Pleiotropy as the Mechanism for Evolving Novelty: Same Signal, Different Result

Abstract

In contrast to the probabilistic way of thinking about pleiotropy as the random expression of a single gene that generates two or more distinct phenotypic traits, it is actually a deterministic consequence of the evolution of complex physiology from the unicellular state. Pleiotropic novelties emerge through recombinations and permutations of cell-cell signaling exercised during reproduction based on both past and present physical and physiologic conditions, in service to the future needs of the organism for its continued survival. Functional homologies ranging from the lung to the kidney, skin, brain, thyroid and pituitary exemplify the evolutionary mechanistic strategy of pleiotropy. The power of this perspective is exemplified by the resolution of evolutionary gradualism and punctuated equilibrium in much the same way that Niels Bohr resolved the paradoxical duality of light as Complementarity.

The Cell as the First Niche Construction

“…It was Thomas Kuhn [ 50 ], the author of “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions” who said that the hallmark of a paradigm shift in science is when the language changes—such redefinitions herald a sea change in biology. In that spirit, several standard terms in biology have previously been redefined, such as homeostasis [ 11 ], cell [ 25 ], pleiotropy [ 51 ], and heterochrony [ 52 ] to point out the value added in understanding the mechanistic basis for biology.…”

Biologic relativity: Who is the observer and what is observed?

“…Pleiotropy, too, changes when understood within a relativistic biological frame (Torday, 2015). In conventional terms, pleiotropy is considered to be the random expression of individual genes that might generate phenotypic traits.…”

The resolution of ambiguity as the basis for life: A cellular bridge between Western reductionism and Eastern holism

“…Biology can consequently be understood as the self-referential application of mechanistic tools originating within First Principles of Physiology, dynamically purposed towards pragmatic solutions set against an ever-changing environment (Torday, 2016b). All living phenomena that have been individually categorized as separable processes of homeostasis (Torday, 2015a), pleiotropy (Torday, 2015b), or heterochrony (Torday, 2016) can finally be appraised as means as opposed to ends in coping with the ambiguity that characterizes the circumstances of all living things. Within a self-referential construct, problem solving is life’s imperative, and the information that it has available has its conspicuous limitations.…”

“…Furthermore, all communicative signals are subject to a range of physical parameters that render information ‘noisy’ by a series of time- or distance-related degradations. Therefore, any difference between the physical order within the internal milieu and the external environment is always a source of uncertainty since this depends on multiple interdependent components (Torday, 2015b). In such circumstances, life is always conditional self-organization in which the available information is equivocal (Torday and Miller, 2017; Miller, 2016).…”