From correlation to causation: Unraveling the impact of closure on open-ended evolution within the Kauffman model

Abstract

Evolution is a highly intricate process marked by the generation of novelty, which requires the historical and collective organization of individuals. In this paper, we investigate the relationship between biological organization and Open-Ended Evolution (OEE), with a particular focus on the causal connection between the two. To quantitatively investigate the causal relation within a chemical system, we utilize assembly theory to assess the influence of auto-catalytic sets on the complexity dynamics of Kauffman’s model. In the second part of the paper, we strengthen this conjecture by analyzing the effects of the simplest auto-catalytic set on the complexity dynamics in Kauffman’s model, specifically in the absence of parametric correlation. By interpreting auto-catalytic sets as organizational structures in chemical systems, our findings provide the first numerical support for investigating the causal relationship between biological organization and OEE. This work represents a promising area for the initial study of the dynamical relationship between OEE and biological organization, and may advance the understanding of their connection in theoretical biology.