Can Quantum Theory Concepts Shed Light on Biological Evolution Processes?
439
the Newton laws of motion for material bodies, which have a determinist flavour, are
physically equivalent to the Hamilton (or Maupertuis) integral principle, which has
a finalist flavour. In §3.2 we also recall how, in classical optics, the Snell-Descartes
laws of reflection and refraction for light rays, which have a determinist flavour, are
equivalent to the Fermat principle, which has a finalist flavour. In §3.3 we recall how
the analogy between the two equivalences can be understood through the de Broglie
assumption of a wave character of matter—as that of Huygens-Fresnel for light—and
resulting wave interference effects in Feynman’s path integral formulation.
In §4.1 we recall the conditions for life to emerge on any planet, the main steps of
the biological evolution on ours, and the universal rules of self-organization processes
leading to increase in complexity. In §4.2 we search for hints and criteria for a
biological extremum principle, using concepts from the Lamarck and Darwin former
theories and from the modern synthetic theory of biological evolution [2–13]. In §4.3
we recall Schrödinger’s views on the impact of the quantum properties of genome
molecules on the specificity of living beings [16] and make proposals to set a link
between the determinist and finalist views. In the Conclusion, we summarize our
overview and propose a prospective quantum theory of biological evolution.
2 A Short Survey of Theories of Biological Evolution
‘When the god Anou had created the Heaven, that the Heaven had created the Earth,
that the Earth had created the ditches, that the ditches had created the quagmires,
that the quagmires had created the worms, then Life appeared on the Earth.’
Sumerian cosmogony tablet, Louvre Museum (ca. 3000 BC)
‘The production of living beings was completed from the origin only in its principle,
for God did not create at once all Nature. He endowed the earth and the waters,
when he took them out of nothingness, with the potential to bring up one day,
at a fixed epoch, all beings that were to spread life and motion over the Earth.’
Saint Augustine, Commentary on Genesis (ca. 450 AD)
‘The present contains nothing more than the past,
and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.’
Henri Bergson, L’Evolution Créatrice (Alcan, Paris, 1907), chap. 1
The concept of evolutionism, as opposed to fixism, assumes that different species
appeared at different epochs; while transformism, as opposed to creationism, explains
that modern species emerged by ‘transmutation’ of archaic forms. Evolutionism won
acceptance before transformism due to the progress of natural sciences around the
17th century. The transition between ancient beliefs and modern views involved
scientists such as Whiston, Cuvier, Sidgwick, Saint Hilaire, who believed that new
living forms may appear as ‘special creations’ (macromutations we would say).
The more specific doctrine of transformism has ancient roots. In the 5th century
BC, Empedocles assumed that all structures were built from the combination of four
439
the Newton laws of motion for material bodies, which have a determinist flavour, are
physically equivalent to the Hamilton (or Maupertuis) integral principle, which has
a finalist flavour. In §3.2 we also recall how, in classical optics, the Snell-Descartes
laws of reflection and refraction for light rays, which have a determinist flavour, are
equivalent to the Fermat principle, which has a finalist flavour. In §3.3 we recall how
the analogy between the two equivalences can be understood through the de Broglie
assumption of a wave character of matter—as that of Huygens-Fresnel for light—and
resulting wave interference effects in Feynman’s path integral formulation.
In §4.1 we recall the conditions for life to emerge on any planet, the main steps of
the biological evolution on ours, and the universal rules of self-organization processes
leading to increase in complexity. In §4.2 we search for hints and criteria for a
biological extremum principle, using concepts from the Lamarck and Darwin former
theories and from the modern synthetic theory of biological evolution [2–13]. In §4.3
we recall Schrödinger’s views on the impact of the quantum properties of genome
molecules on the specificity of living beings [16] and make proposals to set a link
between the determinist and finalist views. In the Conclusion, we summarize our
overview and propose a prospective quantum theory of biological evolution.
2 A Short Survey of Theories of Biological Evolution
‘When the god Anou had created the Heaven, that the Heaven had created the Earth,
that the Earth had created the ditches, that the ditches had created the quagmires,
that the quagmires had created the worms, then Life appeared on the Earth.’
Sumerian cosmogony tablet, Louvre Museum (ca. 3000 BC)
‘The production of living beings was completed from the origin only in its principle,
for God did not create at once all Nature. He endowed the earth and the waters,
when he took them out of nothingness, with the potential to bring up one day,
at a fixed epoch, all beings that were to spread life and motion over the Earth.’
Saint Augustine, Commentary on Genesis (ca. 450 AD)
‘The present contains nothing more than the past,
and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.’
Henri Bergson, L’Evolution Créatrice (Alcan, Paris, 1907), chap. 1
The concept of evolutionism, as opposed to fixism, assumes that different species
appeared at different epochs; while transformism, as opposed to creationism, explains
that modern species emerged by ‘transmutation’ of archaic forms. Evolutionism won
acceptance before transformism due to the progress of natural sciences around the
17th century. The transition between ancient beliefs and modern views involved
scientists such as Whiston, Cuvier, Sidgwick, Saint Hilaire, who believed that new
living forms may appear as ‘special creations’ (macromutations we would say).
The more specific doctrine of transformism has ancient roots. In the 5th century
BC, Empedocles assumed that all structures were built from the combination of four