Evolution of EvolvabilityComplexity Club

Alan N. Hampton25th August, 2003

1. Interacting elements and complexity

2. Structured evolution of protein networks

3. Does this happen in biology?

4. The evolution of programming languages

Talk Organization

Interacting elements and complexity

StrongCoupling

WeakCoupling

Interacting elements and complexity

Interacting elements and complexity

StrongCoupling

WeakCoupling

Com

plexity

The evolution of protein networks

protein interaction matrix

The evolution of protein networks

Ingredients for evolution

1. Self reproductory system

2. Point mutations (square in interaction matrix)

3. Survival of fittest

This has led to living beings as we know it?

The evolution of protein networks

Modular design

1. Proteins are loosely coupled

2. Useful sub-functions increase coupling

3. Loose coupling between sub-functions

The evolution of protein networks

The evolution of protein networks

Faster evolution

1. Structured mutation

2. Sub-function duplication

Evolution of mutation operator.

Does this happen in biology?

• Modules in biological systems (Nature 1999)

• Self-regulation of point mutations (e.coli)

• Hox genes (module development on/off)

• Specificity in chromosome crossover

No evidence of structural mutations.

1. Machine Code

2. Assembler

3. Interpreters (Basic)

4. Compiler languages (Fortran, Lisp, C)

5. Object Oriented (C++)

The evolution of programming languages

Has evolved for the convenience of the developer

Artificial evolution of programming languages?

Not very successful (serial language)

The evolution of programming languages

Any solution?

Evolve mutation templates?

for (x=0; x < …; x++) {…

}

int …(…) {…return (int)…;

}