The Genomic Code: The genome instantiates a generative model of the organism

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Mitchell, Kevin J., Cheney, Nick
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2024
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author Mitchell, Kevin J.
Cheney, Nick
author_facet Mitchell, Kevin J.
Cheney, Nick
contents How does the genome encode the form of the organism? What is the nature of this genomic code? Inspired by recent work in machine learning and neuroscience, we propose that the genome encodes a generative model of the organism. In this scheme, by analogy with variational autoencoders, the genome comprises a connectionist network, embodying a compressed space of latent variables, with weights that get encoded by the learning algorithm of evolution and decoded through the processes of development. The generative model analogy accounts for the complex, distributed genetic architecture of most traits and the emergent robustness and evolvability of developmental processes, while also offering a conception that lends itself to formalisation.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2407_15908
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The Genomic Code: The genome instantiates a generative model of the organism
Mitchell, Kevin J.
Cheney, Nick
Other Quantitative Biology
How does the genome encode the form of the organism? What is the nature of this genomic code? Inspired by recent work in machine learning and neuroscience, we propose that the genome encodes a generative model of the organism. In this scheme, by analogy with variational autoencoders, the genome comprises a connectionist network, embodying a compressed space of latent variables, with weights that get encoded by the learning algorithm of evolution and decoded through the processes of development. The generative model analogy accounts for the complex, distributed genetic architecture of most traits and the emergent robustness and evolvability of developmental processes, while also offering a conception that lends itself to formalisation.
title The Genomic Code: The genome instantiates a generative model of the organism
topic Other Quantitative Biology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.15908