Self-Organization Through Semiosis

Wim Beekman*, Henk Jochemsen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This article deals with the question of how self-organization in living organisms is realized. Self-organization may be observed in open systems that are out of equilibrium. Many disequilibria-conversion phenomena exist where free energy conversion occurs by spontaneously formed engines. However, how is self-organization realized in living entities? Living cells turn out to be self-organizing disequilibria-converting systems of a special kind. Disequilibrium conversion is realized in a typical way, through employing information specifying protein complexes acting as nano engines. The genetic code enables processing of information—derived from coding DNA—to produce these molecular machines. Hence, information is at the core of living systems. Two promising approaches to explaining living cells containing sequences carrying information are mentioned. Also discussed is the question of whether a second concept of self-organization—namely, the Kantian concept—applies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)90-100
Number of pages11
JournalBiological Theory
Volume18
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Mar 2023

Keywords

  • Biosemiotics
  • Code biology
  • Coding DNA
  • Disequilibria conversion
  • Information
  • Kant
  • Molecular machines
  • Nano engines
  • Self-organization
  • Semiosis

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