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Updated: Jul 12, 2026
08:01
Virtual Hand with Ambiguous Movement between the Self and Other Origin: Sense of Ownership and 'Other-Produced' Agency
Published on: October 28, 2020
Individuality and human beginnings: a reply to David DeGrazia
1Georgetown University, USA.
Summary
Individuality does not require indivisibility. Twinning results from reprogramming of early differentiating cells to form a unified organism, challenging traditional views on identity.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Embryology
- Philosophy of science
Background:
- The concept of individuality in biological organisms.
- Existing models of twinning and their limitations.
- The role of cellular differentiation in organism development.
Discussion:
- Proposes that individuality is compatible with cellular plasticity.
- Explains twinning as a process of blastomere reprogramming within a developing unified organism.
- Challenges the notion that a single zygote is the sole determinant of individuality.
Key Insights:
- Individuality can emerge from processes that involve cellular reprogramming.
- Twinning represents a unique developmental pathway where a unified organism's needs guide cellular fate.
- The timing and extent of cellular differentiation are crucial for understanding organismal identity.
Outlook:
- Further research into the molecular mechanisms of blastomere reprogramming.
- Exploring the philosophical implications of developmental plasticity for defining individuality.
- Investigating how epigenetic modifications influence cellular reprogramming in twinning events.
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