This thesis is new advocacy on evolution and the origin of life. It consists of integrated five basic principles on a root providence, which universally explains the foundation of life. The theories are constructed upon probability of thermodynamics and reexaminations of well known and already authorized theories.
The essential of life is unexpectedly simple, if you realize there could be more deep interpretations beyond the intricacy of biology of the time.
* Advocacy of new concept is written in bold. * "Summarized concept for ease of understanding" is put in double quotation marks.
A fact that biologists have not clearly pointed out is the regularity of
fluctuations of environment and its effects on life. By superficial observation,
the term environment means mere random or jumble of intricate factors.
Environment is not random! A clear tendency of combination of three cyclical or
alternate processes can be abstracted, when statistically summing up and
averaging all thermodynamical processes on the Earth. Everywhere
on the Earth, environment restlessly fluctuates time to time, day to night,
month to month and season to season driven by the movement of the three heavenly
bodies, the rotation and the revolution around the Sun of the Earth, and the
revolution around the Earth of the Moon. Practically, the alternate changes in
environment appear variously actualized form such as cold and warm, light and
dark by the sun light, wet and dry by the ebb and flow of the tide, thick and
thin of nourishment and so on. Most of the such environmental factors have
regular dynamic patterns either cyclical or alternate. Everything on the Earth,
both organism and non-organism, varies its thermodynamical status influenced
(driven) by such kind of 'cyclical or alternate environmental force'.
Endlessly continuing fluctuations of environment was 'the cradle of life'. And,
all activities of organism are attributed to it.
This is the root providence of biology. I will describe how was life created,
evolves, develops, inherits and dies upon the providence.
Once denied, ideas of bygone days revive, in a sense. "Inheritance of acquired characteristics" by Jean Baptiste Pierre Lamarck and Pangenesis by Charles Darwin. Their advocacy means some linkage between acquired character at any part of a body and the change of base arrangement of DNA of a reproductive cell. But, Darwin's idea of gemmule (a hereditary information factor) already denied by himself over one hundred years ago. They seem to have almost no anatomical relation, by superficial observation. "How shall the acquired character and reproductive cell be linked?"
I find the "missing link" !!!
Solution to the above question is quite simple and that
no one has never dreamed of.
From every part of body of a multicellular animal, wreckage of cells and
metabolic deposition products, caused by environmental force and inner stress,
is carried to the excretory organ through circulatory system. Everyone knows
excretory organ and reproductive organ are in intimate relationship
embryologically. These organs have the same phylogenetic origin. But, no one
explained the reason why.
This flow of waste substances should be considered Hereditary negative
feedback information to reproductive cells
(Fig.1-1)
These substances are all results of straggle for survival of the individual.
They have used to be thought useless at all. But, they can indirectly inform
reproductive cell adaptation or inadequacy of the individual to its environment,
in negative form (the term negative means concepts such as destruction,
collapse or death opposite to the positive concepts of propagation, development
or life). Reproductive cells are always exposed directly in the flow of these
hereditary-metabolic substances and cannot be alive but on them using as
nourishment, in case of primitive multicellular organism. In case of more
complicated multicellular animals, reproductive organ is differentiated for the
special purpose. In case of mammal, the long path of epididymis may be the place
for the recombination of base arrangement of DNA of spermatozoa of a male, and
adhering substances around fertilized egg may be the hereditary information of a
female, I guess.
Explanations of functions and processes of any part of a body have double
meanings in respects for conventional one and inheritance system. Various kinds
of cells form complicated hereditary-metabolic hierarchy in the body of an
individual. In this hierarchy, the primary role of phagocyte such as leucocyte
may be Intermediate converter-carrier of the hereditary information, and
reproductive cells are the final receptors of modified metabolic substances.
Immunity system is a good example for explanation of this system. First, new
character is acquired by conflict with unknown factors from outer environment.
Then, the produced hereditary information as collapse of cells is conveyed to
the reproductive organ (excretory organ). I cannot explain here how is the base
arrangement of DNA of reproductive cells recombined influenced by the hereditary
information substances. More deep consideration is necessary. I'll refer it
later to some extent. At least, what I can insist here is that "Evolution is not
only by random mutation, some selecting system may be conceivable."
Phylogenetic origin of this hereditary-metabolic system is traceable
to the stage of Porifera the most primitive multicellular animal alive now
(Fig.1-2)
. In this illustration, archaeocyte that sometimes changes into reproductive
cells may be homologous with all of phagocytes of more complicated multicellular
animals in its fundamental role, and mesogloea may be also homologous with the
circulatory system.
Many variations of this hereditary system are conceivable, e.g., social insect
may feed back hereditary information to the queen as form of food or
cannibalism. The relationship between parents and child of mammal that cannot
inherit by physical substances after sexual reproduction is explicable as
secondly hereditary-developmental system, referred later.
'Negative feedback control' is popular concept in electronics. If this
concept is applicable in biology, explaining evolution becomes quite easy. I
know most of you might think this way "Evolution by excretory substance . . .
What's a silly idea!" If you think so, remember the fact that excretory organ
and reproductive organ have same phylogenetic and ontogenetic origin. These are
the same in fundamental function. This fact is the truth!
Historically, the idea of "hereditary information to reproductive cell" is not
new one, although recently (1996) I knew it. Charles Darwin already advocated
the idea of pangenesis and gemmule, but he failed to prove it true. The idea of
'negative feedback control' was not existing in his age. He was seeking for
gemmule as positive (useful) substance, and he might have never dreamed of it is
negative (valueless, waste) substances. Since then, the dogma 'evolution
(exclusively) by accidental mutation' has become main-streamer of biology.
There is a prohibited virgin field where no one has ever stepped in. Either
proven true or denied, it's worth to examine and discuss, isn't it?
Next step, if heredity is negatively feed back controlled, the explanation about phylogenesis and ontogenesis may become quite easy. Here, I attempt to construct a theory about it. The logic is simple.
Development and heredity are both sides of a coin. These are explicable as almost same processes each other. Only the difference is its interpretation. A negative procedure of ancestors, suffering in severe environment, turns into the positive procedure of availing energy from the same environmental pressure by the offspring.
What is "Characteristics" in general?
An individual is conglomerate of miscellaneous characters and processes. It's
impossible to explain all of them at once. Here, I will describe an example of
establishing process of new character as an energy capturing mechanism.
First, as a problem of physics, suppose a substance (C0) and some
environmental factor (B) that has energy (E). When stricken by the environmental
factor (B), if the substance (C0) has not any resistance to the
energy, the energy will pass through the substance (C0) without any
loss, and the substance (C0) shall remain not influenced by the
energy (E) (Fig.2-1 a) . Consider another case.
Suppose another substance (C1) that has some kind of resistance to
the energy (E). When the substance(C1) stricken by the same
environmental factor (B), because of existence of the resistance, some part of
the energy (E) will be captured and converted to other form and stored in the
substance (C1) (Fig.2-1 b) . In some cases, the ingredient of
original substance (C1) might be denaturalized by reaction with the
environmental factor (B).
Above theory is also applicable in biology. Such kind of friction, resistance or
drag against the environmental factor is the point to dispute.
Remember, in a cell, synthesizing process and dissolving process
simultaneously occur. These two processes may be complementary ones each other
for keeping thermodynamical equilibrium of the cell with the outer environment,
and may totally form cyclical or alternate bio-reaction series. Simply saying,
the synthesis of substances means proceeding of propagation. And, mere
propagation may be the most primitive style of development, I guess
(Fig.2-2) .
Suppose a cell (A) propagated from fertilized egg (R) that has an original gene
(a). When this cell (A) is disturbed by some unknown environmental factor (B)
that has energy (E), the normal propagation process will be obstructed and some
of the energy (E) will be captured by resistant element of the cell (A), as
mentioned above. By this conflict, obstruction of the already established
synthesizing process will occur and the cell (A) might be denaturalized to a
cell (C) as a result of bio-reaction with the environmental factor (B). Pay
attention to the next point. Although the cell (A) was denaturalized to (C), the
individual obtains some part of the energy (E) from the environmental factor
(B). If more resistant element increases (propagates), more efficiently the
individual can capture the energy (E) from the environment factor (B). If the
environmental factor (B) has sufficient energy and regularity of appearance, a
positive feed-forward loop of propagation of the cell (C) with new
character, which is fed by the captured energy (E), may be easily formed and
accelerates itself until this process reaches to the new equilibrium.
As a result of this conflict, much wreckage and metabolic deposition substance
(D) will be produced. Needless to say, they are the hereditary information to
the reproductive cell (R).
These relations consist of following formula.
A + B = C + D -----> R
................... Formula 2-1
As already mentioned, reproductive cells are alive in completely enclosed
circumstance of other somatic cells, the reproductive cell (R) is depending on
the waste metabolic substance (D) as nourishment that secreted from other
somatic cells. When the formation of the metabolic substance (D) changes by
indirect influence of the outer environmental factor (B), some of the
reproductive cell (R) might mutate and acquire the ability to dissolve and use
the new substance as an energy supplying source. Anyway, as a consequence of
this mutation, the base arrangement of DNA of the reproductive cell (R) might be
also recombined. I cannot explain how DNA shall be recombined at this chapter.
More studies about sexual reproduction and high molecular substances are needed.
This problem will be argued later.
Examples of conceivable types of recombination are . . .
* Mutation of the original gene (a) of reproductive cell (R) to the gene (a')
of reproductive cell (R').
* Adaptation of the newly created gene (b) to the original gene (a); the gene
(a) of reproductive cell (R) changes to (a+b) of reproductive cell (R'), etc..
At the development of next generations from fertilized egg (R') that has new
gene type (a') or (a+b), the propagating cell will be old type (A) at the first.
As the development progresses, inner cells are isolated from outer environment,
and the enclosed hungry cell (R') might previously absorb and dissolve the
metabolic substance (D) of other cells by expressing enzyme from the new gene
(b). By this previous absorption, incomplete cells (A - D) will propagate
instead of (A). The cell (A - D) should be thought as juvenile cell
(Fig.2-3) . It has innate and destined ability of
spontaneously seeking for the periodically appearing substance (B).
These relations consist of following formula.
(A - D) = A - D -----> R'
................... Formula 2-2
When the environmental factor (B) appears again periodically, the juvenile
cell (A - D) can easily combine with it and it will become a complete cell (C).
These relations consist of following formula.
C = (A - D) + B
.................. Formula 2-3
When comparing (Formula 2-1) and (Formula 2-3), the basic meanings of the
formulae are equivalent, and passive process of the predecessor is inverted into
active process of next generation.
Above-mentioned explanations are the theories for a single step of acquisition
and expression of a character. Practical development process is an extremely
complicated combination of both passive and active processes in numerous steps.
These formulae can be applicable to analyze any partial process of a real
organism in general, I think.
"Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny" as Ernst Heinrich Haeckel said. If it is truth, from where the recapitulation begins?
Every multicellular organism begins its development process from fusion of egg and sperm as form of 'unicellular' organism. So, there is no reason to say it's absurd to conjecture this way; Phylogeny also began with fusion of egg and sperm as different two (or more) species of unicellular organisms. Evolution of multicellular organism has been resulting from endlessly repeated conflict and cooperation between these two species as unicellular organism, I think.
The situation was small pool at seashore (Fig.3-1)
. The level of the pool was periodically drifting with the endlessly repeated
ebb and flow. In this pool, eggs were floating on the surface of
the water like as Cyanophyceae alive now. On the other hand, Sperms,
as like as Mastigophora alive now, were living under the water with other sorts
of organisms such as Sarcodina, Sporozoa and Ciliata. When the ebb tide, as
level of the water went down, the eggs and sperms
were forced to copulate. But, as a matter of course, the two genes from each
organism that had different base arrangement might have not copulated, without
certain cushion such as histone. When the pool was filled with water
again at the next flow of tide, the two sorts of organisms would "re-born
and divorced" again as each different species. By endlessly repeated alternative
processes of copulation and divorce, the basic inheritance system as conflict
between the two species might have been gradually established, as a result.
In gene level, this basic mechanism may work like as
traction engine of other genes of general characteristics
(Fig.3-2) .
At this period, the assigned roles of the two species might have been as the
following. Sperms were alive on processing everything encountered
by hydrolysis or fermentation. Therefore, mutation of the gene might have
occurred frequently, corresponding to the absorbed substance. On the other hand,
conservative eggs floating on the surface of the pool were alive
on small respiratory chain or photosynthesis. So its gene might have been
relatively stable, I guess.
This is outline of the fairy tale. Which do you think of this hypothesis
ridiculous or worth serious consideration?
Situation of the second scene of this fairly tale was the same to the
above.
When the flow tide, sometimes thin films of eggs were scattered,
and its free fragments might have intertwined themselves round and formed hollow
balls. Some of the divorced sperms might have been captured and
encapsulated in it (Fig.3-3) . This is the
simplest model of an individual of multicellular animal, I think, although
rather for logical explanation than practical existence. See, the resemblance
with Porifera illustrated in (Fig.1-2) . The
encapsulated sperms could not be alive but depending on secreted
metabolic deposition substances from surrounding eggs. So, its
gene must be recombined corresponding to the metabolic substances. Newly created
plasmids and recombined genes would occasionally join to the original chromosome
of sperm (now, it should be called phagocyte). At next
sexual reproduction, the absorbed new gene of the sperm would replicate and join
to the legitimate chromosome of the fertilized egg.
Now, under consideration. Sorry!
What is Histone?
What is meiosis?
By "re-reexamination" of the hypotheses as stated up to this point, I can explain the essentials of what is life and origin of organism to some extent.
The largest question about life may be that "Why we (all of the organisms) have been alive seemingly unbound by the second law of thermodynamics, as such long time as three and a half billion years?" In other word, can we give rationale for the kernel mechanism that organism is acquiring "never-failing energy (nonsense idea, I know)", without violating the second law of thermodynamics?
The answer is simple. To begin with the conclusion, as you might already notice, the most significant key word about life is CIRCULATION: The inner circulation of transduced energy and transformed substances that driven by outer cyclical or alternative fluctuation of environmental forces. And, the essential key element among all substances is WATER: The ebb and flow of the tide that driven by the endless movements of the three heavenly bodies, as I already mentioned in chapter zero. You remember the summary written in a primer of biochemistry. All of the biochemical-processes can be roughly classified into hydrolysis and dehydrolysis. Hydrolysis is mainly for energy acquiring process by dissolving substances, and dehydrolysis is for synthesizing process of high molecular organic compounds. These descriptions easily lead to a conclusive supposition . . .
Alternative processes of hydrolysis and dehydrolysis driven by the ebb and flow of tide.
This is the essential mechanism of life.
Suppose a situation in which organisms were created. It might have resembled the
situation as I mentioned in chapter three. A small pool near seashore, the sea
was just formed and the Earth was still hot. The water was the solution of
primitive materials such as amino acid, ribose, deoxyribose and others. This
pool was the womb and swinging cradle of life
(Fig.4-1) .
For examination about how organism has been created in the pool, first to do
is to make clear the background dynamism of environment.
Speak in generalizations, many random environmental forces are in the regulation
driven by movements of the three heavenly bodies, as I already mentioned. These
effects are statistically summarized into the loci of three wave forms
(Fig.4-2) . Each wave form has its own
characteristic and cycle time. The daily cycle (A) is caused by the rotation of
the Earth. Especially, cyclical change of amounts of the ray from the Sun is the
most significant factor as the main energy supplying source. The monthly cycle
(B) is caused by the revolution around the Earth of the Moon. This is gradual
change of amplitude between highs and lows of the tides at spring tides or neap
tides. Another daily drift (C) of tidal wave is caused by the gravity between
the Earth and Moon and rotation of the Earth. It changes one or twice a day.
Practical drift of the tidal wave (D) is combination of (B) and (C). These
different movements are combined into one collaborative process
(Fig.4-3) . This is the essential
engine-mechanism of life. It has restlessly worked on since the sea was
formed until now!
This engine works as follows . . .
Any substance on the Earth repeats alternative process of absorption and
emission of heart, driven by the daily cycle (A)
(Fig.4-4) .
As a problem of thermodynamics, the equilibration point of this situation will
alternately drift time to time. For chasing this equilibration point, substances
will also alternately repeats go and return process. Usually, because of its
heat capacity and by other factor, the 'go' process and the 'return' process may
trace slightly different paths as a histerisis curve
(Fig.4-5) . By that, some inner circulatory process, either physical or
chemical, may be easily established in encapsulated area or inside a boundary,
corresponding to the outer circulatory environment. This process is the main
energy cycle of commonplace.
On the other hand, many kinds of high molecular substances
are synthesized by tidal movement as referred later, and progression of most
bio-processes is catalyzed by the synthesized high molecular substances. Take
notice of the time lag between the main energy cycle (A) and the tidal movement
(D) (Fig.4-6) . The time lag means that: The go
and return process (capture and release of energy) will not occur immediately,
but it will be postponed and will take place controlled by the synthesized
substances. This is the archetype of all bio-chemical processes. The established
bio-processes may trace different thermodynamical locus from the main energy
cycle of ordinary substances. In other word, any bio-process is always out of
equilibrium, and it will always chase the virtual equilibrium point of the main
energy cycle. This is the reason to explain the peculiarity of the dynamism of
organism.
Level of the pool regularly changed synchronizing with the ebb and flow. After the ebb tide, level of the isolated pool gradually went down with evaporation of the water. The solution would be condensed and dried up little by little. At last, the accumulated substances would stick together at the edge of the pool. The primary role of amino acid might have been to fill any gaps of all other substances as evaporation, condensation and drying up of the solution progressed. This is the most primitive concept of TEMPLATE. In this situation, if a hydrogen of some substance contacted a hydroxyl radical of another substance closely, these two should be prompted to combine and easily formed a molecule of water. This molecule of water immediately evaporated. And, remained two substances combined into one molecule. At next flow the tide, the combined substances scattered in the diluted solution. By endlessly repeated this cyclical process, many high molecular organic substances would be formed chain, bit by bit. This is the answer to the mysterious question of high molecular substances in biology. So, in a word, amino acid or protein should be considered to be enzyme from the beginning.
# NOTE:
The role of D-type amino acid has been not known. In my conjecture, D-type amino acid is a result from denaturalization of L-type amino acid. It may be produced by friction with the outer environmental factor or its indirect influence. The existence of D-type amino acid and its location indicates where is the sensitive point in an amino acid sequence. It can inform DNA where is the point to be recombine. By using this maimed fragment of amino acid, a characteristic confronting the environmental factor shall be created by reverse transcription to DNA. Shall it be called 'antimorph' or 'anti-antimorph' (the negative of negative equals the positive)?
This procedure may be proceeded by using moderate energy of ADP for trial and error, and not by using the energy of ATP for already established process. This process may be the way filled with agony.
Above supposition may be the easiest way for setting up a hypothesis of the recombination system of gene. But, this is my delusion, and there is no evidence at all, sorry.
Discussions about nucleic acid have been limited always on its role of the carrier and processor of hereditary information. Another subject worth to discuss is its behavior. Look at (Table 4-1) . The fundamental four patterns of behavior of nucleic acids can be summarized into beautiful dynamic symmetry. This symmetry consists of two groups: diffusive processes of DNA replication and RNA transcription mainly relate to propagation, and contractile processes of DNA pairing and DNA reverse transcription mainly relates to sexual reproduction. Such dynamic symmetry might result from the collaboration of two cyclical processes the monthly process (B) and The daily process (C). This is the co-axis logic of all bio-processes, I think.
Consider the differences between DNA and RNA. A hydroxyl radical of ribose of
RNA is replaced by hydrogen in case of DNA. DNA replication proceeds led by RNA
transcription, etc.. Such facts suggest that was DNA more dry nucleic
acid than RNA. Or, is there any other reason? Presuming on the quotation 'The
present is a key of the past' by Charles Lyell, things and affair of the
primeval pool before the creation of life is obscurely imaginable.
Endlessly repeated alternate processes of DNA synthesis and RNA synthesis are
the commonplace affairs of today. Those processes might have been similarly
quite commonplace at the pool of those days. Those processes had proceeded also
driven by the ebb and flow of tide. At the edge of the isolated pool after the
ebb tide, RNA synthesis might have begun at first. Then, RNA synthesis might
have gradually shifted to DNA synthesis as the solution condensed with
evaporation of the water. Then, after the next flow and ebb, RNA synthesis would
begin again.
Endlessly repeating alternative process of nucleic acid synthesis of those days'
has succeeded until now, I guess (Fig.4-7) .
This part of the hypothesis about nucleic acids is my vague expectation
rather than a theory constructed upon stable basis. Many characteristics and
functions of organism are full of symmetricity and complementarity corresponding
with the regulated dynamism of outer environments. It is my faith that the
ultimate logic of organism must be simple and beautiful. In a word, sexual
reproduction must be the ultimate logic of the creation. Love means death
(contrary of life). And, the death of male shall cause the new creation, as a
literary affectation.
Sexual reproduction may be diametrically opposite concept to propagation, as a
problem of thermodynamics and bio-chemical behavior. In gene level, cyclical
process of the combination of DNA reverse transcription and DNA pairing that
concern with sexual reproduction (creation and re-creation of the base
arrangement of a gene) may totally form thermodynamical complementary procedure
with normal propagative process of DNA replication and RNA transcription.
At the pool, overlapping with the daily cyclical processes,
this monthly periodical process might have occurred at the spring tide driven by
cooperation of gravity of the Sun and the Moon
(Fig.4-8) . At the spring tide, the difference between high and low of sea
level increased more than usual, and the solution of the pool might have been
therefore exceedingly diluted or condensed. Synthesis of nucleic acid might have
halted and fragments of all synthesized high molecular substances would scatter
in the extremely diluted solution. Only exceptions might have been some pairs of
double-helix-ed DNA. They might have been purified in the thin solution. They
would last tightly until the next ebb tide, if the pair had much regulated
combination of stable adenine-thymine and guanine-cytosine bonds.
Then, with the solution gradually condensed and its density nearing to the
threshold of beginning normal RNA transcription, RNA reverse transcription might
have sporadically occurred in advance. I cannot give this problem but such
insufficient explanation, no more.
Anyhow, DNA Pairing - RNA reverse transcription loop had been completed. Succeeding to this criterion that has established long long ago, the sexual reproduction of many primitive sea lives occurs at the full Moon. This fact should be considered not only by the result of evolution but also it is, at the same time, the cause of evolution, I think. Even female of human being, thought as one of most evolved species, is still tied to this routine. This point is the crux to be argued. The questions are . . .
"Is there such DNA Pairing - RNA reverse transcription loop, really?" and;
"Does RNA reverse transcription relates character acquiring process, or not?"
Compare and contrast the two loops, assuming they were established.
Everything is antithetic and complementary. DNA replication of the small loop
contrasts with DNA pairing of the big loop, also RNA transcription with RNA
reverse transcription; the small loop is diffusive, and the big loop is
astringent, and so on.
Attempt to combine the two loops into integrated one,
logically. These two loops may have thermodynamical (not necessarily chemical,
of course) tendency to react and rotate contrariwise each other corresponding to
the same circulating or alternate environmental pressure, in total view. "The
DNA Pairing - RNA reverse transcription loop" and "the RNA transcription - DNA
replication loop" complements each other for keeping total dynamic equilibrium
with dynamic change of the environment (Fig.4-9) .
No problem, any partial process might be not in equilibrium. This model is
THE AXIS LOGIC of all bio-processes, I think. Imagine the working mechanism
of differential gear of an automobile, for ease of understanding. It's a good
metaphor.
About bio-membrane two different origins are conceivable.
The main ingredient of bio-membrane is lipid. Specific gravity of lipid is smaller than water. Conceivable most primitive form of bio-membrane might have been therefore the membrane floating on the surface of water, and its primary role might have been to control evaporation of water.
On the process of the hydrolysis of everything in the pool, the final main products would be water and carbon dioxide. Numerous small bubbles of the water and carbon dioxide would form in the condensed paste of other substances, as the evaporation progressed (Fig.4-10 a) . Hydrophilic membrane might have been formed around the bubbles. Then, as the next flow tide, the paste would be diluted and churned. The bubbles might have tossed about in the water.
These bubbles should not be considered to be life yet,
even though they involved some nucleic acids and hydrolase in them. The reason
is they had no bio-activities yet, e.g., the function of endocytosis and
exocytosis of membrane, transmigration of nucleic acids from a cell to a cell,
etc.. For acquiring these abilities and to become organism, what ceremony should
have been taken place? Investigate this procedure by summarizing and simplifying
all theories obtained until now.
A cell is the integrated existence of many partial characteristics and
properties. So, the formulae of acquiring and expression of partial character,
which I have stated in chapter two, may be applicable to the steps of the
creation. Essential key word is 'The Creation by Destruction'.
The procedure by which the bubbles became cells can be described as so-called
transduction. A bubble could not become 'a live cell' by oneself alone.
At least, two or more (numerous steps might have been taken place practically)
bubbles were theoretically needed.
Suppose a bubble (a) and some unknown substance (A) in
(Fig.4-10 a) . When the substance (A) adhered to
the outer-surface of the bubble (a), the bubble (a) had no ability to do with
the substance (A), except waiting for natural denaturalization by hydrolysis or
dehydrolysis. The result was the wreckage (a+A) or its conglomerate.
Next step, with the evaporation of the solution progressed, this wreckage of the
'predecessor bubble' (a+A) might have been pressed and merged by another
'successor bubble' (b). Membrane of both bubbles might have fused, and the
substance (A) was taken inside the bubble (b) without destroying the membrane
(Fig.4-10 b) . This "outside-in process" would
endlessly repeat at every ebb tide.
In parallel with above process, another process might have proceeded. When
the 'predecessor bubble' (a) was denaturalized, base arrangement of nucleic
acids of the bubble might have been also recombined influenced by the substance
(A). The obtained template of the nucleic acid might relate to hydrolysis of the
substance (A), as a matter of course. When the wreckage (a+A) was absorbed by
the bubble (b), the recombined nucleic acids would be also transferred to the
bubble (b). Here, an enzyme, which could dissolve the outer substance (A), could
be synthesized from the template.
The 'successor bubble' (b) had obtained both means to get food and the enzyme to
dissolve it, on a victim of 'the predecessor bubble(s)' (a). It had all basic
bio-activities, now.
Life was Created.
Since then, according to the (Formulae 2-1 and 2-2) that means passive
process turns into active process, the cell (b) (now, it should not be
called a bubble) can spontaneously eat and propagate, daily. And, it copulates
with another cell, acquires new characteristics and re-creates, monthly.
Speaking of the bio-activity of a cell that we recognize as alive as a matter of
common sense, it is inertia momentum. Many partial characteristics might have
been carried-in to the species since the creation. Those characteristics and
bio-reaction series may be optimized and made up certain loop such as pentose
phosphate cycle. This loop might have circular biochemical inertia momentum
against and/or corresponding with outer cyclical environment. This inertia
momentum will give a cell little independent activity.
The assignment at the creation might be as follows. The suffering predecessor
should be called Male. And, the successor who gives the male salvation and gets
a new template in exchange by cell fusion should be called Female.
You may notice every theory forms beautiful symmetry before the point of the creation and the after. "The creation of life by death of a male." This is the theme! This simple logic has been a religious theme once denied and buried by modern natural science. Raking up this old wreckage is not my whimsicality, but a logical conclusion that I'd never dreamed of. You may take my advocacy rational, I hope.
All theories that I have stated until now are constructed for making clear the next problem: "What is the essential of soul?"
At the beginning of theoretical research, what I intended was to construct a primitive model of nervous system at the earlier stage of evolution. Unexpected and great surprising even for myself, the model what I made was not only explaining the fundamental function of nervous system, but also it suggests a more deep and essential mechanism of life as mentioned in chapter one, two, three and four.
The purpose of this chapter is a rough survey of the activity of nervous system, not precise analysis of neural-biochemical process.
The research was done by ethological method inspired by the works of Konrad Zacharias Lorenz.
A nerve cell is a kind of phagocyte, as I mentioned in chapter three. The essential role of a phagocyte is the intermediate messenger of hereditary information to reproductive cells, as I mentioned in chapter one. Therefore, any process of making a synapse, which a nerve cell stretches an axon to the target cell induced by NGF (a kind of metabolic-hereditary substance, of course) should be considered to be a significant step for acquiring new characteristics. Needless to say, not all of the acquired characteristics are inherited. Then, the same process turns into a control mechanism of characteristic expression in succeeding generations. More simply . . .
Nervous system is the control mechanism of ontogenesis.
This is the fundamental definition of nerve system, I declare.
In case of a more evolved multicellular animal, the role of messenger to
reproductive cells seems to be differentiated and transferred to several kinds
of gliacyte. In case of Protochordata and Vertebrata, neural tube is the
exclusive path from brain to reproductive organ for the messenger of hereditary
information.
The primitive activity of nerve cells might have quite resembled leucocyte or archaeocyte of Porifera. But, there is a jump of logic between the isolated leucocyte and the system of united plural nerve cells (two cells, at the least). How shall the gap be filled? This is the theme for constructing the most primitive model of nervous system. The theory of forming a synapse is described as mutual dependence of metabolism or conflict between the encapsulated leucocyte. The explanation about this problem is also much the same to chapter one, two and three.
Suppose an ideal model of an individual that consists of outer shell of
somatic cells and archaeocyte and reproductive cell
(Fig.5-1 a) . When this individual stricken by some outer stimulus, after
struggle with the stimulus, outer somatic cells will secrete some metabolic
(excretory) substance. Then, the archaeocyte will absorb the metabolic
substance. Then, the archaeocyte (phagocyte) will be saturated with the
metabolic substance, and it will collapse (Fig.5-1 b)
. The reproductive cells will absorb and dissolve its wreckage and the
half-digested metabolic substances, and will recombine its base arrangement of
DNA (e.g., gene type: A to A + a). Newly created gene (a) might have some
ability to haggle with archaeocyte and the metabolic substance.
At next ontogenesis, the expressed archaeocyte has the new gene type (A + a).
When stricken by the same stimulus again, the stimulated somatic cell will
secrete same kind of metabolic substance. Now, this substance shall be called
neuron growth factor (NGF). The archaeocyte will absorb the metabolic substance
by expression of ordinary gene type (A) (Fig.5-1 c)
. This substance might induce another 'hungry archaeocyte' that has gene type
(a), and archaeocyte (a) will come into contact with archaeocyte (A). Then, the
archaeocyte (a) will absorb excessively ingested metabolic substances of
archaeocyte (A) (Fig.5-1 d) .
Here, a metabolic path between the two archaeocytes (now, they shall be called neurone) formed, corresponding with the outer stimulus. This is the simplest concept of a synapse, I think. This model easily explains both recognition of outer environment and inheritance of instinct.
I have nothing to say about conventional function of nervous system as the conductor of bio-electrical excitation. It may be able to explain as secondary and enhanced form of metabolism between nerve cells.
The next phase is a more advanced stage of nervous system described as establishment of the independent inner circuit. Its theme is also circulation. And, the explanation is almost the same as above-mentioned but little modified.
Suppose an individual that has isolated few neurons (N 1 ) ~ (N
3 ) at the initial situation (Fig.5-2 a)
. This individual is exposed in some environment that regularly circulates, and
is excited by outer stimuli (St1) ~ (St3) one after
another. When the situation turns from the initial state (1) to (2), the
individual is excited by the outer stimulus (St1), and the first
synapse (Sy1) will be formed. Similarly, as the situation turns from
(2) to (3), the second synapse (Sy2) will be formed corresponding to
the outer stimulus (St2). Then, as the situation turns back from (3)
to (1) again, the synapse (Sy3) will be formed by outer stimulus (St3).
As a result of this go-around process, an inner circular metabolic path was
formed corresponding to the outer circulation of environment.
This circular path might have some kind of metabolic inertia momentum (or
some modified form of inertia momentum, or its differential? : I cannot give
exact physical definition, now). This 'inertia momentum' may be usually dormant
or very weak, unless it is excited. This is the basic concept of
consciousness as a smallest unit.
When the environment turns to any of the situation (1), (2) or (3) again, probably one of the nerve cells may be excited by the stimulus (any of (St1), (St2) or (St3)) in the same manner once experienced. The signal of the excitement will be transmitted to the next nerve cell as a form of metabolic substance. The sleeping synapses will be aroused again one after another, and the dormant inertia momentum of the metabolic circuit shall distinctly reappear. This is the simplest concept of association, and the re-activated inertia momentum is will, I think.
I've explained some aspects in primitive nervous system, until now. Next step
is the inquiry into 'so-called intelligence'. The main point of the question is:
"How the random fragments of experiences and knowledge shall be integrated and
put into order by central nervous system?"
Key word to solve this question is that "Brain is extension of spinal cord".
This is the reverse of common observation; "Spinal cord dangles from brain." The
reverse may be also true, isn't it?
The essential working logic of brain can be made simple and clear by tracing
back phylogenesis of spinal cord.
For analyzing the fundamental mechanism of brain, first to do is to make
clear of what is the basic logic of 'put in order'. This is the question of
geometry, or philosophy as study of the past.
Look at graffiti (Fig.5-3) . From randomly
littered state (a) to the state of 'order on a line' (b), fragments are
arranged. This is the most simple concept of 'put in order', isn't it? When
seeking for geometrical analogy with it in anatomy, I immediately associate 'metamerism'.
This is the subject to be argued! Examination of the phylogenetic origin and the
ontogenetic mechanism of metamerism must be the way to explain the basic logic
of central nervous system and 'brain', I think.
The origin of metamerism may be a style of parthenogenesis like such as budding of Hydrozoa. And, the simplest style of metamerism may be homonomous metamerism of Articulata in (Fig.5-4) . In this illustration, the metamere seems superficially semi-independent individuals joined in an array, or the separation of each unit-organism is insufficient like strobila of Scyphozoa. This may be an arguable opinion indeed, but I do not think this is a far-fetched interpretation. Scyphozoa has no central nervous system, but it has a pair of tentacles. It is likely the archetype of central nervous system, I guess. The pair of tentacles of each unit organism joins to preceding metamere (a unit organism) one by one and totally forms so called ladder-like nervous system. Every unit organism has a pair of sexual organ and/or urinary organ. This is the basic model of central nervous system. The working logic of this model is explained in two phases; first step, serial operation in an individual; at second step, parallel operation as interaction between metameres of two individuals.
In an individual as an array of joined metamere, the dominating logic of
nervous system may be metabolic hierarchy between the unit metamere from head to
tail (Fig. 5-5) .
For example . . . When the head of the individual encounters some environmental
factor, as a result of a conflict with the environmental factor, some metabolic
substance will be produced. On the other hand, this conflict will affect the
neural system of the metamere. As a result, a network that has particular
pattern will be formed corresponding with the affection of the environmental
factor in the metamere. Formation of the network will cause secretion of neural
metabolic substance. This neural metabolic substance might have some hereditary
influence to the reproductive cells of this metamere, cooperating with the
metabolic substance from other somatic cells.
Next step, the next metamere will accept the metabolic substance from the former
metamere as half-digested food or new environmental factor, and will digest it
again more finely. In this metamere, another neural network will be also formed.
Then, this metamere will also secretes some more digested metabolic substance as
new environmental factor to the next metamere, and so on.
Thus, stored memory of the neural network in each metamere will be regulated
from head to tail. At the head, the contents that stored in the neural network
will directly reflect the encountered environmental factor, and it may be crude
or sometimes inconsistent. At later metamere, the contents will mature and be
well integrated as a result of inner struggles of the individual.
Here, the information of the outer environmental factor was sorted in order 'on
a line' by ladder-like nervous system of the individual as metabolic-digestive
series.
Also, Reproductive cells of each metamere will receive the result of these
regulations. The recombined gene of each reproductive cell will differ little by
little with the order of metamere shifts from head to tail.
The final and most important working logic of central nervous system is not completed in an individual. It is performed between male and female. At mating, all of the acquired knowledge and hereditary information of the male must be evaluated by the partner. This is the kernel logic of central nervous system. The logic is; "Which metamere of an individual shall conjugate with which metamere of the partner?" This selection determines final order of the metabolic-hereditary path between individuals. Then, the selected combination of metamere will conjugate, and their egg and sperm will copulate. This evaluation process between individuals will also affect the neural network of each individual. The aroused activity of the network shall be emotion, I guess.
Many variations of the style of coitus (formation of metabolic paths) are conceivable. Some examples are illustrated (Fig.5-6) . These random styles, at the earlier stage of ladder-like nervous system, might have been optimized and specified to several limited styles little by little after numerous trial and error. This is the conceivable main reason of divergence of Protostomia and Deuterostomia, I think. Many phyla have evolved by the reason of difference of formed metabolic-hereditary paths between metameres (same as difference of style and direction of coitus) from the stage of such primitive homonomous metamerism.
Thus, the characteristics acquiring path was settled. Then, the phenotype of each phylum shall be expressed as the result of harmonic function of several particular metabolic-hereditary series . . .
* Digestive organ series as main energy path.
* Central nervous system as serial logical control metabolic series.
* Circulatory system as general metabolic series (immunity, inner secretion and others), etc..
Speaking of our phylum, many sexual glands or urinary organs of each metamere
might have been summarized little by little and concentrated on both ends of the
alimentary canal. The front urogenital grand had become hypophysis. More front
'idle metamere that had not its own sexual gland' should be gradually compressed
piled up and by succeeding descendant (Fig.5-7) .
This heaped-up-ball of numerous numbers of nerve cells is brain, I
think.
Above-mentioned evaluation system may be also the root working logic of brain.
Superficially how sophisticated, all thoughts and activity of complicated
multicellular animals can be summarized and reduced into a simple serial order
between metameres or individuals. This relationship is variously explicable such
as donor and receptor, male and female, parents and children, superior and
inferior, and can be extended to the concept of 'pecking order' by
T.Schjelderup-Ebbe, and social hierarchy of human being, etc..
My hypothesis about internal secretion is limited to rough sketch that
described as 'a circulating process' much the same as other chapters. I cannot
explain the detailed process of endocrine correlation.
The origin of metamerism is explicable as establishment of the developing
(propagating) mechanism that controlled by steroid as various forms of hormone.
All of the steroids are synthesized from cholesterol. This
fact suggests that cholesterol was the final product of developmental process,
at the relatively earlier stage of phylogenesis. Accumulation and saturation of
cholesterol would cause obstruction of the fundamental metabolism as so-called
feedback inhibition: DNA replication and RNA transcription halted as the
individual lost developmental potency. The individual could not recover lost
developmental potency, and could not but just wait for next fertilization
(Fig. 5-8 a) .
This explanation may be appropriate for the case in a quiet situation like
'static test tubes in a laboratory'. But, as a practical problem in the field of
really wild and dynamic environment, all biochemical processes are ever driven
and disturbed by periodical environmental force. In such situation, this problem
should be considered another way. In the wild nature, even if the developmental
potency is once lost, latent developmental potency might be
restored driven by periodical environmental force, either accidentally or
necessarily. Here, the meaning of latent is that; E.g., when the
season turns from winter to spring, available energy will gradually increase and
the condition in the obstructed cell can be almost initialized back
to the earlier state of the developing process except its saturation of
cholesterol. Here, the problem is how to escape from the saturation and 'jump'
or 'breakthrough' the gap from the end to the beginning of the developmental
process again (Fig. 5-8 b) . One of the
conceivable ways of the jumping is mentioned below.
Suppose a substance produced by antimorph of cholesterol, and assume it is not
so harmful as cholesterol. If the substance can provisionally substitute for the
position of cholesterol at the obstructed place, normal reaction for next
development might easily occur. In this situation, if small turbulence is given
accidentally, this turbulence will trigger and induce following reaction series
of developmental process taking advantage of already charged 'latent'
developmental potency. And, this individual can develop again.
This type of substituting mechanism is the primary role of
steroid hormone, I guess. And, this "saturation <---> rejuvenation cycle
controlled by steroid" is the basic unit growth mechanism of multicellular
animal, I think. I gave it a name 're-development'. This concept
is expansively applicable to explain various types of 'non-straight' development
processes such as parthenogenesis, metamorphosis, recovery from injury, and
forming process of metamerism (Fig.5-9) etc.. All
of them are variations of re-development, I suppose.
For the earlier stage of phylogenesis, the substitution and re-development could not be done spontaneously, but triggered by strong outer stimulus such as collapse of an individual (this may be the origin of parthenogenesis). In the latter stage of more complicated animals that had metamerism and circulating system, the stimulus or releaser might be given as some kind of secreted substance from the sexual gland of former metamere. This mechanism might be the origin of peptide hormone and control system by hypophysis, I think. By that, hypophysis might have become modal controller of the total developmental mechanism including nervous system (Fig. 5-10) .
By many times of friction between cyclical environmental pressure and recurrent processes of re-development, delimited experiences of every term might be stacked up, from older to newer as the imaginary extension of metamere (Fig. 5-11) . Most of stored experiences of each unit neural network may contain similar elements in basic, corresponding with regularity of the cyclical environment. But, each unit also includes some differences in peripheral matter that corresponding with the irregularity of environment. Such differences between unit networks are extracted by comparison as fragments of knowledge, and are sorted or indexed. The indexing logic may be that the experience of older age becomes the basic criterion for newer experiences. In case of well-evolved animals, extract and indexing may be role for cerebellum, and cerebrum may be mere storage of memory, I guess. Cerebrum is not the place of intelligence.
As a summary, there is no difference between an archaeocyte of Porifera and a
huge brain of human being, in its root function. Nervous system is explicable as
both inheritance system and development control system. It feels, thinks, seeks,
and struggles for succeeding descendant or the future in other word.
This is the conclusion.
There are much more to say. But, my English ability is limited. It's too hard for me to describe complicated problems all over biology. Followings are some suggestions for examination.
In case of most multicellular animals, sexual reproduction at the same time
means the death of the individuals. But, some multicellular animals survive
after the sexual reproduction. The relationship between parent and child might
have begun as cannibalism of the fertilized eggs by the survived female. The
behavior of certain fish is its example. She might not be able to stop
cannibalizing till the taste of egg recalls the same taste of male once she
loved. Half the genes and synthesized substances of the eggs are come from the
male. The same flavor will release the same emotion again. Usually, the roles at
mating are male as donor and female as receptor. Recalled memory may be
associated with the relationship between the male and female. But at this time,
the image of this relationship may be transferred to another relationship
between the female and the eggs (mother and her children). Now, mother as the
donor and children as the receptor. A well-known example of this 'transferred
metabolic similarity' is presentation behavior of certain birds. Male pretends
that he is a mother, and female pretends that she is a baby chicken, at mating.
Communication between generations is based on the conservative criterion of
'transferred metabolic similarity'.
I call such activity between generations at overlapping part of life time the
secondary metabolic-hereditary system. A baby grows up surrounded by
environment of 'the secondary metabolic-hereditary system', at first. Then,
grown up individual really experiences the primary metabolic-hereditary
system of wild nature, at second.
As well known, a group is expansion of family. It may be also an expansion of
the secondary metabolic-hereditary system. This term is the same to social
hierarchy. A stereotype image of society has static pyramidal structure, and a
boss reigns over it. This observation is incorrect or at least insufficient
because the dynamic logic of society cannot complete itself.
Suppose a boy. He cannot become an adult by himself. He must drop out from the
society. For acquiring new characters, he must endure many hardships of natural
environment. Very few can survive and be accepted by female. This is the destiny
to be a man. Then, he will re-create a home and new family, if possible. And,
the family might develop to new society again.
Society also circulates in very long cycle corresponding with fluctuation of
environment.
As a vogue observation, bio-activities in various scale level seem to have same analogy. Atom, molecular, gene, the structure in a cell, cells, the structure in an individual, individuals, hierarchy of society, and more expansively the planets, galaxy, etc.. I cannot explain what that is. For analyzing this problem, the theory of fractal geometry by B.B.Mandelbrot may be applicable. This is a question for the future.
Life is created by death here, everything begins from here, everything returns to forever, I hope so
Life as circulation of Energy
Hikaru Tanaka
Version I February 17 1988
Version II April 17 1990
Version III April 4 1996
Last revised January 30 1997
# Citations are omitted, because all of the theories in this paper are constructed upon well known and verified matters.
# ƒD Copyright 1988 - 1998 Hikaru Tanaka./ organism@osk.3web.ne.jp / All rights reserved.