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Do Mutation Rates Match the Kelly Criterion?
No full textThe Kelly Criterion defines an optimal betting strategy for games that have a defined risk and payoff. This letter explores the question of if this can be used as a methodology for analyzing mutation rates
Fisher’s Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection Isn’t Fundamental After All
Full text linkFisher’s Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection (FTNS) was called “biology’s central theorem” (Fisher, 1930, pgs. 36–37; Brockman, 2011; Royal Society, 2020). FTNS might possibly have been accorded this status for decades because Fisher himself declared his own theorem to be fundamental to biology (Fisher, 1930, pgs. 36–37). However, the idea that Fisher’s theorem is biology’s central theorem is by-and-large a myth promoted by popu- lar science writers like Richard Dawkins (Brockman, 2011). Joseph Felsenstein, when delivering the 2018 Fisher Memorial Lecture declared that FTNS was “alas, not so fundamental” (Felsenstein, 2018; Felsenstein, 2017, pg. 94. One may be hard-pressed to find a biology textbook or biology student who can explain how FTNS helps them understand biology. Even the meaning and proof of the FTNS have re- mained contentious even to this day (Price, 1972; Basener and Sanford, 2018).
Not only does FTNS do little to nothing to explain biological evolution, but like most population genetic and evolutionary literature, FTNS relies on a definition of fit- ness in terms of population growth rates rather than the biophysical notions of fitness which are more in line with the common-sense intuitions of the medical and engineering communities.
From the perspective of the biophysical (rather than the population growth) notion of fitness, natural selection might be more accurately described as an agent against the increase of complexity rather than an agent for it. Thus, metaphorically speaking, some sort of anti-Weasel model of natural selection might better describe how selection actu- ally works in nature rather than Dawkins’ Weasel or other man-made genetic algorithms.
However, the main focus of this communication is to pro- vide some pedagogical insights through simple numerical illustrations of Fisher’s Theorem. The hope is that this will show the general irrelevance of FTNS to the question of the evolution of complexity by means of natural selection, and thus show that Fisher’s Theorem is not so fundamental after all
PREPRINT: Active Information Calculation Spreadsheet
No full textThis spreadsheet provides calculations based on the paper Measuring Active Information in Biological Systems. 
Two Methods of Calculating Axiom Size
No full textPrevious work suggests that there is an ordering to the discoverability of axioms, a "size" of sorts. However, there is not presently a method of measuring the size of an axiom. This paper suggests two possible methods for measuing axiom size. The goal is not to produce a definitive measurement technique, but to begin the exploration of different possible size measurements for axioms
On the Logic of Being and Wigner's Astonishment Regarding the Applicability of Mathematics
Full text linkThe Nobel Prize winning Physicist, Eugene Wigner, famously posed a powerful challenge (1960) by asking why is mathematics so effective, especially in the physical sciences. It is possible that the reason for the effectiveness of mathematics is not because mathematics is in any way causative, but instead because mathematics studies the structure of logical possibility and constraint. When plugged into a possible world, mathematics gives us the tools to analyze the logically possible outcomes. Therefore, when a possible world that is expressed mathematically sufficiently aligns with reality, mathematics becomes effective at expressing relationships and outcomes
CrowdRank
No full textPublic rating systems are difficult to score well. Voting systems tend to simply favor what is already popular. Averaging systems tend to have significant variance if there are not enough people scoring. CrowdRank assigns scores based on a "minimal defensible score" criteria. Each average score has its error calculated based on the sample size (number of submissions), and the bottom end of the range is used as the official score of the item in question
Evolution in the Valley of Illusions
Full text linkThis letter discusses the relationship between fitness and fitness landscapes in evolution, showing the difficulty in finding optimal solutions. The idea that modern biology must be the result of evolution because it is fit is shown to be a case of affirming the consequent
Empirical Active Information
Full text linkThis letter establishes probability bounds for Active Information from observed events
PREPRINT: The Interpretation of Total Differentials in Multivariable Derivatives
No full textThis article covers multivariable total differentials
Tutorial: Bioinformatics Basics
Full text linkBioinformatics can appear to be a daunting field, since it combines the complex science of biology with the complex theory of computer science. However, the basics are surprisingly simple. This tutorial gives a glimpse of the tools and techniques needed to get started in the field