Organismic sets and biological epimorphism

It is shown that the principle of biological epimorphism (Rashevsky,Mathematical Principles in Biology and Their Applications, Springfield, Ill.: Charles Thomas, 1960) is contained in the theory of organismic sets (Bull. Math. Biophysics,29, 139–152, 1967) if an additional postulate not directly connected to mappings is made.     

Organismic sets. Sex in animal and human societies

The question is discussed as to the reason why some animal societies, such as bees or ants, are sexually differentiated, that is, onlysome of its members are exhibiting reproducing activities. It is indicated that human society may be on its way to such a sexual differentiation which may eventually come.     

Organismic sets: II. Some general considerations

The theory of organismic sets, developed in previous papers (Bull. Math. Biophysics,29, 139–152; 389–393; 643–647) is further generalized. To conform better with some biological and sociological facts the basic definitions are made more general. The conclusion is reached that every organismic setS _o is in general the union of three disjoined subsetsS _o1 ,S _o2 andS _o3 . Of these the subsetS _o1 , called the “core” is equivalent to an organismic set defined in previous publications. Its functioning is essential for the functioning ofS _o . The subsetsS _o2 andS _o3 , taken alone, are not organismic sets. The first of them is responsible for such biological or sociological functions which are not necessary for the “immediate” survival ofS _o but which are important for adaptation to changing environment and are therefore essential for a “long range survival.” The second one,S _o3 , is responsible for biological or social functions which are irrelevant for the survival ofS _o . Biological and sociological examples ofS _o2 andS _o3 are given. In addition to the fundamental theorem established in the first of the above mentioned papers, three new conclusions are derived. One is that in organismic sets of order higher than zero not all elements are specialized. The second is that every organismic set of order higher than zero is mortal. The third is that with increasing specialization the intensities of some activities in some elements ofS _o are reduced. Again the biological and sociological examples are given. At the end some very general speculations are made on the possible relation between biology and physics and on the possibility of “relationalizing” physics.     

Organismic sets: Outline of a general theory of biological and social organisms

The discussion as to whether societies are organisms andvice versa has been going on for a long time. The question is meaningless unless a clear definition of the term “organism” is made. Once such a definition is made, the question may be answered by studying whether there exists any relational isomorphism between what the biologist calls an organism and what the sociologist calls society. Such a study should also include animal societies studied by ecologists. Both human and animal societies are sets of individuals together with certain other objects which are the products of their activities. A multicellular organism is a set of cells together with some products of their activities. A cell itself may be regarded as a set of genes together with the products of their activities because every component of the cell is either directly or indirectly the result of the activities of the genes. Thus it is natural to define both biological and social organisms as special kinds of sets. A number of definitions are given in this paper which define what we call here organismic sets. Postulates are introduced which characterize such sets, and a number of conclusions are drawn. It is shown that an organismic set, as defined here, does represent some basic relational aspects of both biological organisms and societies. In particular a clarification and a sharpening of the Postulate of Relational Forces given previously (Bull. Math. Biophysics,28, 283–308, 1966) is presented. It is shown that from the basic definitions and postulates of the theory of organismic sets, it folows that only such elements of those sets will aggregate spontaneously, which are not completely “specialized” in the performance of only one activity. It is further shown that such “non-specialized” elements undergo a process of specialization, and as a result of it their spontaneous aggregation into organismic sets becomes impossible. This throws light on the problem of the origin of life on Earth and the present absence of the appearance of life by spontaneous generation. Some applications to problems of ontogenesis and philogenesis are made. Finally the relation between physics, biology, and sociology is discussed in the light of the theory of organismic sets.     

Fields, networks, creativity and evolution.

Organisms constitute wholes as a result of a network of organizing relations between the parts. In animals, this network has a morphological as well as a psychological aspect, and it regulates morphogenesis as well as behaviour. It is pointed out that closed networks of higher order, that have the characteristics of single organisms (communities of ants, termites and bees, cases of symbiosis, and perhaps even the Earth), could also possess that regulating aspect. In the case of humans, the network can be associated with creativity and the structure of knowledge. Individuation (as defined in Jung's psychology) refers to the assimilation of the network into consciousness. The theory developed in the present paper could give rise to a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of life.     

Scientific and practical applications of molecular colonies

The review briefs the history of the invention of the molecular colony techique, also known as a polony technology; applications of this method to studies of the reactions between single RNA molecules, ultrasensitive diagnosis, gene cloning, and in vitro screening, as well as the concepts of the origin of life that regard molecular colonies as a prototype of living organisms.     

Scientific and practical applications of molecular colonies

Reviewed are the history of invention of the molecular colony technique, also known under name "polony technology", applications of this method to studies of reactions between single RNA molecules, ultrasensitive diagnostics, gene cloning and screening in vitro, and also concepts on the origin of life that consider molecular colonies as a prototype of living organisms.     

Microbial alginate production,modification and its applications

Alginate is an important polysaccharide used widely in the food, textile, printing and pharmaceutical industries for its viscosifying, and gelling properties. All commercially produced alginates are isolated from farmed brown seaweeds. These algal alginates suffer from heterogeneity in composition and material properties. Here, we will discuss alginates produced by bacteria; the molecular mechanisms involved in their biosynthesis; and the potential to utilize these bacterially produced or modified alginates for high-value applications where defined material properties are required.     

Cell therapy and its clinical applications. Cartilage cell therapy, present and future

Articular cartilage has a very poor capacity for repair. In order to get a normal functional efficacy, the replaced tissue has to reproduce the structure, composition and physico-chemical properties of native cartilage tissue. The transplantation of cultured autologous chondrocytes into chondral defects is currently applicable only in the case of young sportive people with a limited lesion in an otherwise relatively normal joint. Recent experimental studies have shown that pluripotent mesenchymal cells from bone marrow could also repair experimental osteochondral defects. An advantage of this grafting procedure is that large areas of cartilage surface could be covered. Bone marrow cells are not so difficult to get, they have a high potency to divide and they can develop in vitro as chondrogenic, osteogenic or adipogenic cells. The present ways of research are: to characterize one or several growth factors capable to specifically induce the chondrogenic lineage; to determine nutrient and environmental conditions allowing the cultured chondrogenic cells to undergo a maturation process within the cell pellet; to elaborate three-dimensional synthetic, biodegradable polymeric scaffolds assessed with respect to chondrogenic cell adhesion, proliferation, maturation and cartilage matrix secretion; finally, to elaborate a mixed biomaterial composed of chondrogenic and osteogenic cells selectively distributed within polymeric scaffolds in order to get a better adherence of the implanted cells to the lesion sites.     

EST及其应用

随着HGP（HumanGenomeProject）的实施,人类基因组测序进展顺利,并有望于2003年提前完成。后基因组计划的重点之一在于基因组表达概况和功能的研究。EST（expressedsequencetags）是一组短的cDNA部分序列,是由大量随机取出的cDNA克隆一次测序得到的组织或细胞基因组的表达序列标签。其在基因组研究中的应用已相当广泛并具有良好的前景。该文就EST的产生、相关数据库和应用情况作一综述。     

基因表达系列性分析技术及其应用

基因表达系列性分析（SAGE）是一种高通量的基因表达模式的研究技术,能够对特定细胞或组织中的大量转录本同时进行定量分析。本综述了SAGE技术的基本原理和实验流程以及近年来SAGE方法上的改进,同时介绍了该技术的一些应用研究实例和Internet上可资利用的SAGE数据库资源。     

漆酶及其应用

结合当今该领域的最新研究进展,综述了漆酶来源、结构、作用机制、介体系统及其在水相和非水相中的应用,以期为漆酶催化性能的进一步研究提供一定的借鉴和参考.     

The Genome Sequencer FLX System--longer reads, more applications, straight forward bioinformatics and more complete data sets

The Genome Sequencer FLX System (GS FLX), powered by 454 Sequencing, is a next-generation DNA sequencing technology featuring a unique mix of long reads, exceptional accuracy, and ultra-high throughput. It has been proven to be the most versatile of all currently available next-generation sequencing technologies, supporting many high-profile studies in over seven applications categories. GS FLX users have pursued innovative research in de novo sequencing, re-sequencing of whole genomes and target DNA regions, metagenomics, and RNA analysis. 454 Sequencing is a powerful tool for human genetics research, having recently re-sequenced the genome of an individual human, currently re-sequencing the complete human exome and targeted genomic regions using the NimbleGen sequence capture process, and detected low-frequency somatic mutations linked to cancer.     

Plant growth and architectural modelling and its applications. Preface

Over the last decade, a growing number of scientists around the world have invested in research on plant growth and architectural modelling and applications (often abbreviated to plant modelling and applications, PMA). By combining physical and biological processes, spatially explicit models have shown their ability to help in understanding plant–environment interactions. This Special Issue on plant growth modelling presents new information within this topic, which are summarized in this preface. Research results for a variety of plant species growing in the field, in greenhouses and in natural environments are presented. Various models and simulation platforms are developed in this field of research, opening new features to a wider community of researchers and end users. New modelling technologies relating to the structure and function of plant shoots and root systems are explored from the cellular to the whole-plant and plant-community levels.     

Schizotypy, creativity and mating success in humans

There is an evolutionary puzzle surrounding the persistence of schizophrenia, since it is substantially heritable and associated with sharply reduced fitness. However, some of the personality traits which are predictive of schizophrenia are also associated with artistic creativity. Geoffrey Miller has proposed that artistic creativity functions to attract mates. Here, we investigate the relationship between schizotypal personality traits, creative activity, and mating success in a large sample of British poets, visual artists, and other adults. We show that two components of schizotypy are positively correlated with mating success. For one component, this relationship is mediated by creative activity. Results are discussed in terms of the evolution of human creativity and the genesis of schizophrenia.