Some Computational Aspects of Essential Properties of Evolution and Life

TL;DR

This paper explores how computational concepts like algorithmic probability and thermodynamics can deepen our understanding of biological features such as robustness and fitness, and inform new evolutionary algorithms.

Contribution

It introduces a novel perspective linking computation theories to biological phenomena, proposing new approaches for evolutionary computation based on these insights.

Findings

Robustness and fitness relate to algorithmic probability and thermodynamics.

Computational principles can model key features of living organisms.

Potential for developing new algorithms inspired by biological computation.

Abstract

While evolution has inspired algorithmic methods of heuristic optimisation, little has been done in the way of using concepts of computation to advance our understanding of salient aspects of biological phenomena. We argue that under reasonable assumptions, interesting conclusions can be drawn that are of relevance to behavioural evolution. We will focus on two important features of life--robustness and fitness--which, we will argue, are related to algorithmic probability and to the thermodynamics of computation, disciplines that may be capable of modelling key features of living organisms, and which can be used in formulating new algorithms of evolutionary computation.