Evolution is Driven by Natural Autoencoding: Reframing Species, Interaction Codes, Cooperation, and Sexual Reproduction
Irun R. Cohen, Assaf Marron

TL;DR
This paper introduces the concept of natural autoencoding as a fundamental process driving evolution, species formation, and interaction codes, offering a new computational perspective on biological continuity and diversity.
Contribution
It proposes natural autoencoding as a core mechanism of evolution, redefining species and genetic processes beyond traditional genetic paradigms.
Findings
Species are defined by interaction codes stored in biological infrastructure.
Evolution involves autoencoding of changes in interaction codes.
Genome randomization in sexual reproduction aligns with autoencoding principles.
Abstract
The continuity of life and its evolution, we proposed, emerge from an interactive group process manifested in networks of interaction. We term this process \textit{survival-of-the-fitted}. Here, we reason that survival of the fitted results from a natural computational process we term \textit{natural autoencoding}. Natural autoencoding works by retaining repeating biological interactions while non-repeatable interactions disappear. (1) We define a species by its \textit{species interaction code}, which consists of a compact description of the repeating interactions of species organisms with their external and internal environments. Species interaction codes are descriptions recorded in the biological infrastructure that enables repeating interactions. Encoding and decoding are interwoven. (2) Evolution proceeds by natural autoencoding of sustained changes in species interaction codes.…
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Taxonomy
TopicsEvolution and Genetic Dynamics · Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation · Gene Regulatory Network Analysis
