Stability-driven assembly theory
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The emergence of complexity and information remains a fundamental question in all scientific disciplines. This paper introduces Stability-Driven Assembly (SDA) systems, a theoretical framework that models pattern evolution through probabilistic interactions governed by differential stability. Our computational experiments demonstrate that stability differences alone can generate selection pressure, driving systems toward lower-entropy states characterized by dominant stable patterns, without requiring explicit replication mechanisms. Through controlled intervention experiments, we establish a causal relationship between stability constraints and system evolution, showing how stability functions as a control parameter shaping the evolutionary landscape. The SDA framework reveals the interplay between bottom-up assembly processes and top-down selective pressures, where emergent stable patterns recursively influence future interactions. Dynamic network visualization further illuminates how stability-driven selection operates on all scales. These findings provide a mechanistic explanation for how complexity and information can emerge in abiotic systems, with implications for understanding prebiotic chemical evolution and the transition from inanimate to living matter.
Source: Journal of Theoretical Biology
Author: Dan Adler
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,550
OpenAlex ID: W4417527176