Early Theories: Creation, Pre-formation and Order in the Biological World

2020 ◽  
pp. 9-18
Author(s):  
David Wool ◽  
Naomi Paz ◽  
Leonid Friedman
Keyword(s):  
Biological World

Seeking to uncover biology's chemical roots

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 435-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Addy Pross
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Biological Systems ◽  
Significant Development ◽  
The Road ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Systems Chemistry ◽  
Biological World ◽  
Inanimate Matter ◽  
The Origin Of Life ◽  
Opening Up

Despite the considerable advances in molecular biology over the past several decades, the nature of the physical–chemical process by which inanimate matter become transformed into simplest life remains elusive. In this review, we describe recent advances in a relatively new area of chemistry, systems chemistry, which attempts to uncover the physical–chemical principles underlying that remarkable transformation. A significant development has been the discovery that within the space of chemical potentiality there exists a largely unexplored kinetic domain which could be termed dynamic kinetic chemistry. Our analysis suggests that all biological systems and associated sub-systems belong to this distinct domain, thereby facilitating the placement of biological systems within a coherent physical/chemical framework. That discovery offers new insights into the origin of life process, as well as opening the door toward the preparation of active materials able to self-heal, adapt to environmental changes, even communicate, mimicking what transpires routinely in the biological world. The road to simplest proto-life appears to be opening up.

scholarly journals An efficient approach to study membrane nano-inclusions: from the complex biological world to a simple representation

RSC Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 10962-10974 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Lemaalem ◽  
N. Hadrioui ◽  
S. El Fassi ◽  
A. Derouiche ◽  
H. Ridouane
Keyword(s):  
Materials Science ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Efficient Approach ◽  
Simple Representation ◽  
Biological World

Membrane nano-inclusions are of great interest in biophysics, materials science, nanotechnology, and medicine. In this work, We combined MD simulations and theories to reveal their physics behavior.

The fuzzy structure of populations

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (12) ◽  
pp. 2235-2241 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A Schaefer ◽  
Chris C Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Human Perception ◽  
Fuzzy Classification ◽  
Resolving Power ◽  
Biological Organization ◽  
Philosophical Foundations ◽  
Living Things ◽  
Biological World ◽  
Multiple Clusters ◽  
Management And Conservation

The human perception of biological organization has profound implications for the study, management, and conservation of living things. Traditional methods of classification, which imply all-or-nothing group membership, are inconsistent with the modern synthesis, which stresses variability and unique individuals. We propose that fuzzy classification, which allows fractional membership in multiple clusters, can more realistically denote many forms of biological organization, such as populations. We used fuzzy clustering to depict the ambiguous structure of a migratory caribou (Rangifer tarandus) herd, based on affinities in space use, and walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) stocks, based on genetic dissimilarities among multilocus genotypes. In both cases, fuzzy memberships conveyed the degree of uncertainty of belonging while resolving cluster memberships for unambiguous and problematic individuals. Vagueness implies that borderline group identity cannot be remedied with more resolving power. Fuzzy classification is more in tune with the empirical and philosophical foundations of our discipline and can reconcile our need to classify with an inherently vague biological world.

Self-Formation, Development and Reproduction of the Artificial System

2004 ◽  
Vol 97-98 ◽  
pp. 77-84
Author(s):  
Juras Ulbikas ◽  
Liudas Leonas ◽  
Daiva Ulbikienė ◽  
Stepas Janušonis
Keyword(s):  
The Self ◽  
Artificial System ◽  
Technological Processes ◽  
Microelectronic Devices ◽  
Biological World ◽  
Microelectronics Technology ◽  
Open Question ◽  
Self Formation ◽  
Irreversible Evolution ◽  
Complexity Increase

Self-formation as a concept for irreversible evolution of the artificial object with complexity increase was introduced for understanding of the processes existing in microelectronics technology [1]. The concept of self-formation by itself was to some extend influenced by principles existing in biological world therefore from the very beginning there was an open question about limits of self-formation application: are we limited to the understanding of some technological processes or we can think about predicting new technological applications by applying selfformation concept. Recently developed tools for simulation of technological processes for Solar Cells manufacturing [2] clearly indicates that self-formation is becoming interesting tool for technologists trying to create and optimize microelectronic devices. The next step exploring selfformation application boundaries can be analysis of possibilities of the self-formation to demonstrate usual in biological life development and reproduction of the object. This presentation will be dedicated to the analysis of the conditions and possibilities by applying self-formation present self-formation, development and reproduction of artificial object.

Biomolecular perfection and the „common descent"

1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-112
Author(s):  
Jolanta Koszteyn
Keyword(s):  
Common Descent ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
Biological Form ◽  
Biological World ◽  
The Common ◽  
Fundamental Unity ◽  
Single Living Cells ◽  
Subcellular Level ◽  
Single Living ◽  
Living Being

The concept of „fundamental unity of life" belongs to the descriptive element of biology. It contrasts with the equally empirical concept of multiplicity and diversity of living forms. „Fundamental unity of life" means that however peculiar a biological form might be, some of its essential mechanisms are exactly the same as in the rest of the biological world. It is astonishing to realize that so different beings as bacteria, plants and men manifest several evidently non fortuitous identities. For thousands of years man has been aware, that many behavioral traits are common to all living beings. Every living being processes matter, multiplies, regenerates, adapts to its surroundings'. During the last century a new, impressive confirmation and amplification of these resemblances was found on the molecular and subcellular level. One may say that the previous, rather raw concepts of nutrition, reproduction, adaptation and regeneration have been replaced by the more or less direct evidence, observable within the single living cells. So the idea of „fundamental unity of life" underwent a legitimate „reduction" to the level of biochemistry.

scholarly journals The l-Isoaspartyl Protein Repair Methyltransferase Enhances Survival of Aging Escherichia coli Subjected to Secondary Environmental Stresses

1998 ◽  
Vol 180 (10) ◽  
pp. 2623-2629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan E. Visick ◽  
Hui Cai ◽  
Steven Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Stationary Phase ◽  
Protein Denaturation ◽  
Environmental Stresses ◽  
Protein Repair ◽  
Repeated Heating ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Competitive Disadvantage ◽  
Biological World

ABSTRACT Like its homologs throughout the biological world, thel-isoaspartyl protein repair methyltransferase ofEscherichia coli, encoded by the pcm gene, can convert abnormal l-isoaspartyl residues in proteins (which form spontaneously from asparaginyl or aspartyl residues) to normal aspartyl residues. Mutations in pcm were reported to greatly reduce survival in stationary phase and when cells were subjected to heat or osmotic stresses (C. Li and S. Clarke, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:9885–9889, 1992). However, we subsequently demonstrated that those strains had a secondary mutation inrpoS, which encodes a stationary-phase-specific sigma factor (J. E. Visick and S. Clarke, J. Bacteriol. 179:4158–4163, 1997). We now show that the rpoS mutation, resulting in a 90% decrease in HPII catalase activity, can account for the previously observed phenotypes. We further demonstrate that a new pcmmutant lacks these phenotypes. Interestingly, the newly constructedpcm mutant, when maintained in stationary phase for extended periods, is susceptible to environmental stresses, including exposure to methanol, oxygen radical generation by paraquat, high salt concentrations, and repeated heating to 42°C. The pcmmutation also results in a competitive disadvantage in stationary-phase cells. All of these phenotypes can be complemented by a functionalpcm gene integrated elsewhere in the chromosome. These data suggest that protein denaturation and isoaspartyl formation may act synergistically to the detriment of aging E. coli and that the repair methyltransferase can play a role in limiting the accumulation of the potentially disruptive isoaspartyl residues in vivo.

Cross-Cultural Differences in Core Concepts of Humans as a Biological Species

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 171-185
Author(s):  
Alexander Liu ◽  
Sara Jill Unsworth
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Biological Species ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Human Patient ◽  
Cross Cultural Differences ◽  
Western Psychology ◽  
Core Concepts ◽  
Biological World ◽  
Multiple Species

An intuition that has been identified as a core concept in folkbiological thought (i.e., intuitive notions about the biological world) is the tendency to view humans as one biological species among many. Previous research has shown that in a category-based induction task, children tend to privilege humans as a basis for inferring that multiple species possess similar biological properties, but that culture and experience can affect the development of these anthropocentric tendencies. It has been assumed that anthropocentrism disappears before adulthood, though very little research has been conducted to test this assumption. In the present research, adults studying oriental medicine, western biology, or western psychology completed a category-based induction task as well as a ‘human patient’ task designed to measure cultural differences in concepts of biological processes. The results showed that anthropocentric reasoning still occurs in adulthood and that there are cultural differences in the likelihood to exhibit these tendencies.

John Holland and the Evolution of Economics

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth J. Arrow
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Approximate Solutions ◽  
Invisible Hand ◽  
Time Dimension ◽  
The Future ◽  
Hard Problems ◽  
Biological World ◽  
Important Time ◽  
John Holland ◽  
Problem Solving Behavior

John Holland's work has combined what appears to be a complicated but technical contribution to giving approximate solutions for a class of difficult problems with a deepening of our understanding of the way we all do induction, of how the experience of the world modifies and improves our behavior and our decisions. Such a comprehension necessarily alters the viewpoint of the behavioral sciences. In this chapter, I want to concentrate on some of the already apparent ways in which he has altered our understanding of the complex dynamic system that constitutes the economic world. Of course, the genetic algorithm can be and has been used as a means of solving hard problems in economic analysis, as in any other field. That is, it is an aid to the analyst, and a powerful one. I want, however, to emphasize the second aspect of Holland's work, the implications of the genetic algorithm as a description of human problem-solving behavior in a complicated world. The economic world is complicated partly because it depends on the physical and biological world which governs the techniques of production. More interestingly, though, the economic world is complicated because the individuals in it are interacting through markets. It is an old observation among economists, going back to Adam Smith's observation of the invisible hand, that economic events are the results of human actions but are not necessarily an achievement of human intentions. In the murk of the economic world, individuals have to act. They have to make choices as to what they will consume, how much they will save, what goods they will produce and how they will produce them, and then what investments they will make. They make these choices with a view to their consequences, personal satisfaction today or in their future or the satisfaction of their heirs, the profits to be made now or in the future by producing goods, and the returns on their investments. These choices have an important time dimension; people and many of the things they buy, make, or sell last, and the outcomes of current decisions depend on events which will occur in the future. The life of the decisionmaker is uncertain, so is his or her health.

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