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Extended Evolution: Regulatory Networks and Niche Construction in Development, Evolution and History Manfred D. Laubichler Arizona State University Santa Fe Institute Marine Biological Laboratory Max Planck Institute for the History of Science
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John’s Challenge for Future Work: — How to fill in remaining conceptual gaps between autocatalysis and multiple networks? Or to quote Jorge Wagensberg: — Between an amoeba and man, something must have happened!!!
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Reflections on “The Emergence of Organizations and Markets” from the Perspective of Evolutionary Theory 1. A productive case of transdisciplinary exchange 2. Needs to based on current (and future) evolutionary theory, not an outdated version Main Challenges 1. For Evolutionary Theory: — Integrating regulatory network and niche construction perspectives; — Integrating mechanisms related to the origin of variation (novelty) with evolutionary dynamics; — developing an adequate conception of history; — developing a unified conception for molecular to cultural and knowledge evolution 2. For P&P: — Incorporating developmental and evolutionary conceptions; — Gaining a better understanding of the relationships and dynamics between networks and contexts
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The standard historical narrative of Evolutionary Biology Darwin Mendel/Morgan & Population Genetics Modern Synthesis Evo Devo Common Descent, Natural Selection, Gradualism, Open Question of Inheritance Rules of transmission genetics, Physical Basis of Heredity, Genes as abstractions (factors), statistical approaches, Open Questions related to effects of genes (other than statistical) Common explanatory framework: (adaptive) dynamics of populations are the primary explanation for phenotypic evolution, developmental mechanisms are secondary (complexity of the genotype-phenotype map) Dynamics of Alleles connected to Adaptation and Speciation; Simple Genotype-Phenotype Map Gradualism Complex GT—PT Map, constraints, conservation, comparison “to complete the Modern Synthesis”
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An alternative history of Developmental Evolution Darwin Boveri, Cell Biology & Entwicklungsmechanik Kühn, Goldschmidt & Developmental Physiological Genetics Regulatory Evolution, GRNs & Synthetic Experimental Evolution Common Descent, Natural Selection, Gradualism, Open Question of Inheritance, Developmental Considerations about the Origin of Variation Role of the Nucleus in Development and Heredity, Experimental Approaches, Speculative Ideas about the Hereditary Material as a Structured System governing Development Common explanatory framework: Mechanistic Explanation of Development and Evolution as primary; Development as the Origin of Phenotypic Variation, Adaptive Dynamics as secondary Physiological Gene Action, Macroevolution, Gene Pathways
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The Britten-Davidson Model (1969)— A conceptual/logical Framework for Developmental Evolution Logical structure of “regulation of gene activity” Based on a hierarchical and functional structure of the genome Explicit recognition as a mechanism of phenotypic evolution Offered a constructive-mechanistic alternative theory of phenotypic evolution Open Question: Specific Structure of the Network (->experimental challenge)
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Underlying Assumptions in Evolutionary Theory about Phenotypic Evolution: => “Mutations will get you there” => Problem: What is the Effect of a Mutation => Problem: What is the Structure of the Genotype- Phenotype Map Part of the long quest to understand the origins of variation and the patterns of phenotypic diversity (think body plans)
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Problem Both sides in the current debate between the primacy of regulatory or standard adaptive evolution have ample empirical evidence => This is a debate about epistemology, not data (but data help)
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Measuring Pleiotropy: Mouse Skeletal Characters
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Measuring Pleiotropy: Stickleback Skeletal Characters
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The data on genetic pleiotropy suggest which, together with over three decades of molecular developmental biology, lead to =>
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Eric Davidson’s Concept of Gene Regulatory Networks
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Gene Regulatory Networks as the Foundation for Developmental Evolution Process Diagram (from Peter and Davidson 2009)
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The dynamic n-dimensional regulatory genome Traditional definition: => Genome is often equated with the complete DNA sequence However, => Genome is the entirety of the hereditary information of an organism => heredity involves a whole range of complex regulatory processes and mechanisms (development) => heredity therefore implies the unfolding of the genetic information in space and time during development and evolution (1) the regulatory genome is thus a spatial-temporal sequence of regulatory states (2) the regulatory genome anchors all other regulatory processes that affect development, heredity and therefore evolution
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Analyzing and Expanding Gene Regulatory Networks
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Sub-circuit Repertoire of Developmental GRNs
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Logic Reconstruction of a Developmental GRN
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The Developmental Evolution of the Superorganism
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A Hierarchical Expansion of the GRN Framework Developmental Evolution in Social Insects: Regulatory Networks from Genes to Societies
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More than a Century later — Boveri realized “to transform one organism in front or our eyes into another” Synthetic Experimental Evolution “to mold arbitrary abnormalities into true experiments…” Requires both detailed knowledge AND a clear theoretical framework of developmental evolution Transforms research on phenotypic evolution => Comparative GRN research => emphasis on the mechanisms of (genomic) regulatory control => Experimental intervention (re- constructing GRNs) Erwin and Davidson, 2009
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Novel Computational Possibilities
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Peter et al., 2012
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Further development of computational GRN models for multiple systems to: 1. Explore the future evolutionary potential of a given genome based on the introduction of known gain of function elements 2. Reconstruct specific evolutionary trajectories (=> comparative analysis of GRNs based on phylogenetic hypotheses) 3. Develop predictions of evolutionary transitions (for experimental verification) 4. Further refine the hierarchical expansion of the GRN perspective to include the effects of post-transcriptional and environmental/epigenetic regulatory systems Future Directions Synthetic in silico experimental evolution
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Co-evolutionary Dynamics of Biology, Material Culture and Knowledge: The Neolithic Revolution
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Jared Diamond, et al. Science 300, 597 (2003) Spread of the neolithic revolution
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Computational History of Science uses a variety of computational tools and techniques to aid historical and philosophical study of the life sciences. The rapidly declining cost of computing power and the increasing availability of both primary and secondary materials in digital formats makes it possible to translate historical and philosophical questions into computationally tractable ones. Computational approaches can range from simple term- frequency analysis of large scientific corpora, to complex reconstructions of the social, material, and conceptual fabrics of scientific fields using both automated and supervised procedures.
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1. 2. 3. Historical settings & relationships Topology of research literature Conceptual relationships Change Over Time 19501940193019201960 19701980
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Computational Analysis of Eric Davidson’s Investigative Pathway
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Cytoscape 616 unique nodes. 1591 edges. ~30% of stage 1 dataset https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zab15Jga8ro Text
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Genecology Project Collaborations among ecological geneticists and evolutionary ecologists surrounding key participants in a controversy over methods for modeling adaptive phenotypic plasticity during the early 1990s. Generated using the Vogon text- annotation and network-building tool. Each relationship is rooted in a precise location in a text stored in the Digital HPS Community Repository. Part of the doctoral dissertation research project, "Ecology, Evolution, and Development: The Conceptual Foundations of Adaptive Phenotypic Plasticity in Evolutionary Ecology." (http://devo- evo.lab.asu.edu/phenotypic-plasticity)http://devo- evo.lab.asu.edu/phenotypic-plasticity
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Question: How can we asses the influence of a Research Program?
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Closeness Centrality
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Conclusions 1. Innovation/Inventions in CAS are the product of a complex interplay between internal and external conditions (regulatory networks and niche construction) 2. The origin of variation (phenotypic of scientific) is a consequence of changes to the (extended) complex regulatory networks that govern CAS 3. These isomorphic properties enable a transfer of both concepts and methods between different fields concerned with innovation 4. Extended Evolution is a more adequate mechanistic framework for understanding innovation/invention than simple population dynamics
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Acknowledgments For intellectual discussions/collaborations: Eric Davidson Günter Wagner Jane Maienschein Robert Page Bert Hölldobler Jürgen Renn Doug Erwin Colin Allen Hans-Jörg Rheinberger Horst Bredekamp Olof Leimar Sander van der Leeuw Graduate Students: Erick Peirson Kate MacCord Guido Caniglia Yawen Zhou Lijing Jiang Nah Zhang Steve Elliott Julia Damerow Mark Ulett For Financial Support: National Science Foundation Stiftung Mercator Smart Family Foundation Max Planck Society Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin Arizona State University
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