Biochemical response to change in the environment and the nature of "essential" hypertension

The abnormality of Na+, K+-cotransport detected in erythrocytes of patients with "essential" hypertension, appears to be an inherited biochemical disorder characteristic of the disease. This explains several features of "essential" hypertension. However, characteristics of the kinetics of this Na+ transport system are similar to characteristics of enzymes in halophilic organisms, which live in a high saline environment. Cell Na+ is increased in patients with "essential" hypertension and in halophilic organisms. This suggests that the enzyme characteristics are response mechanisms to maintain extracellular Na+ concentration within an optimal range. Based on this view two assumptions of biochemical response have been put forward which form the biochemical basis of a general biological theory. The implications of this for understanding the nature of "essential" hypertension are discussed. To explain the nature of the inheritance of the Na+, K+-cotransport defect in erythrocytes of patients with "essential" hypertension, a theory of acquired genetic transmission called "improvisation" theory is proposed. Improvisation may be the mechanism whereby new gene formation occurs, and be the mechanism for evolution of species if successful reproduction of offspring is allowed to continue.