Self-organization versus Watchmaker: stochastic dynamics of cellular organization

Area of Science:

• Cell biology
• Systems biology
• Molecular dynamics

Background:

• Traditional cell models view cells as mechanistic clockworks, using engineering principles for organization.
• This classical-mechanistic perception is increasingly challenged by new experimental data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent evidence on cellular organization.
• To present an alternative model for cellular dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of real-time dynamics of fluorescently labeled molecules in living cells.
• Overview of recent experimental studies.

Main Results:

• Experimental data show inconsistencies with the clockwork model of the cell.
• Emerging evidence supports a dynamic, integrated system view.

Conclusions:

• The cell is better understood as a dynamic system of interconnected metastable molecular organizations.
• Stochasticity and self-organization are key mechanisms in cellular organization, moving beyond classical mechanics.