Cellular ``bauplans'': Evolving unicellular forms by means of Julia sets and Pickover biomorphs

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@Article{Mojica200919,

• author = "Nelly Selem Mojica and Jorge Navarro and Pedro C. Marijuan and Rafael Lahoz-Beltra",
• title = "Cellular ``bauplans'': Evolving unicellular forms by means of Julia sets and Pickover biomorphs",
• journal = "Biosystems",
• volume = "98",
• number = "1",
• pages = "19--30",
• year = "2009",
• ISSN = "0303-2647",
• DOI = "doi:10.1016/j.biosystems.2009.07.002",
• URL = "http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6T2K-4WRD3P1-1/2/9d1dc224fa7f3b0696e38abe5aec4a63",
• keywords = "genetic algorithms, genetic programming, Cellular bauplans, Pickover biomorphs, Morphogenetic field, Julia set, Evolving fractal, Cytoskeletal mechanical forces, Organismic form",
• abstract = "The universe of cellular forms has received scarce attention by mainstream neo-Darwinian views. The possibility that a fundamental trait of biological order may consist upon, or be guided by, developmental processes not completely amenable to natural selection was more akin to previous epochs of biological thought, i.e. the 'bauplan' discussion. Thirty years ago, however, Lynn and Tucker studied the biological mechanisms responsible for defining organelles position inside cells. The fact that differentiated structures performing a specific function within the eukaryotic cell (i.e. mitochondrion, vacuole, or chloroplast) were occupying specific positions in the protoplasm was the observational and experimental support of the [`]morphogenetic field' notion at the cellular level. In the present paper we study the morphogenetic field evolution yielding from an initial population of undifferentiated cells to diversified unicellular organisms as well as specialised eukaryotic cell types. The cells are represented as Julia sets and Pickover biomorphs, simulating the effect of Darwinian natural selection with a simple genetic algorithm. The morphogenetic field 'defines' the locations where cells are differentiated or sub-cellular components (or organelles) become organised. It may be realised by different possibilities, one of them by diffusing chemicals along the Turing model. We found that Pickover cells show a higher diversity of size and form than those populations evolved as Julia sets. Another novelty is the way that cellular organelles and cell nucleus fill in the cell, always in dependence on the previous cell definition as Julia set or Pickover biomorph. Our findings support the existence of specific attractors representing the functional and stable form of a differentiated cell--genuine cellular bauplans. The configuration of the morphogenetic field is 'attracted' towards one or another attractor depending on the environmental influences as modelled by a particular fitness function. The model promotes the classical discussions of D'Arcy Thompson and the more recent views of Waddington, Goodwin and others that consider organisms as dynamical systems that evolve through a [`]master plan' of transformations, amenable to natural selection. Intriguingly, the model also connects with current developments on mechanobiology, highlighting the informational-developmental role that cytoskeletons may play.",
• notes = "GA uses complex mathematical functions",

}

Genetic Programming entries for Nelly Selem Mojica Jorge Navarro Pedro C Marijuan Rafael Lahoz-Beltra

Citations