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The bioelectric code: An ancient computational medium for dynamic control of growth and form
Michael Levin1, Christopher J Martyniuk2
1Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Biology Department, Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Suite 4600 Medford, MA 02155, USA.
Bio Systems
|September 1, 2017
Summary
Bioelectricity, the electrical signaling in all cells, is a key mechanism for pattern regulation in development and regeneration. Understanding this bioelectric code offers new avenues for regenerative medicine and bioengineering.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Bioelectricity
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Large-scale anatomy is not directly encoded by DNA, necessitating a complex morphogenetic code.
- Organisms exhibit remarkable pattern homeostasis, regenerating complex structures from diverse initial conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore bioelectricity as a fundamental mechanism for pattern regulation and plasticity in biological systems.
- To review progress in interpreting and manipulating anatomical information within bioelectrical states.
Main Methods:
- Reviewing research on cellular bioelectrical signaling and circuit formation.
- Analyzing bioelectrical pattern regulation from information theory, dynamical systems, and computational neuroscience perspectives.
Main Results:
- All cells generate and sense electrical signals, forming bioelectric circuits that guide anatomical development.
- Bioelectricity provides a mechanism for pattern homeostasis, enabling regeneration and remodeling.
Conclusions:
- Decoding the bioelectric code is crucial for understanding evolutionary developmental biology.
- Applications in regenerative medicine and synthetic bioengineering can be advanced by controlling bioelectrical states.
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