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When is self-organization used in biological systems?

Thomas D Seeley1

  • 1Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Mudd Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. tds5@cornell.edu

The Biological Bulletin
|June 28, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Biological systems self-organize when numerous subunits lack communication or computation for centralized control. This decentralized control can occur even in systems with cognitively advanced subunits.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Systems biology
  • Theoretical biology

Background:

  • Self-organization, a form of decentralized control, is prevalent in biological systems across various scales.
  • However, not all biological organization relies on self-organization; centralized control also plays a significant role.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To define the conditions under which a biological system exhibits self-organization.
  • To differentiate self-organization from centralized control in biological contexts.
  • To explore the role of subunit capabilities and system-wide communication in determining organizational strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of biological organization.
  • Defining criteria for self-organization versus centralized control.
  • Examining the influence of subunit communication and computation limitations.

Main Results:

  • A system is self-organized if its numerous subunits lack the necessary communication or computational abilities for centralized control.
  • Centralized control necessitates a well-informed and highly intelligent supervisor.
  • Self-organization can occur even in systems with cognitively capable subunits if preadaptations for system-wide communication are absent.

Conclusions:

  • The presence of numerous subunits with limited communication or computation is key to self-organization.
  • Evolutionary constraints on communication networks can lead to self-organization, irrespective of individual subunit intelligence.
  • Understanding these organizational principles is crucial for fields like systems biology and evolutionary theory.

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