In search of principles for a Theory of Organisms

Longo, Giuseppe; Montévil, Maël; Sonnenschein, Carlos; Soto, Ana M.

doi:10.1007/s12038-015-9574-9

Cited by 61 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…In line with former work 2,[17][18][19] , we propose that the default state of cells is proliferation with variation and motility. This entails that no cause is required to justify that cells proliferate.…”

Section: Note That Branching Occurs In the First Run (Left) While It supporting

confidence: 81%

“…First of all, biological objects are surely compatible with physical theories when they are in their range of application; however this does not imply that current physical theories are sufficient to understand biological organisms. For example, the (mass times) acceleration of a cell is surely equals to the sum of the forces that applies to it; however these forces are largely the result of an evolutionary and ontogenetic history, and handling this history theoretically requires an appropriate framework 1,2 . Second, physical theories are also a methodological reference, especially in their use of mathematics to understand natural phenomena.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Theoretical approach of ductal morphogenesis

Montévil¹,

Sonnenschein²,

Soto³

2016

JTAVR

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We developed 3D culture methods that reproduce in vitro mammary gland ductal morphogenesis. We are proposing a conceptual framework to understand morphogenetic events based on epistemologically sound biological principles instead of the common practice of using only physical principles. More specifically, our theoretical framework is based on the principle that the default state of cells is proliferation with variation and motility. We emphasize the role played by the agency of cells embedded in a gel and the circularity that is relevant for the intended process, whereby cells act upon other cells and on matrix elements, and are subject to the agentivity of neighboring cells. This circularity strongly differs from classical linear causality. Finally, our approach opens up the study of causal determination to multilevel explanations rather than to reductive ones involving only molecules in general and genes in particular.

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Section: Note That Branching Occurs In the First Run (Left) While It supporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Theoretical approach of ductal morphogenesis

Montévil¹,

Sonnenschein²,

Soto³

2016

JTAVR

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“…Moreover the application of mathematical modeling has not helped much either. The Darwin's theory of descent with modification by natural selection operates on a long time frame of the phylogeny, but lacks a theory of organisms on a shorter time frame of ontogeny from conception to death (Longo et al 2015). Simplified concept of the reductionist materialism seems to support definite demarcation between ontogeny and phylogeny: stongly distinguishing between evolution, the historical origin of life and organisation, the systemic essence of life.…”

Section: Organisation By Integrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Emergence is the appearance of a new observable that cannot be derived from the root theory (Longo et al 2015). Reductionism states that a system can be reduced to the sum of its parts, like in most of the theories and models in "molecular taxonomy".…”

Section: Organisation By Integrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revision of Drusinae subfamily (Trichoptera, Limnephilidae): divergence by paraproct and paramere: speciation in isolation by integration

Oláh¹,

Beshkov²,

Chvojka³

et al. 2017

Opusc Zool

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Abstract.In the last few years we have described over 70 new incipient sibling limnephild species applying the discovered Trichoptera speciation traits of the paraproct and paramere for species recognition and delimitation. In this revision on Drusinae subfamily, comprising 177 species, we have applied these subtle, but rapid and stable speciation traits and described 49 new sibling species from the "well studied" European mountain ranges. Discussing the theoretical background we have elaborated and adapted a new character state ranking system of phenomics to revise the long-neglected taxonomy of the Drusinae subfamily and synonymised the Cryptothrix, Monocentra, Metanoea, Leptodrusus, Anomalopterygella, Hadimina genera with the Drusus genus. These old genera of artificial constructs were established exclusively by divergences of secondary sexual traits known already to have only species level ranking value. According to our new character ranking system in the Drusinae subfamily, beside the Drusus genus, only the Ecclisopteryx genus has been retained having robust generic level divegences of paraproct loss and ancestral duplication of spine organising centre on the paramere pattern. Speciation trait function of the peg-packed surface on the paraproct head in Drusus genus moved to the gonopod apices and integrated into variously shaped stimulatory organ in the Ecclisopteryx genus. In the Drusus genus the ancestral divergence of the single spine organising centre has integrated 11 species groups with remarkably stable paramere spine pattern. Based upon ancestral divergences in the paraproct architecture we have differenciated 28 species complexes inside the 11 species groups. The delineation of the 163 mostly incipient siblings species, inside the 28 species complexes with 44 new Drusus species, was based primarily on the divergences of speciation trait, that is in the stimulatory head shape of the apical arms on the dorsal branches of the paraproct. In the Ecclisopteryx genus with 14 species we have established two independent lineages both with a single species, as well as two species complexes with five new species applying the speciation trait of the genus, that is the shape divergence of the stimulatory organ on the dorsoapical surface of the gonopods.Based on the Darwinian natural selection, we do not understand how the discovered 70+49 new European incipient phylogenetic species of limnephilid caddisflies have been evolved in the isolated sky island habitats of high mountain ranges. This isolation induced speciation represents a challenge to the mechanistic reductionist concept of the natural selection. Our first trial to extract information from various disciplines to answer this question is presented in a brief theoretical discourse: (1) rethinking the status of natural selection towards postdarwinism; (2) teleology or teleonomy; (3) limits and potentials in understanding reality; (4) organisation of universe by integration; (5) what are and how the organising forces are powered to work in the emerging en...

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“…In addition to this default state, a supracellular source of variation has been identified, namely, the “framing principle of non-identical iterations of morphogenetic processes in organogenesis” [9]. This type of variation accounts for the generation of mostly regular patterns of non-identical structures typically observed during organogenesis [9].…”

Section: Part I From the Inert To The Alivementioning

confidence: 99%

An Integrative Approach Toward Biology, Organisms, and Cancer

Sonnenschein

Soto

2017

Methods in Molecular Biology

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Over the last two decades, we have challenged the hegemony of the somatic mutation theory of carcino-genesis (SMT) based on the lack of theoretical coherence of the premises adopted by its followers. We offered instead a theoretical alternative, the tissue organization field theory (TOFT), that is based on the premises that cancer is a tissue-based disease and that proliferation and motility is the default state of all cells. We went on to use a theory-neutral experimental protocol that simultaneously tested the TOFT and the SMT. The results of this test favored adopting the TOFT and rejecting the SMT. Recently, an analysis of the differences between the Physics of the inanimate and that of the living matter has led us to propose principles for the construction of a much needed theory of organisms. The three biological principles are(a) a default state, (b) a principle of variation, and (c) one of organization. The TOFT, defined as “development gone awry,” fits well within the principles that we propose for a theory of organisms. This radical conceptual change opened up the possibility of anchoring mathematical modeling on genuine biological principles. By identifying constraints to the default state, multilevel biomechanical explanations become as legitimate as the molecular ones on which other modelers that adopt the SMT rely. Expanding research based on the premises of our theory of organisms will enrich a comprehensive understanding of normal development and of the one that goes awry.

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In search of principles for a Theory of Organisms

Cited by 61 publications

References 60 publications

Theoretical approach of ductal morphogenesis

Theoretical approach of ductal morphogenesis

Revision of Drusinae subfamily (Trichoptera, Limnephilidae): divergence by paraproct and paramere: speciation in isolation by integration

An Integrative Approach Toward Biology, Organisms, and Cancer

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