Universal biology

Richard Dawkins

doi:10.1038/360025a0

Universal biology and the statistical mechanics of early life

Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences ◽

10.1098/rsta.2016.0341 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 375 (2109) ◽

pp. 20160341 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Nigel Goldenfeld ◽

Tommaso Biancalani ◽

Farshid Jafarpour

Keyword(s):

Statistical Mechanics ◽

Genetic Code ◽

Early Life ◽

Minimal Models ◽

Last Universal Common Ancestor ◽

Universal Common Ancestor ◽

Universal Biology ◽

Fundamental Understanding ◽

Far From Equilibrium ◽

Dynamical System Models

All known life on the Earth exhibits at least two non-trivial common features: the canonical genetic code and biological homochirality, both of which emerged prior to the Last Universal Common Ancestor state. This article describes recent efforts to provide a narrative of this epoch using tools from statistical mechanics. During the emergence of self-replicating life far from equilibrium in a period of chemical evolution, minimal models of autocatalysis show that homochirality would have necessarily co-evolved along with the efficiency of early-life self-replicators. Dynamical system models of the evolution of the genetic code must explain its universality and its highly refined error-minimization properties. These have both been accounted for in a scenario where life arose from a collective, networked phase where there was no notion of species and perhaps even individuality itself. We show how this phase ultimately terminated during an event sometimes known as the Darwinian transition, leading to the present epoch of tree-like vertical descent of organismal lineages. These examples illustrate concrete examples of universal biology: the quest for a fundamental understanding of the basic properties of living systems, independent of precise instantiation in chemistry or other media. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Reconceptualizing the origins of life’.

Download Full-text

Universal Biology Does Not Prescribe Planetary Isolationism

Theology and Science ◽

10.1080/14746700.2017.1299384 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 150-152

Author(s):

Carlos Mariscal

Keyword(s):

Universal Biology

Download Full-text

Toward a Universal Biology: The Search for Life on Mars

Science News ◽

10.2307/3956540 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 100 (4) ◽

pp. 64

Author(s):

Dietrick E. Thomsen

Keyword(s):

Universal Biology ◽

Life On Mars

Download Full-text

Dr. Ottó Orsós, the forgotten Hungarian pioneer in plant tissue culture

International Journal of Horticultural Science ◽

10.31421/ijhs/11/1/552 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

M. G. Fári

Keyword(s):

Tissue Culture ◽

Plant Tissue Culture ◽

Plant Tissue ◽

Cell Biology ◽

In Vitro Morphogenesis ◽

Regenerated Plants ◽

Universal Biology ◽

History Of ◽

Callus Tissues

The knowledge of tissue culture deserves attention in respect of understanding the development of universal biology. This study intends to contribute to the past of the plant tissue culture by such data of the history of science which have been unprocessed so far. It seems that the life-work of the Hungarian biologist, Dr. Ottó Orsós is a missing and essential link between those early plant hormone researchers and the representatives of the pioneers of tissue culture schools who have contributed substantially to the development of the modern in vitro plant morphogenesis and plant cell biology. Orsós cultured kohlrabi tuber cubes on White culture medium in a sterile manner. This way, he could efficiently direct the in vitro morphogenesis of the kohlrabi, the regeneration of its shoot and root, and the formation and steps to subculture of pure callus tissues in 1938. He supported the correctness of its statements by means of detailed anatomical examinations. Orsós successfully rooted and aclimatized complete regenerated plants. We may as well call the above system — in remembrance of the creators of the original concept — "Haberlandt-Orsós model". Between the publishing of his main paper in 1938 and 2003, a period of 65 years has lapsed. On the occasion of this anniversary, we bow before this forgotten pioneer.

Download Full-text