Life’s a Gas: A Thermodynamic Theory of Biological Evolution
Biosphere Research Institute, 5A The Den, Letham, Angus, DD8 2PY, UK
Academic Editors: Umberto Lucia, Giuseppe Grazzini and Kevin H. Knuth
Entropy 2015, 17(8), 5522-5548; https://doi.org/10.3390/e17085522
Received: 4 May 2015 / Revised: 9 July 2015 / Accepted: 28 July 2015 / Published: 31 July 2015
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maximum versus Minimum Entropy Generation: Theoretical Developments and Applications)
This paper outlines a thermodynamic theory of biological evolution. Beginning with a brief summary of the parallel histories of the modern evolutionary synthesis and thermodynamics, we use four physical laws and processes (the first and second laws of thermodynamics, diffusion and the maximum entropy production principle) to frame the theory. Given that open systems such as ecosystems will move towards maximizing dispersal of energy, we expect biological diversity to increase towards a level, Dmax, representing maximum entropic production (Smax). Based on this theory, we develop a mathematical model to predict diversity over the last 500 million years. This model combines diversification, post-extinction recovery and likelihood of discovery of the fossil record. We compare the output of this model with that of the observed fossil record. The model predicts that life diffuses into available energetic space (ecospace) towards a dynamic equilibrium, driven by increasing entropy within the genetic material. This dynamic equilibrium is punctured by extinction events, which are followed by restoration of Dmax through diffusion into available ecospace. Finally we compare and contrast our thermodynamic theory with the MES in relation to a number of important characteristics of evolution (progress, evolutionary tempo, form versus function, biosphere architecture, competition and fitness).
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Keywords:
diffusion; competition; ecospace; entropy; evolutionary tempo; extended evolutionary synthesis (EES); fossil record; maximum entropy production principle (MEPP); modern evolutionary synthesis (MES); natural selection; species diversification
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MDPI and ACS Style
Skene, K.R. Life’s a Gas: A Thermodynamic Theory of Biological Evolution. Entropy 2015, 17, 5522-5548. https://doi.org/10.3390/e17085522
AMA Style
Skene KR. Life’s a Gas: A Thermodynamic Theory of Biological Evolution. Entropy. 2015; 17(8):5522-5548. https://doi.org/10.3390/e17085522
Chicago/Turabian StyleSkene, Keith R. 2015. "Life’s a Gas: A Thermodynamic Theory of Biological Evolution" Entropy 17, no. 8: 5522-5548. https://doi.org/10.3390/e17085522
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