Re: Are there things that don't evolve?

Just when you think you have read it all, you run across yet another gem

Abstract
How evolution led to complex life is one of the great questions. This
paper describes simulations
that investigate the role of ecological interactions in the evolution of
complexity. Webworld
is a robust model of evolution in food webs. It is extended for
variability of organism complexity
under evolution. Statistical and network analysis indicates a clear
tendency for complexification
within the model, led by adaptations that initially disconnect the
species from trophic interactions.
This suggests a process where short term fitness is increased by less
connection to the
ecosystem, but long term fitness is insured by incorporation within the
ecosystem. Certainly it
suggests a greater role for ecosystems in the evolution of complexity.

http://brainoff.com/easy/dissertation.pdf

And yet another workshop http://ecco.vub.ac.be/ECO/

The following class shows some relevant concepts in evolution and
complexity (evolvability for instance)

http://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/admissions/pg/syllabus.php?unit=COMP6026
Received on Sat Mar 25 19:24:21 2006