Future Darwinism- Constructal Theory Unifies Evolution

A Unified Theory of Evolution is one step closer after a new theory- Constructal Theory, governing the adaptation of natural systems to the physics of physical flows, has provided further evidence of a link between the evolution of animate and inanimate phenomena.

Although the theory was first proposed over a decade ago it has only recently been fully published after becoming more widely understood and accepted by the biological sciences community.

In a paper published in the January, 2006 issue of the Journal of Experimental Biology, Duke University engineer Adrian Bejan and Penn State biology professor James Marden claimed that one simple theory can quantitatively explain important characteristics of animal movement. The method, Constructal Theory, was originally developed by Bejan to explain the shape of river basins but has since been applied to model a diverse array of natural phenomena involving flow patterns.
Constructal theory postulates that a system that is not in equilibrium will generate structural patterns and paths over time, that allow currents to flow with the optimum access and least resistance. The theory correctly predicts how an animal’s velocity, frequency of motion, and the force it applies to water, air or the earth varies with its mass.
Essentially the theory says that systems evolve so as to minimize friction and maximize their efficiency. In terms of locomotion, this means animals move in a way that minimizes their energy spent, independently of whether they swim, fly or run. All natural forms including animals, rivers, trees and even lungs, follow such an evolutionary process of maximization of flow access over time.
The Constructal Law is further postulated as a universal principle of evolution, which can be extended to many fields beyond biological systems, such as physics, economics and even cosmology.

It also supports the convergence principle of evolution discussed in a previous post. This states that if the tape of life is rerun, for example following a global catastrophe, species with similar structures and characteristics would evolve again in response to similar physical forces in their environments.