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Numerical testing of evolution theories

Part II preliminary tests of performance. symbiogenesis and terrestrial life

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Summary

An interpretive system for the IBM 704 computer permitting interpretation of the genetic pattern of a numeric symbioorganism as a game strategy has been developed. Selection for best performance in a simple game (the game called Tac Tix published byGardner, 1958) has been applied in a preliminary experiment. An objective method to measure the quality of a game played is described. The results presented in the article show a small but significant improvement of game quality during a period of 2300 generations.

The general characteristics of the phenomena observed are similar to those of preceding evolution experiments (Barricelli, 1962 and 1957). However, a startling infection process caused by a parasite whose behaviour was influenced by the game competition is described. The parasite never developed an independent game strategy to any degree of efficiency and was entirely dependent on its host organism for game competitions with, and transmission of the infection to, uninfected hosts.

The consequences of substituting the reproduction and mutation rules (or “norm of action”) used in the preceding evolution experiments are discussed. Particularly, the use of rules (DNA-norm) applying the reproduction pattern ofDNA-molecules is considered, and the theoretic aspects of symbiogenetic evolution experiments based onDNA-norm are discussed. A few inferences concerning the origin and history of terrestrial life suggested by the results of the symbiogenesis experiments are presented.

Zusammenfassung

Ein interpretierendes System für die IBM 704 Rechenmaschine, dass Interpretation des genetischen Modells von einem numerischen Symbio-organismus wie eine Spiel Strategie, erlaubt, wurde entwickelt. Eine Forführung für Fähigkeit in einem einfachen Spiel (genannt Tac Tix veröffentlicht durch Gardner, 1958) wurde angewandt in einem preliminarisches Experiment. Eine objektive Methode zur Messung der Qualität des betreffenden Spiels wurde beschrieben. Die in dem Artikel angegebenen Resultate zeigen eine kleine, aber bedeutende Verbesserung der Spiel-Qualität während einr Periode von 2300 Generationen.

Die allgemeinen Kennziechen von den beobachteten Phänomenen sind denen von vorhergehenden Evolutions-Experimenten ähnlich (Barricelli 1962 und 1957). Jedoch, ein überraschender Infektions-Prozess, verursacht durch einen Parasit, wessen Verhalten beinflusst wurde durch die Spiel-Konkurrenz, wurde beschrieben. Der Parasit entwickelte niemals eine unabhängige Spiel-Strategie zu irgendeinem Masze von Fähigkeit und war ganz abhängig von seinem Gastherr-Organismus für Spiel-Konkurrenz mit, und Überbringung von der Infektion auf, uninfektierte Gäste.

Die Folgerungen von dem Ersetzen der Fortpflanzung und Mutations-Regeln (oder „Aktions-Norm”), angewandt in vorhergehenden Evolutions-Experimente wurden besprochen. Besonders der Gebrauch von Regeln (DNA-Norm) welche das FortpflanzungsModell von DNA-Molekülen anwenden wurde betrachtet, und die theorethischen Aspekte von Symbiogenetischen Evolutions-Experimenten basiert auf DNA-Norm wurden besprochen. Einige Schlussfolgerungen in Bezug auf die Entstehung und Geschichte von dem Erdenleben suggeriert durch die Resultate von den Symbiogenese-Experimenten wurden gezeigt.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Division of Molecular Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee

    Nils Aall Barricelli

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  1. Nils Aall Barricelli
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Additional information

This investigation was supported by research grant RG-6980 from the Division of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health, U.S.A. Public Health Service. The first part of this investigation was performed in the fall, 1959, while the author was visitor to the A.E.C. Computing Center, N.Y.U. The investigation was continued in the summer, 1960, while the author was Visiting Research Associate at Brookhaven National Laboratory, L.I.N.Y. and after his return to Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee

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Barricelli, N.A. Numerical testing of evolution theories. Acta Biotheor 16, 99–126 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01556602

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