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Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
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Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the...
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The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
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The “tree of life” describes the evolution of life and the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The root of the tree is the common ancestor to all life on Earth. All other species radiate from this point, much like the branches of a tree. The numerous tips of these branches on the tree of life represent every living, or extant, species. Extinct species, which are species that no longer exist, can be found towards the center of the tree. Currently, these organisms, both...
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Updated: Jul 26, 2025

Mapping the Emergent Spatial Organization of Mammalian Cells using Micropatterns and Quantitative Imaging
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Biological evolution requires an emergent, self-organizing principle.

Olen R Brown1, David A Hullender2

  • 1Emeritus of Biomedical Sciences, at the University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.

Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology
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Summary

Darwinian evolution struggles to explain macroevolutionary events like speciation and the Cambrian explosion. A proposed bioelectromagnetic field may drive complex self-organization in cells, offering new evolutionary insights.

Keywords:
Biological evolutionEmergent forceEnzyme evolutionProbabilitiesSelf-organization

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Current evolutionary models, including neo-Darwinism, adequately explain microevolution via fixed mutations.
  • However, these models face challenges in explaining macroevolutionary phenomena such as speciation and the rapid diversification during the Cambrian explosion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically assess the fundamental limitations of Darwinian evolution in explaining macroevolutionary transitions.
  • To propose a novel framework involving self-organization and a bioelectromagnetic principle to account for complex biological structures and processes.
  • To highlight the improbable nature of evolutionary pathways based on current mechanisms and probability assessments.

Main Methods:

  • Perspective review analyzing existing evolutionary theories and their explanatory gaps.
  • Examination of specific complex molecular assemblies (e.g., ribosomes, ATP synthase) as case studies for self-organization.
  • Probabilistic modeling to assess the likelihood of evolutionary events requiring multiple genetic changes.

Main Results:

  • Fixed mutations and 'survival of the fittest' are insufficient to explain macroevolution, speciation, or the origin of major body plans.
  • The probability of evolutionary events requiring numerous genetic changes is exceedingly low.
  • Complex cellular self-organization, exemplified by ribosome and ATP synthase assembly, suggests mechanisms beyond current evolutionary understanding.

Conclusions:

  • A bioelectromagnetic field/principle emerging in living cells is proposed to govern self-organization and the synthesis of complex molecular machinery.
  • This emergent principle offers a potential explanation for phenomena currently unexplained by Darwinian evolution.
  • Greater integration of physics and mathematics with biology, with dedicated funding, is crucial for advancing evolutionary understanding and medical applications.