A "sensitive" cell system. Its role in a new evolutionary paradigm

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Cells possess a sensitivity property for processing environmental information through physical signals and molecules.
• This sensitive system is crucial for cell behavior and fundamental to morphogenesis across all cell types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of the sensitive cell system in gene expression and regulation.
• To investigate the interplay between the sensitive system, epigenetic processes, and evolution.
• To propose a dual-phase evolutionary mechanism involving both Lamarckian and Darwinian principles.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of cell sensitivity and its interaction with genetic and epigenetic systems.
• Review of existing literature on epigenetic inheritance, adaptive mutations, and genetic assimilation.
• Theoretical modeling of a two-phase evolutionary process.

Main Results:

• The sensitive cell system directly or indirectly influences gene expression and regulation via epigenetic mechanisms.
• Environmental information can be integrated into new traits through epigenetic inheritance, adaptive mutations, and genetic assimilation.
• These processes facilitate the embodiment of environmental information, making it relevant for evolution.

Conclusions:

• The sensitive cell system plays a fundamental role in morphogenesis and cell behavior.
• Epigenetic mechanisms are key mediators for environmental information transfer across generations.
• Evolution operates through recurrent Lamarckian (epigenetic) and Darwinian (selective) phases at cellular and population levels, respectively.