Monday, February 13, 2006
[evomech] Pit-Loops
In response to comments on another thread, here is another attempt
to explain pit-loops.
I kind of thought the pit-loop concept would be easy to visualize at
least for people like yourself that understands systems design. Most
likely I am not explaining the concept very well.
Start with something like a neuron or a gene that needs to be
activated or inhibited. The process or program that activates the
neuron or gene can be described in terms of feedback loops or for
complex processes as a set of feedback loops. Any computer program
can be expressed as a set of input-output relationships, and any
input output relationship can be characterized as a feedback loop.
If the feedback loops are dynamic, programmable or self programming,
and if the feedback loops serve a purpose or function, then the
feedback loops fit my definition for pit-loops. Pit-loops are thus
little more than an effective gimmick for reverse engineering the
programs that control the development and operations of cells and
complex organisms. If you analyze cells and organisms in terms of
pit-loops, you quickly learn that evolution of living systems must
involve the evolution or modification of pit-loops, not changes in
genes.
I clearly don't have all the answers to what are all the pit-loops
ultimately responsible for reprogramming other pit-loops, but
following the results of pit-loop analysis might eventually lead to
resolving the issue.
Again, undoubtedly a most of the problem is that I am not expressing
the concept clearly.
Warren
Please Note: If you are reading this in a Blog then replying directly to this message (as opposed to making a 'blog comment') requires membership of the 'Evolution: Where Darwin meets Lamarck?' Egroup at:
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to explain pit-loops.
I kind of thought the pit-loop concept would be easy to visualize at
least for people like yourself that understands systems design. Most
likely I am not explaining the concept very well.
Start with something like a neuron or a gene that needs to be
activated or inhibited. The process or program that activates the
neuron or gene can be described in terms of feedback loops or for
complex processes as a set of feedback loops. Any computer program
can be expressed as a set of input-output relationships, and any
input output relationship can be characterized as a feedback loop.
If the feedback loops are dynamic, programmable or self programming,
and if the feedback loops serve a purpose or function, then the
feedback loops fit my definition for pit-loops. Pit-loops are thus
little more than an effective gimmick for reverse engineering the
programs that control the development and operations of cells and
complex organisms. If you analyze cells and organisms in terms of
pit-loops, you quickly learn that evolution of living systems must
involve the evolution or modification of pit-loops, not changes in
genes.
I clearly don't have all the answers to what are all the pit-loops
ultimately responsible for reprogramming other pit-loops, but
following the results of pit-loop analysis might eventually lead to
resolving the issue.
Again, undoubtedly a most of the problem is that I am not expressing
the concept clearly.
Warren
Please Note: If you are reading this in a Blog then replying directly to this message (as opposed to making a 'blog comment') requires membership of the 'Evolution: Where Darwin meets Lamarck?' Egroup at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/evomech/
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