The unconventionality of nature: biology, from noise to functional randomness
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Bravi, Barbara
Longo, Giuseppe
Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
In biology, phenotypes’ variability stems from stochastic gene expression as well as from extrinsic fluctuations that are largely based on the contingency of developmental paths and on ecosystemic changes. Both forms of randomness constructively contribute to biological robustness, as resilience, far away from conventional computable dynamics, where elaboration and transmission of information are robust when they resist to noise. We first survey how fluctuations may be inserted in biochemical equations as probabilistic terms, in conjunction to diffusion or path integrals, and treated by statistical approaches to physics. Further work allows to better grasp the role of biological “resonance” (interactions between different levels of organization) and plasticity, in a highly unconventional frame that seems more suitable for biological processes. In contrast to physical conservation properties, thus symmetries, symmetry breaking is particularly relevant in biology; it provides another key component of biological historicity and of randomness as a source of diversity and, thus, of onto-phylogenetic stability and organization as these are also based on variation and adaptativity.
Date Issued
2015-08-04
Date Acceptance
2015-08-01
Citation
Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2015, 9252, pp.3-34
ISBN
978-3-319-21818-2
Start Page
3
End Page
34
Journal / Book Title
Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Volume
9252
Copyright Statement
© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland. This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review. The Version of Record is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21819-9_1
Source
Unconventional Computation & Natural Computation Conference (UCNC 2015)
Publication Status
Published
Start Date
2015-08-30
Finish Date
2015-09-03
Coverage Spatial
Auckland, New Zealand