Assembly theory from Sara Walker et al. takes a principled stab at questions like this using a combinatorial "assembly" framework of small constructions that re

Assembly theory from Sara Walker et al. takes a principled stab at questions like this using a combinatorial "assembly" framework of small constructions that recombine into larger ones. The model requires only Markov conditions so fits into this description of probabilities of observing certain assemblages. Intelligence fits into this in interesting ways. One way to consider it is as a guide to the assembly process from less complex from more complex.