Darwin’s agential materials: evolutionary implications of multiscale competency in developmental biology

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 80(6)

Опубликована: Май 8, 2023

Abstract A critical aspect of evolution is the layer developmental physiology that operates between genotype and anatomical phenotype. While much work has addressed mechanisms evolvability specific genetic architectures with emergent complexity, one not been sufficiently explored: implications morphogenetic problem-solving competencies for evolutionary process itself. The cells works are passive components: rather, they have numerous capabilities behavior because derive from ancestral unicellular organisms rich repertoires. In multicellular organisms, these must be tamed, can exploited, by process. Specifically, biological structures a multiscale competency architecture where cells, tissues, organs exhibit regulative plasticity—the ability to adjust perturbations such as external injury or internal modifications still accomplish adaptive tasks across metabolic, transcriptional, physiological, problem spaces. Here, I review examples illustrating how physiological circuits guiding cellular collective impart computational properties agential material serves substrate then explore ways in which intelligence during morphogenesis affect evolution, providing new perspective on search This key feature software life helps explain remarkable speed robustness sheds light relationship genomes functional phenotypes.

Язык: Английский

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Collective intelligence: A unifying concept for integrating biology across scales and substrates

Communications Biology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 7(1)

Опубликована: Март 28, 2024

Abstract A defining feature of biology is the use a multiscale architecture, ranging from molecular networks to cells, tissues, organs, whole bodies, and swarms. Crucially however, not only nested structurally, but also functionally: each level able solve problems in distinct problem spaces, such as physiological, morphological, behavioral state space. Percolating adaptive functionality one competent subunits higher functional organization requires collective dynamics: multiple components must work together achieve specific outcomes. Here we overview number biological examples at different scales which highlight ability cellular material make decisions that implement cooperation toward homeodynamic endpoints, intelligence by solving cell, tissue, whole-organism levels. We explore hypothesis province groups animals, an important symmetry exists between science swarms competencies cells other systems scales. then briefly outline implications this approach, possible impact tools field diverse for regenerative medicine synthetic bioengineering.

Язык: Английский

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There’s Plenty of Room Right Here: Biological Systems as Evolved, Overloaded, Multi-Scale Machines

Biomimetics, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 8(1), С. 110 - 110

Опубликована: Март 8, 2023

The applicability of computational models to the biological world is an active topic debate. We argue that a useful path forward results from abandoning hard boundaries between categories and adopting observer-dependent, pragmatic view. Such view dissolves contingent dichotomies driven by human cognitive biases (e.g., tendency oversimplify) prior technological limitations in favor more continuous view, necessitated study evolution, developmental biology, intelligent machines. Form function are tightly entwined nature, some cases, robotics as well. Thus, efforts re-shape living systems for biomedical or bioengineering purposes require prediction control their at multiple scales. This challenging many reasons, one which perform functions same place time. refer this “polycomputing”—the ability substrate simultaneously compute different things, make those available observers. important way things kind computer, but not familiar, linear, deterministic kind; rather, computers broad sense materials, reported rapidly growing physical computing literature. observer-centered framework computations performed evolved designed will improve understanding mesoscale events, it has already done quantum relativistic To develop our how life performs polycomputing, can be convinced alter functions, we first create technologies polycompute learn functions. Here, review examples idea overloading on hardware design principle helps understand build both systems. Learning hack existing polycomputing substrates, well evolve new ones, have massive impacts regenerative medicine, robotics, computer engineering.

Язык: Английский

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Future medicine: from molecular pathways to the collective intelligence of the body

Trends in Molecular Medicine, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 29(9), С. 687 - 710

Опубликована: Июль 20, 2023

The remarkable anatomical homeostasis exhibited by complex living organisms suggests that they are inherently reprogrammable information-processing systems offer numerous interfaces to their physiological and problem-solving capacities. We briefly review data suggesting the multiscale competency of forms affords a new path for biomedicine exploits innate collective intelligence tissues organs. concept tissue-level allostatic goal-directedness is already bearing fruit in clinical practice. sketch roadmap towards 'somatic psychiatry' using advances bioelectricity behavioral neuroscience design methods induce self-repair structure function. Relaxing assumption cellular control mechanisms static, exploiting powerful concepts from cybernetics, science, developmental biology may spark definitive solutions current biomedical challenges.

Язык: Английский

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A scale-free universal relational information matrix (N-space) reconciles the information problem: N-space as the fabric of reality

Communicative & Integrative Biology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 16(1)

Опубликована: Май 11, 2023

Cellular measurement is a crucial faculty in living systems, and exaptations are acknowledged as significant source of evolutionary innovation. However, the possibility that origin biological order predicated on an exaptation information from abiotic realm has not been previously explored. To support this hypothesis, existence universal holographic relational space-time matrix proposed scale-free unification biotic systems. In framework, property representing interactions between matter energy can be subject to observation. Since observers also universally distributed, deemed fundamental fabric universe. The novel concept compartmentalizing N-space into separate partitions nodes informational density defined by Markov blankets boundaries introduced, permitting their applicability both Based these partitions, systems derive meaningful conditional settlement quantum entanglement asymmetries coherences separately bounded reference frames sufficient construed form measurement. These relationships precursor reiterating nested architecture N-space-derived fields characterize life account for order. Accordingly, partitioning preexisting processes within Abiotic states thereby reconcile differing forms information. essential difference lies attributes specific observer/detectors, clarifying several contentious aspects self-referential consciousness.

Язык: Английский

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Cellular Basis of Cognition in Evolution: From Protists and Fungi Up to Animals, Plants, and Root-Fungal Networks

The MIT Press eBooks, Год журнала: 2023, Номер unknown, С. 33 - 58

Опубликована: Авг. 22, 2023

Язык: Английский

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AI-driven automated discovery tools reveal diverse behavioral competencies of biological networks

eLife, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 13

Опубликована: Янв. 13, 2025

Many applications in biomedicine and synthetic bioengineering rely on understanding, mapping, predicting, controlling the complex behavior of chemical genetic networks. The emerging field diverse intelligence investigates problem-solving capacities unconventional agents. However, few quantitative tools exist for exploring competencies non-conventional systems. Here, we view gene regulatory networks (GRNs) as agents navigating a problem space develop automated to map robust goal states GRNs can reach despite perturbations. Our contributions include: (1) Adapting curiosity-driven exploration algorithms from AI discover range reachable GRNs, (2) Proposing empirical tests inspired by behaviorist approaches assess their navigation competencies. data shows that models inferred biological wide spectrum steady states, exhibiting various physiological network dynamics without requiring structural changes properties or connectivity. We also explore applicability these ‘behavioral catalogs’ comparing evolved across networks, designing drug interventions biomedical contexts bioengineering. These emphasis behavior-shaping open new paths efficiently For interactive version this paper, please visit https://developmentalsystems.org/curious-exploration-of-grn-competencies .

Язык: Английский

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Cognitive Cells: From Cellular Senomic Spheres to Earth’s Biosphere

Biological Theory, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Фев. 26, 2025

Abstract Cells are central for life, starting some 3.7 billion years ago with the assembly of first primordial cells in primeval and prebiotic oceans young Earth’s environment. Details this abiogenesis still missing but since competent, self-reproductive cell emerged, life has been based on continuous divisions. Accordingly, all present can be traced directly to very cells. Our senomic concept sentience bioelectromagnetic fields postulated that sentient coterminous. Archaea bacteria most ancient cellular organisms they exhibit a unicellular lifestyle. Some two after emergence Earth, eukaryotic were symbiotically assembled from archaeal bacterial Eukaryotic later coalesced form true multicellular partnership archaea, forming holobionts, including fungi, plants, animals. All living presently integrated into biosphere, which permeates three major ecological habitats: geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere. Coexistence such vast assemblies collaborating necessitates highly elevated level integration, originates at spheres individual prokaryotic across whole biosphere corresponding hypothetical Gaia concept.

Язык: Английский

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Artificial Intelligences: A Bridge Toward Diverse Intelligence and Humanity's Future

Advanced Intelligent Systems, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Апрель 29, 2025

Recent discussions and debate around artificial intelligence (AI) its status are notably incomplete, missing the implications of highly relevant aspects emerging fields diverse (DI) synthetic morphology, as well basic facts developmental biology. Herein, it is argued that human flourishing impossible without an appreciation space possible beings ways in which today's intelligent machine debates about universal existential questions facing biological beings, not just AI. The inevitable arrival a wide set unconventional bodies minds humans modify create new forms will disrupt untenable old narratives what people how to recognize their sentient allies unfamiliar guises. issues engendered by advent AI from perspective field DI evolutionary history discussed.

Язык: Английский

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A revised central dogma for the 21st century: All biology is cognitive information processing

Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 182, С. 34 - 48

Опубликована: Июнь 1, 2023

Язык: Английский

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