apparent that this narrative is plagued with problems and paradoxes. Alternatively, non-equilibrium thermodynamic theory, derived from physical law, provides a physical foundation for describing material interaction with its environment at all scales. Here we describe a “natural thermodynamic selection” of characteristics of structures (or processes), based stochastically on increases in the global rate of dissipation of the prevailing solar spectrum. Different mechanisms of thermodynamic selection are delineated for the different biotic-abiotic levels, from the molecular level at the origin of life, up to the level of the present biosphere with non-linear coupling of biotic and abiotic processes. At the levels of the organism and the biosphere, the non-equilibrium thermodynamic description of evolution resembles, respectively, the Darwinian and Gaia descriptions, although the underlying mechanisms and the objective function of selection are fundamentally very different. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:05:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-55ddf440861a476f9848327f797003a9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1099-4300 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:05:36Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Entropy |
| spelling | doaj.art-55ddf440861a476f9848327f797003a92023-11-18T19:14:09ZengMDPI AGEntropy1099-43002023-07-01257105910.3390/e25071059The Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics of Natural Selection: From Molecules to the BiosphereKaro Michaelian0Department of Nuclear Physics and Application of Radiation, Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Interior de la Investigación Científica, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City C.P. 04510, MexicoEvolutionary theory suggests that the origin, persistence, and evolution of biology is driven by the “natural selection” of characteristics improving the differential reproductive success of the organism in the given environment. The theory, however, lacks physical foundation, and, therefore, at best, can only be considered a heuristic narrative, of some utility for assimilating the biological and paleontological data at the level of the organism. On deeper analysis, it becomes apparent that this narrative is plagued with problems and paradoxes. Alternatively, non-equilibrium thermodynamic theory, derived from physical law, provides a physical foundation for describing material interaction with its environment at all scales. Here we describe a “natural thermodynamic selection” of characteristics of structures (or processes), based stochastically on increases in the global rate of dissipation of the prevailing solar spectrum. Different mechanisms of thermodynamic selection are delineated for the different biotic-abiotic levels, from the molecular level at the origin of life, up to the level of the present biosphere with non-linear coupling of biotic and abiotic processes. At the levels of the organism and the biosphere, the non-equilibrium thermodynamic description of evolution resembles, respectively, the Darwinian and Gaia descriptions, although the underlying mechanisms and the objective function of selection are fundamentally very different.https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/25/7/1059origin of lifeevolutiondisspative structuringprebiotic chemistryabiogenisisadenine |
| spellingShingle | Karo Michaelian The Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics of Natural Selection: From Molecules to the Biosphere Entropy origin of life evolution disspative structuring prebiotic chemistry abiogenisis adenine |
| title | The Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics of Natural Selection: From Molecules to the Biosphere |
| title_full | The Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics of Natural Selection: From Molecules to the Biosphere |
| title_fullStr | The Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics of Natural Selection: From Molecules to the Biosphere |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics of Natural Selection: From Molecules to the Biosphere |
| title_short | The Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics of Natural Selection: From Molecules to the Biosphere |
| title_sort | non equilibrium thermodynamics of natural selection from molecules to the biosphere |
| topic | origin of life evolution disspative structuring prebiotic chemistry abiogenisis adenine |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/25/7/1059 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT karomichaelian thenonequilibriumthermodynamicsofnaturalselectionfrommoleculestothebiosphere AT karomichaelian nonequilibriumthermodynamicsofnaturalselectionfrommoleculestothebiosphere |