"The Phenogenetic Logic of Life"

[Tim Gwinn <***>]

Hi all,

 

I don't have a subscription to Nature Genetics, but the abstract (see below) of the following review looked interesting:

 

http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/nrg/journal/v6/n1/abs/nrg1502_fs.html

 

If anyone has a subscription and finds this article relevant to our list, please let us know.

 

Tim

 

 

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Nature Reviews Genetics 6, 36-45 
(2005); doi:10.1038/nrg1502

THE PHENOGENETIC LOGIC OF LIFE

Kenneth M. Weiss

Abstract

For nearly a century we have understood that life works through genes, and so have had an elegant theory for general evolution. But this did not explain the kinds of traits that characterize organisms, nor how genes produce them. Advances in recent decades have opened the way for an understanding of the phenogenetic logic or relational principles of life, by which a few basic characteristics of genomes produce biological phenotypes through some basic developmental processes. This logic provides a general explanation of the nature and source of organismal design, and a powerful programme for research.

Summary

• There are parallels between Darwinian evolution ? a history of individuals ? and development ? a history of cells within individuals.
• Darwin's theory explained how traits occur but not which traits will occur or their phenogenetics; that is, how genes produce biological traits.
• A key to these principles is their logic: they are relational principles that depend on the interaction of components, rather than the specific physical attributes of the components themselves.
• Phenogenetic logic comprises a small number of basic and simple characteristics of genomes, which can help to account for the diversity of biological traits through a few basic developmental processes.
• Fundamental to phenogenetics are duplication, modularity, the hierarchical organization and partial sequestration of components, inductive patterning ? including dynamic repetitive patterning ? the use of diverse types of arbitrary codes, and various kinds of budding and branching phenomena.
• These principles are fundamental to the nature of life, and have operational value for understanding life and for experimental as well as evolutionary biology.
• This review is an attempt to identify the elements of phenogenetic logic and to synthesize their role in the generating biological traits.
• Together, the symmetries of evolutionary processes and phenogenetic logic provide an elegant, simple and comprehensive view of the organization of life.

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