Modularity and symmetry in computational embryogeny

Abstract

Modularity and symmetry are two properties observed in almost every engineering and biological structure. The origin of these properties in nature is still unknown. Yet, as engineers we tend to generate designs which share these properties. In this paper we will report on the origin of these properties in three dimensional evolved structures (phenotypes). The phenotypes were evolved in an evolutionarydevelopmental model of biological structures. The phenotypes were grown under a high volatility stochastic environment. The phenotypes have evolved to function within the environment using the very basic requirements. Even though neither modularity nor symmetry have been directly imposed as part of the requirements, the phenotypes were able to generate these properties after only a few hundred generations. These results may suggest that modularity and symmetry are both very fundamental properties that develop during the early stages of evolution. This result may give insight to the origin of both modularity and symmetry in biological organisms.