Nature favors simplicity and symmetry in biological forms

Kamaludin Dingle

doi:10.25250/thescbr.brk708

Authors

Kamaludin Dingle Gulf University for Science and Technology and The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4423-3255

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25250/thescbr.brk708

Keywords:

symmetry, biology, evolution, information theory

Abstract

Why do symmetric and regular shapes abound in biology? Using arguments based on algorithmic information theory, we explain why a preference for simple shapes often occurs in biological systems. Our theory is validated via predicting the shape frequencies for naturally occurring protein assemblies, non-coding RNAs, self-assembled tile shapes, and a cell cycle mathematical model.

Author Biography

Kamaludin Dingle, Gulf University for Science and Technology and The California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Professor

Original article reference

Johnston, I. G., Dingle, K., Greenbury, S. F., Camargo, C. Q., Doye, J. P. K., Ahnert, S. E., & Louis, A. A. (2022). Symmetry and simplicity spontaneously emerge from the algorithmic nature of evolution. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(11). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2113883119