<ul><li>Information is immaterial by nature but must have a physical form to exist. </li><li>Inherited information may be found in many forms.</li><li>The forms have divergent properties and information may over time change its physical form.</li><li>The term “hereditome” refers to the sum of inherited information and its forms.</li><li>The substrate of natural selection is immaterial information.</li></ul>

The Information Continuum Model Of Evolution - Key Points 1 of 2

Over the years, it has become evident that evolution happens in a number of ways, including horizontal gene transfer between unrelated species, epigenetic inheritance of genes that changed during our parents’ lifetimes, and convergent evolution — where vastly different life forms end up with very similar mechanisms as a result of pursuing a common goal. Efforts to incorporate these processes into evolutionary theory are sometimes called The Third Way or Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES).

The Third Way

A new model of evolution relies on information theory, which is itself interesting because information is governed by different rules from matter and energy. For example, it is created by ruling out possibilities, it is relational, not causal, and it is not reduced by being shared. It is also immaterial. For example, Einstein’s bomb equation, e = mc2 , had a huge impact on the world but by itself, it is an immaterial idea.

A New Model Of Evolution And Information Theory

One reason that the theory of evolution is controversial is the claim that sheer randomness produces information. That is, randomly generated events are somehow selected for survival and continuing complex development (Darwinian evolution). The theory is understandably popular because, if correct, it would answer a great many questions. The problem is, we do not see randomly generated events producing complex mechanisms in the life around us. We are asked, however, to believe that this modern synthesis is true over the grand sweep of evolutionary time.

Evolution And Sheer Randomness

<ul><li>The Information Continuum Model is a simple heuristic model that allows evolution and natural selection to be investigated without conceptual restrictions imposed by the properties of individual hereditome components.</li><li>The conceptual nature of Information Continuum Model enables it to serve as an interdisciplinary platform for collaboration between natural and social sciences. ﻿</li></ul>

The Information Continuum Model Of Evolution - Key Points 2 of 2

Information can be stripped of all matter and appear in a variety of media: one could phone and tell you the winning lottery number or send you an email or a letter about it or discuss it on radio or TV. Vastly different material media; same information.

Material Media, Immaterial Information

The fallacies of a simplified gene-centric model of evolution have become evident in light of the cumulative evidence that inheritance is more than just genomes. 

Information follows different rules from matter and energy, which might change the way we see evolution.

Material Media, Immaterial Information

Similar ideas to Material Media, Immaterial Information

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