An international group of scientists has developed a new theoretical concept that unites physics and biology, providing a single approach to understanding how complexity and evolution arise in nature. The study of the “Assembly theory” was published on October 4 in the journal Nature and becomes an important step in understanding biological evolution and its relationship with the physical laws of the Universe.
In their early studies, the team focused on assigning complexity index values to molecules based on the minimum number of stages required for their construction. This index revealed how high values correlated with molecules derived from living organisms.
In their latest study, the scientists presented a mathematical formalization centered around the physical quantity of Assembly. This concept quantifies the level of selectivity required to create a set of complex objects.
“The theory of the Assembly provides a completely new outlook on physics, chemistry, and biology,” said Professor Sarah Walker from the University of Arizona, the chief author of the study.
Professor Lee Kronin from the University of Glasgow added that “the theory of the Assembly represents a completely new approach to considering matter, which has the potential to revolutionize various fields from cosmology to computer science.”
In the future, the scientists plan to further refine the “theory of the Assembly” and explore its applications, such as the possibility of creating living systems from scratch in laboratory conditions.
This theory opens up numerous opportunities for research and promises a profound understanding of the physics underlying biological complexity and evolutionary innovation.