Growth of Microgranules into Cell-like Structures in Fertilized Chicken Eggs: Hypothesis for a Mitosis-free Alternative Pathway

Abstract

According to Bonghan Kim's theory of anatomical reality for acupuncture meridians, DNA microgranules known as Sanals are key functional components in the primo vascular system (formerly the Bonghan system). To investigate this issue, we developed a new system, an incubator bound to a phase-contrast microscope, in which we cultivated and then observed for 10 hours microgranules taken from 3-day-old chick embryos and from blastoderms of fertilized chicken eggs. With this system, we found that, over time, the microgranules grew in circular patterns to become cell-like structures. In the embryo specimens, we found two distinctive microgranule growths, which developed into cell-like structures over 10 hours. In the first case, a microgranule of about 1.0 μm in size developed into a 3.3-μm-sized cell-like structure, with a pattern of concentric circles. The growth rate of the diameter of the first microgranule was, on average, 0.23 μm/hour. In the second case, a 2.5-μm-sized microgranule developed into a 5.4-μm-sized cell-like structure, which also exhibited a pattern of concentric circles. The average growth rate of the diameter of the second microgranule was 0.31 μm/hour. In the blastoderm specimens from the fertilized chicken egg, we also found three distinctive concentric growths. Interestingly, one of the three blastoderm microgranules grew very quickly, from about 2.5 μm in size to about 5.5 μm in size during 5 minutes of incubation. This was followed by steady growth to about 7.0 μm in size during the next 10 hours of incubation. In the final step of our investigation, we confirmed that the cell-like structures that had grown from the microgranules stained by acridine orange had DNA signals. We believe that the data obtained with our experimental method provide a clue that a mitosis-free alternative pathway for cell formation may, indeed, exist. We also suggest that this new function of microgranules (Sanals) might be related with the acupuncture meridian called the primo vascular system.

Toward a Theory of the Primo Vascular System: A Hypothetical Circulatory System at the Subcellular Level

“…First, Lee et al attempted to demonstrate that a sanal exists and has DNA inside and grows by a budding process [36]. Then Lee et al [37] observed about 1  μ m sized extracellular vesicles, which seem quite similar to what Bonghan Kim reported in his paper [4], that cell-like structures with DNA signal in a concentric growth pattern grew in fertilized eggs [37]. In order to observe the fusion of eDNA microvesicles, Lee et al developed a special incubating chamber equipped with a microscope, for simultaneous incubation and observation of extracellular DNA vesicles [37].…”

“…Lee et al [37] hypothesize that if cell fusion is the basis of life formation, the fusion of eDNA microvesicles, named “microzymas” and “sanal,” should also occur at the subcellular level [37]. …”

Evidence for the fusion of extracellular vesicles with/without DNA to form specific structures in fertilized chicken eggs, mice and rats

“…An optical device in an incubation chamber was developed based on the setup used in our previous research showing the growth of extracellular vesicles to form cell-like structures (Lee et al, 2012c). The new setup was equipped with a transparent cover under an objective lens.…”

“…For incubation and observation of the specimen, we used white petrolatum, which is used for skin protection, (Vijon, USA) on the slide glass. Detailed descriptions of the experiments and equipment are given in our previous work (Lee et al, 2012c).…”

“…Since 2010, we have tried to cultivate a sanal in a combination media to demonstrate that a sanal has DNA inside and grows by a budding process (Lee et al, 2012b). As a result, we were able to observe that about 1-m-sized extracellular vesicles in fertilized eggs grew into cell-like structures with DNA signal in a concentric growth pattern (Lee et al, 2012c).…”