From Darwin’s On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection... to The evolution of Life with Communication Activity as its Very Essence and Driving Force (= Mega-Evolution)
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: Darwin's theory of evolution with focus on the origin of new species was formulated in an era in which the principles of genetics, biochemistry, physiology, communication etc. were not an issue.Numerous revolutionary new insights have since been gained.1.The 'sender-receiver communicating compartment", a classical but still valuable concept, is better suited than 'the cell' to serve the role of universal unit of structure and function, 'the cell' being the smallest such unit; 2.Not only genetic, but non-genetic mechanisms as well contribute to variability that can be passed onto the next generation; 3. Natural selection, the almost unanimously accepted universal driving force of evolution, is itself the result of preceding problem-solving activity enabled by the principles of communication; 4. A logically deduced, unambiguous definition of 'Life' has been published so that now the key question can shift from Darwin's formulation towards "How does 'Life', with its many aspects, change in the course of time"?Communication activity represents the very heart of being alive, thus of 'Life itself'.In digital-era wording, living entities are hardware-software double continua.This paper advances an easily teachable change in paradigm, namely that evolution concerns ever changing complexes of signalling pathways, chemical and other, that occasionally yield both new species and additional (at least 16) levels of communication.This approach complements the genetic basis of the New Synthesis with several as yet undervalued mechanisms from physiology and development.In particular, 'the universal selfgenerated electrical dimension of cells' and Lamarckism deserve an upgrade.
Source: Life The Excitement of Biology
Author: Arnold De Loof
Institution: KU Leuven
Language: English
Subfield: History and Philosophy of Science
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2525632238