Molecules into cells: specifying spatial architecture

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Systems Biology
• Origin of Life

Background:

• Cells are complex, organized systems, not mere collections of molecules.
• Understanding cellular spatial organization is key to comprehending life's fundamental processes.
• Existing models often focus on the genome, potentially overlooking crucial spatial aspects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore conceptual issues in the genesis of cellular spatial architecture.
• To investigate how molecular location, supramolecular order, and inheritance contribute to cell structure.
• To propose an unconventional interpretation of biological order based on self-organization.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of physiological processes bridging molecular and cellular scales.
• Examination of molecular self-organization, directional physiology, spatial markers, gradients, fields, and physical forces.
• Integration of genetic information with heritable cellular structures.

Main Results:

• Cells are viewed as self-organized systems comprising genetically specified elements and heritable structures.
• The whole cell is identified as the smallest self-organizing entity.
• A spatially organized system of molecules, not just the genome, is proposed as the starting point for understanding cellular function and computation.

Conclusions:

• Biological order arises from self-organizing systems with both genetic and structural components.
• Rethinking the role of genes and the definition of organisms is necessary.
• This perspective offers insights into the potential origins of living systems on early Earth.