Abstract

We discuss a mathematical metatheory of biological evolution that employs a version of information theory called algorithmic information theory. As indicated by “meta,” here the tension between map and territory or between theory and phenomena is particularly acute. The normal information-theoretic view of evolution is that it increases the information in the genome about the environment until the organisms are fully adapted to their environment, at which point evolution stagnates until there are changes in the environment. However, metabiology focuses on unending biological creativity and on the consequences of viewing DNA as software, which leads to a completely different information-theoretic perspective on evolution, but still incorporating information from the environment.