For the last couple of years I try to apply design patterns mainly from software engineering to unravel evolution. This approach resulted in different scenario's for the origin of life and the first cells, based on design paradigms. I now created a website where I present a general design framework for evolution and where I explain how life originated, how the first genome and the first cell evolved and how the design patters can be used to explain evolution in general.
-Life can be modelled on design patterns that are conceptually similar to iterative software development and using similar deisgn patterns such as encapsulation and object-orientation.
-Life evolved inside-out, meaning that we life originated by adding funcitonal layers on top of existing ones. For the eukaryotic cell this means first replicating DNA, then a nucleolus, then a nuclear lamina and the nuclear membrane before the evolution of the plasma membrane
-Ontogeny reflects the phylogeny. By looking at the dependencies between the different components of the cell and the way they are assembled during development, one can deduct the evolutionary steps. Thus, we can reverse engineer evolution and avoid irreducibly complex systems.
The website is
design4evolution.net. Would like to hear your opinions on the design approach, the molecular steps I propose and the general philosophical aspects of my approach and findings.
™ Version 4.2