A team of international researchers has developed a new theoretical framework that connects physics and biology to provide a unified perspective on how complexity and evolution emerge in nature. The framework, called assembly theory, is published in the journal Nature and represents a major breakthrough in our fundamental understanding of biological evolution and how it is governed by the physical laws of the universe.
What is assembly theory?
Assembly theory is a new approach that redefines the concept of an object in physics, not as a point particle, but as an entity defined by its possible formation histories. This allows objects to show evidence of selection, within well-defined boundaries of individuals or selected units. The theory introduces a measure called assembly, which captures the degree of causation required to produce a given ensemble of objects, based on their abundance and assembly indices.
Assembly theory provides a new lens for looking at physics, chemistry and biology as different aspects of the same underlying reality. It does not alter the laws of physics, but reveals how they can generate novelty and selection in complex systems. It explains how these systems can be characterized through a forward dynamical process considering their assembly.
How does assembly theory apply to evolution?
Assembly theory can be applied to quantify selection and evolution in systems ranging from simple molecules to complex polymers and cellular structures. It explains both the discovery of new objects and the selection of existing ones, allowing open-ended increases in complexity characteristic of life and technology.
The researchers demonstrated how assembly theory can be used to analyze the emergence of life on Earth, as well as the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe. They showed how assembly theory can distinguish between living and non-living matter, based on their assembly values and distributions. They also showed how assembly theory can account for the origin of information and functionality in biological systems, as well as the emergence of human culture and technology.
What are the implications of assembly theory?
Assembly theory provides a completely new way to look at the matter that makes up our world, as defined not just by immutable particles but by the memory needed to build objects through selection over time. It discloses a new aspect of physics emerging at the chemical scale, whereby history and causal contingency influence what exists.
Assembly theory also provides a powerful interface between physics and biology, closing the gap between reductionist physics and Darwinian evolution. It represents a major step toward a fundamental theory unifying inert and living matter. It has implications for fields such as cosmology, computer science, artificial intelligence, astrobiology, synthetic biology and more.
Assembly theory is an ambitious and innovative framework that challenges our conventional understanding of reality and opens up new avenues for scientific exploration and discovery.
