Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences· 2026Q1
Energy and fitness: Power is not all-powerful in evolution
- 1citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
The 'power-centered model' (PCM) of evolution, which posits natural selection favors increasing energy acquisition and expenditure, is challenged by the 'Equal Fitness Paradigm' (EFP), which predicts nearly equal fitness across species based on energetics and demography.
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Key points
- The 'power-centered model' (PCM) proposes natural selection favors increased energy acquisition and expenditure.
- The 'Equal Fitness Paradigm' (EFP) offers a contrasting view, predicting nearly equal fitness across species.
- EFP is based on first principles of energetics and demography.
- The debate questions the centrality of 'power' as the main evolutionary driver.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Vermeij, Grosberg, and Roopnarine (VGR) argue that evolution is best understood through a "power-centered model" (PCM) in which natural selection favors increasing power to acquire and expend energy (1).In contrast, the Equal Fitness Paradigm (EFP), grounded in first principles of energetics and demography, predicts nearly equal fitness across species (2-6).
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Genetics (Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology)
GeneticsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology