This paper describes our first steps toward a biologically defensible model of the growth of the Drosophila segmentation gene network over evolutionary time ("evolutionary growth"). The identification of controller genes has been a significant recent finding in developmental biology. Networks and cascades of controller genes serve to orchestrate expression of the genome during embryo development. Now we have a lot of knowledge about mechanisms of appearance and maintenance of patterns of the expression of controller genes. The activity of networks as a kind of self-organising mechanism of morphogenesis allows natural selection to be viewed in a richer light. Selection algorithms applied to these self-organising mechanisms can dramatically accelerate evolutionary complexification of developmental processes.

We use up to date knowledge about the structure, function and evolution of real gene networks for the purposes of computer simulation of the self-organisation of networks during evolution. Our computer simulations of evolution of gene networks governing embryo morphogenesis show the possibility for self-organisation or self-assemblage (or "evolutionary growth") of the networks. This self-assemblage proceeds by means of recruiting of new genes via closing up of new pathways of interactions between new and old members of the network.

• 1. Introduction

• 2 Self-organization, morphogenesis and evolution

• 3. Gene network structure

• 4. Self-assemblage by recruiting of new genes

• 5. The model of 'wild-type' genome in action

• 6. Computer evolution

• 7. Evolution through self-organization steps

• 8. Drosophila evolution: perspectives for simulations

• 9. Conclusions

• 10. References

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