论文
论文标题：Assembly theory explains and quantifies selection and evolution
作者：Sharma, Abhishek, Czégel, Dániel, Lachmann, Michael, Kempes, Christopher P., Walker, Sara I., Cronin, Leroy
期刊：Nature
发表时间：2023/10/04
数字识别码：10.1038/s41586-023-06600-9
摘要：Scientists have grappled with reconciling biological evolution1,2 with the immutable laws of the Universe defined by physics. These laws underpin life’s origin, evolution and the development of human culture and technology, yet they do not predict the emergence of these phenomena. Evolutionary theory explains why some things exist and others do not through the lens of selection. To comprehend how diverse, open-ended forms can emerge from physics without an inherent design blueprint, a new approach to understanding and quantifying selection is necessary3,4,5. We present assembly theory (AT) as a framework that does not alter the laws of physics, but redefines the concept of an ‘object’ on which these laws act. AT conceptualizes objects not as point particles, but as entities defined by their possible formation histories. This allows objects to show evidence of selection, within well-defined boundaries of individuals or selected units. We introduce a measure called assembly (A), capturing the degree of causation required to produce a given ensemble of objects. This approach enables us to incorporate novelty generation and selection into the physics of complex objects. It explains how these objects can be characterized through a forward dynamical process considering their assembly. By reimagining the concept of matter within assembly spaces, AT provides a powerful interface between physics and biology. It discloses a new aspect of physics emerging at the chemical scale, whereby history and causal contingency influence what exists.
其他研究人员也采用过类似的方法来弥合这一鸿沟。例如，在一月发表的“相邻可能性理论”（theory of the adjacent possible）[8]，与组装理论有许多共同的特点：聚焦于可能性空间，以及已存在对象对发展过程的近未来结果施加的约束。但是，类似于量化进化的早期尝试，这种描述与物理基础无关。
参考文献
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