Synthesis, Reflections On Day One and On Moving Forward

Robert T.
Pennock
Lyman Briggs College
Dept. of Philosophy
Dept of Computer Science
Ecology, Evolutionary Bio. & Behavior
BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action
Michigan State University
Thinking Evolutionarily
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Shadowens
objection was that
there was no
mention of the
biblical account of
creation that is in
Genesis.
Were not going to
teach one theory
and not teach
another theory
BEACON
An NSF Center for the Study of
Evolution in Action
Teach the Controversy
!
Michigan HB 5251
(A) Use the scientific method to critically evaluate
scientific theories including, but not limited to, the
theories of global warming and evolution.
(B) Use relevant scientific data to assess the validity of
those theories and to formulate arguments for and
against those theories.
!
Rep. John Moolenaar said that [this language]
does not require the teaching of intelligent design,
but that such a decision would be up to local
school boards.
BEACON
Evolution in Action
Teach the Controversy?
!
IDs backers have sought to avoid the
scientific scrutiny which we have now
determined that it cannot withstand by
advocating that the controversy, but not ID
itself, should be taught in science class. This
tactic is at best disingenuous, and at worst a
canard.
- Kitzmiller et al v. Dover Area School Board
BEACON
Evolution in Action
Texas Board of Ed (2009)
!strengths and
weaknesses!
N
o
Y
e
s
Creationist proposal to require students to

analyze and evaluate:
N
o
Board
Votes
evidence supportive and not

supportive of a theory.
the sufficiency or insufficiency

of common ancestry to explain the
sudden appearance, stasis and
sequential nature of groups in the
fossil record."
Language Matters
Framing
Dover PA evolution
disclaimer
Because Darwins Theory is a theory, it continues to

be tested as new evidence is discovered. The Theory is
not a fact.!Gaps in the Theory exist for which there is
no evidence. A theory is dened as a well-tested
explanation that unies a broad range of
observations.
Intelligent Design is an explanation of the origin of
life that differs from Darwins view. The reference
book, Of Pandas and People, is!available for
students who might be interested in gaining an
understanding of what Intelligent Design
actually!involves.
Cobb Co., GA disclaimer
This textbook contains material on
evolution. Evolution is a theory,
not a fact, regarding the origin of
living things. This material should
be approached with an open
mind, studied carefully and
critically considered.
Evolutionary Theory
Evolutionary Science
Moving from
Reactive to Proactive
U.S.A.
Acceptance
or Rejection
of Evolution
in 34
Countries
Attitudes w/ College Education
32% of students answered no to
the question Do you think that the
modern theory of evolution has a
valid scientic foundation?
40% of high school biology teachers
think there are sufcient problems
with the theory of evolution to cast
doubts on its validity
How to Attack the
Problem and Win the War?
Answer: We must marshall the data!
Science as Evidence-Based Persuasion
Cart and Horse Problem

Hearts & Minds
You Can Lead a Horse to Water,
But You Cannot Make It Drink
You Can Send the Kids to College,
But You Cannot Make Them Think
Evolution what has it
done for us lately?
!Evolutionary medicine
!Pest management
!Forensic tools
!Evolutionary computation
!Evolutionary engineering design
!and more
Practical Results
Evolution is science done right,
and is one of the best examples to
illustrate the nature of science.
A Model Science
Scientic Explanation
One explains E scientically by showing what made it so
(i.e. its cause)
CaSE Model
C E
CaSE Model
C E
C
C
Proximate
Causes
S
CaSE Model
C E
C
C
Proximate
Causes
CaSE Model
C E
C
C
C E
C
C
CaSE Model
C E
C
C
C E
C
C
C E
C
C
Proximate
Causes
Ultimate
Causes
Teleology vs Teleonomy
Cant do evolutionary
experiments in real time?
Yes we can.
Nature (2003, Vol. 423. 8 May, pp. 139-144)

Avida Publications
Adami, C., Ofria, C., and Collier, T.C. 2000. Evolution of biological
complexity. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 97:4463-4468.
Chow, S. et al. 2004. Adaptive Radiation from Resource

Competition in Digital Organisms. Science, 305:84-85
Hang, D., Ofria, C., Schmidt, T., and Torng, E. 2007. The Effect of
Natural Selection on Performance of Maximum Parsimony, BCM
Evolutionary Biology.
Lenski, R.E., et al. 1999. Genome complexity, robustness, and genetic

interactions in digital organisms. Nature, 400:661-664.
Ofria, C., Adami, C., and Collier, T.C. 2003. Selective pressures on
genomes in evolution. J. Theor. Biology, 222:466-483.
Wilke, C.O. and Adami, C. 2001. Interaction between directional

epistasis and average mutational effects. Proc. Royal Society London
B, 268:1469.
Yedid, G., et al 2008. Historical and contingent factors affect re-

evolution of a complex feature lost during mass extinction in
communities of digital organisms. Journal of Evolutionary Biology
21/5:!1335-1357
Adami, C., Ofria, C., and Collier, T.C. 2000. Evolution of biological
complexity. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 97:4463-4468.
Chow, S. et al. 2004. Adaptive Radiation from Resource

Competition in Digital Organisms. Science, 305:84-85
Hang, D., Ofria, C., Schmidt, T., and Torng, E. 2007. The Effect of
Natural Selection on Performance of Maximum Parsimony, BCM
Evolutionary Biology.
Lenski, R.E., et al. 1999. Genome complexity, robustness, and genetic

interactions in digital organisms. Nature, 400:661-664.
Ofria, C., Adami, C., and Collier, T.C. 2003. Selective pressures on
genomes in evolution. J. Theor. Biology, 222:466-483.
Wilke, C.O. and Adami, C. 2001. Interaction between directional

epistasis and average mutational effects. Proc. Royal Society London
B, 268:1469.
Yedid, G., et al 2008. Historical and contingent factors affect re-

evolution of a complex feature lost during mass extinction in
communities of digital organisms. Journal of Evolutionary Biology
21/5:!1335-1357
Avida Publications
Other Avida Research
Evolution of altruism
Evolution of intelligent behavior
Evolution of parasites and disease
Evolution of sex
Effects of extinction events on evolution
Selective pressures in evolution
Origins of gene modularity
Roles of chance and history in evolution

Technology for
Teaching Evolution and
the Nature of Science
using Digital Organisms
Avida-ED's Digital Petri Dish
The Genome of an Avidian
An Avidian Replicates
BEACON CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF EVOLUTION IN ACTION
BEACON
C E N T E R F O R T H E S T U D Y O F
BEACON aims to illuminate and harness the power of
evolution in action to advance science and technology
for the benet of society.
BEACON is just getting started. In the years ahead,
groundbreaking BEACON research will be proled in exhibits
and other educational programs for children and adults.
Stories will explore evolution at the genetic level, at
the level of the individual organism (the microbe,
plant, or animal), and at the community level
(organisms interacting together).
We will look at evolution happening in computers . . .
see robots that incorporate evolutionary principles . . .
. . . to learn how this research
ceNetcs
gy
x
s.
rs
le
y
hibits
s . . .
es . . .
NovouAL
oncANsu
impacts
our
lives.
couuuNtes
evolution
n action
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BEACON studies the impacts and industrial applications of
evolution as it happens now and in the future.
BEACON unites biologists, computer scientists, and engineers
from ve universities each bringing their unique
perspectives and approaches to work together in
studying natural and digital evolutionary processes.
Evolution in nature
Evolution is observable in the genetic code
of natural organisms plants, animals, and
microbes such as in the two different strains
of bacteria growing in this petri dish.
Evolution
in digital
environments
Evolution is also observable in the
software code of articial organisms
that can mutate, self-replicate,
and compete in a computer such
as in the population of Avidians
seen on this computer screen.
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st tttt
from ve un
rspe
stud
ol
d
nm
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al o software code of articia
per
s
Evo
in
environ
Evolution is also obser
software code of articia
BEACON
CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF EVOLUTION IN ACTION
Exhibit funded by the National Science Foundation
Cooperative Agreement No. DBI-0939454.
Exhibit produced by the Michigan State University Museum.
Graphic design by Charlie Sharp, Sharp Des!gns, Inc.
evolution
works!
Evolution can result in elegant
designs in nature and in
digital environments.
Evolution can also help us
solve complex engineering
problems, resulting in . . .
Safer cars.
A car chassis buffers the impact a driver experiences during
a front end collision. Dr. Ron Averill and BEACON
researcher Erik Goodman used evolutionary
computation to design the forward
part of a car chassis that is
lightweight but provides excellent
crash protection!
Smarter robots.
Computers can evolve robots with more complex, exible
behaviors. BEACON researchers Drs. Xiabo Tan, Philip McKinley,
and Janette Boughman are developing robotic sh that can
form schools on their own . This cooperation will better enable
the robots to monitor underwater environments for us.
Steadier
rockets.
Finless rockets have less drag
than nned designs but are less
stable during ight. Dr. Faustino
Gomez and BEACONs Dr. Risto
Miikkulainen used computers
to evolve a neural network
controller an articial brain
that maintains stability of a nless
rocket, allowing it to y 20 miles
higher.
the
isio
che
com
p
A car chassis buffers t
a front end coll
researc
c
i t d i i d i th b ff t
Want to
know more?
h
Download Avida-ED
http://avida-ed.msu.edu

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Robert T.

Creationist proposal to require students to

evidence supportive and not

the sufficiency or insufficiency

Because Darwins Theory is a theory, it continues to

Answer: We must marshall the data!

Science as Evidence-Based Persuasion

Cart and Horse Problem

Nature (2003, Vol. 423. 8 May, pp. 139-144)

Chow, S. et al. 2004. Adaptive Radiation from Resource

Lenski, R.E., et al. 1999. Genome complexity, robustness, and genetic

Wilke, C.O. and Adami, C. 2001. Interaction between directional

Yedid, G., et al 2008. Historical and contingent factors affect re-

Chow, S. et al. 2004. Adaptive Radiation from Resource

Lenski, R.E., et al. 1999. Genome complexity, robustness, and genetic

Wilke, C.O. and Adami, C. 2001. Interaction between directional

Yedid, G., et al 2008. Historical and contingent factors affect re-

Evolution of intelligent behavior

Evolution of parasites and disease

Effects of extinction events on evolution

Selective pressures in evolution

Origins of gene modularity

Roles of chance and history in evolution

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