What means life

What means life

"Quando l'allievo è pronto... compare il maestro",

recita un antico adagio.

... Era da tempo che andavo meditando su di una faccenda che mi stava a

cuore, quando, con un colpo di fortuna mi arriva una email dal prof Paolo

Manzelli - persona davvero squisita.

In allegato alla email c'è questo saggio che riproduco integralmente.

_._._._._._._._

“WHAT MEANS LIFE “

Gathering in Bio-SEMIOTICS: http://www.biosemiotics2006.org/

Autor : Paolo Manzelli

Organisation name : EGOCREANET/OPEN NETWORK FOR NEW SCIENCE

Full address : c/o Dept. Chemistry , Scientific Pole , Florence University

via Lastruccia 3 - 50019 Sesto F.no - FIRENZE- Italy.

* e-mail address : LRE@UNIFI.IT

-Keywords : sign , information, catalysis , genetic-codex, life-

PREMISE:

One of the central character of living systems is the highly dynamic

co-organization of bio-chemical processes of metabolic transformation,

developed by integrating the advancements of chemical sciences,

in the bio-semiotic cognitive context aiming to search for a

better understanding the meaning of life.

For this reason looking at the catalysis as an emergent evolution of the

catalytic process, we propose in this paper a new interpretation of “catalysis”

as a interface working in terms of a “signalling” transmitter, in any chemical

and the biochemical realm. This approach it is attempting to understand

living systems communication of information as the basis of system evolution.

For this goal the author would like to re-interpret the scientific bases of

information, seen as well as a dynamic flux of signs actions and signals

interactions, starting from the chemistry of self organization of

oscillating reactions , and approaching to an open discussion for a new

paradigmatic foundation of trans-disciplinary integration of science.

It is well known that living organisms are characterised by their ability to

survive and to reproduce itself through the transmission of informational signs

codified by the DNA molecule. At this proposal it is important to remember that

DNA is not an auto-reproductive molecule, and need of an interactive

exchange with the RNA catalyst as a transduction interface of the stored

genetic information , because this interaction is required to communicate,

in a protected way, informational codex with proteins.

In fact the catalyst activity of RNAs ( i.e. the catalytic properties of

various RNA’ s , named RNA-WORD ) is an effective generator of replicate

order of living systems, till from the origin of life. The catalyst activity of

various types of RNA’s is very complex, anyway it is working as well as to all

the catalysts actions in biochemistry, to order the successive sequences of

the metabolic pathway of biochemical reactivity, each assisted step by step

through an enzyme. Therefore, as we will to demonstrate in this paper , it will

be possible to admit that the active site of a catalytic substance is functioning

as well as a communication medium of information, through sign’s transcription

and signal’s transmission .

As a matter of facts the above general definition, regarding the relationship

between information and “sign/signal” communication and life organization ,

need to be extended to the interpretation of any auto-catalytic systems , that

works by means exchanging chemical signals during the cyclic transformation,

on the basis of many organizational levels of the transduction//transfer of

sign // signals of information.

For an example of signalling role: the Nitric Oxide (NO) is a free radical and

intercellular messenger endogenously produced , that it is working as catalytic

intracellular signalling substance, within a rich spectrum of biological chemistry.

In fact Nitric Oxide works giving a catalytic role in signalling and controlling the

regulation in normal physiology in various animals and plants metabolisms .

Therefore NO activity need to be considered as well as an indicator of the

best catalytic pathway for the successive biochemical transformations, where

the chemical information is stored in the new bonding structures.

Also for another example , it is well known that ethylene signal transduction

provides interesting case of how information processing system have evolved

in plants . The ethylene signal works to improve a catalytic control of energy

driven reactions, by means generating a recepto’s associated enzymatic

structure involved in activation and regulation of reaction’s pathways,

as those interacting with proteins to ripen the fruits.

Looking at the above and other examples of signalling catalytic properties ,

it is possible to understand that the difference among autocatalytic chemical

self reproductive systems, and biological living systems concerns only the

grade of complexity developed in the evolution of catalytic signals .

For that evolutionist reason the catalytic organization of information

exchange in RNA’s assumes the highest efficiency , regarding the

protection of communication and the control of genetic codex.

This premise is useful for understanding that the concept of “ information”,

(word that means “tacking a new form”) need to be revised for better

understanding how, “Bio-semiotics”, can make an integrating attempt,

into a coherent theoretical structure of biochemical catalytic transformations.

This goal can be reached aiming to develop a better understanding of the

general question: “WHAT MEANS THE LIFE “ , explained on the basis of better

interpretation of the "catalytic sign operations” into the self –organized

co-evolution of bio-systems. The paper would like to move towards to a open

debate about the question of how self – organized catalysed reactions,

working out of equilibrium , can develop, in their evolution and complexity of

exchanging information, some efficient biosynthetic (metabolic and catabolic)

pathways.

Ultimately we denote that the following bio-semiotics challenge is

proposed for improving the scientific meaning of life , beyond to the mechanist

and reductionist approach of traditional science understanding.

- What means Life?

The main purpose of this paper is to give a contribute to understand "meaning

of life" in trans-disciplinary Bio-semiotic science ( Bios = Life & Semion = Sign)

and to discuss : "Why should we overcome the difficulties to define life as an

evolutionary trends, growing in complexity of the self –reproducing catalytic

systems, based on “Energy and Matter” interactivity working out of the

thermodynamics condition of equilibrium ? “.

Hence in this approach, Bio-semiotics, is seen as well as the study of

communication and signification of information in living systems.

The Austrian Nobel Physicist Erwin Schroedinger ( 1887-1961) proposed the

idea that every open system working in creating order from disorder as well as

living organisms , feed upon “negative entropy” production . Therefore the

existence of living organisms for Shroedinger depends of an increasing of

“Neg-entropy” to create efficient levels of co-organisation from disorder to

ordering dynamics. Moving towards the Schroedinger ideas and because

Entropy can be considered as well as an “information-noise”, it becomes easy

to consider that Neg-entropy need to be related to the grow of information.

Indeed information is a measure of the decrease of uncertainty, during the

pathway of every change, coming from disordering to ordering dynamics.

Furthermore the Nobel Prise in Chemistry Ilya Prigogine (1917-2003) , shows

a relationship between living organisms and “Dissipative Structures” that forms

patterns in the self-organization of the open flow dynamics of “Energy

and Matter” in the chemical oscillating reactions. Really life is based on

bio-chemical irreversible transformations, maintains itself ,far from equilibrium

conditions, in a self organized catalytic fluctuations, replacing constantly new

materials ( food, air, water) , and energy, the last primarily coming from sun

and from other sources. In this sense it is possible to mention that ;

“equilibrium is synonymous of death and non-equilibrium is alike to life”.

Aiming now to get a more sufficient attention of understanding life, it is

necessary to underline that a general principle of life evolution, need to be

founded on the basis of an increase of communication of information in relation

to the rise of the complexity of the catalytic interactions of the systems, going

from not-living state (i.e . Physics and Chemical Systems), forward Living

states of Biological species.

Besides we can observe that the evolution of the system , from no living

dissipative states, to living states, is no linear. Subsequently, on the basis

of the contemporary scientific knowledge, it is very difficult to understand the

exact condition of the key-changes of life evolution.

In fact we don’t know the specific reason of the advent of the DNA coding

of genetic information.

Nevertheless we know that living and not living states, work together in

a living body; this means that metabolic functions work through catalytic

information for improving cyclic transformations of “Energy and Matter”.

Furthermore we know that the metabolic functioning are not entirely

dependent by the genetic information; for instance the folding of proteins

are independent from the DNA codification and some other functions of a

living cells like the same “Apoptosis” of the cells , are self-governed by

the communication of information coming from the surrounding cells

and environmental signals.

From those previous scientific acquaintance about what we actually know

about living systems , seems that the "essence of life" need to be linked with

the growing role of Information in the evolution of complexity. Therefore a flux

of signs and signals need to be embodied in the scientific explanation of all

dynamics systems of transformation working out of equilibrium .

In conclusion we can acknowledge that at the basis of evolution of life, need

to be accepted and generalised a function of “Information” , that is

characteristic of every system working without distinction between living and

not living states. This function concerns the signalling activity of catalytic

actions , exactly because the catalysis permits the growing of the

auto-organization of each system dynamics working in a progressive

complexity through producing and transmitting and regulating the flux of

information.

- The Principle of Fertile Evolution.

From the epistemology of the construction of science

Thomas S. Kuhn (1962) wrote that to overcome the limits of knowledge,

each scientific structure evolves, by means adding some new axioms in a

manner that science grows as a Chinese boxes pile, where the last paradigm

is the container of the previous one. Therefore aiming to discover this general

working function related to the flux of “Information” we propose the following

hypothesis in a way that can become useful to give a meaning of the gradual

evolution of life in the natural world. In this hypothesis we look to consider

information (I) as well as a fluctuation-variation (d.) of signalling

communication of catalytic-agents, generating active signs and interactive

signals. The signalling communication of information, works as indicators of the

catalytic relationships between Energy (E) , and Matter (M) transformations.

Thus accepting that, in origin, every event can be thought as well as a form

of Energy , we define three forms fundamental forms of Energy , in place of

the simple duality of Energy and Matter that are :

1) - Free Energy codified by vibration (E ) , 2) - codified Energy in form of

Matter (M) and 3) - Information – energy ( I ), that it is related to the

information-communication activities.

Therefore as a consequence of the fundamental postulate of science,

“ Energy cannot created or destroyed” , we can write that the fluctuant

variation ( d. ) of the sum of the different codification giving the Total Energy,

need to be equal to zero : i.e. < d. (E) + d. (M) + d. ( I ) = 0 >.

Following this way of reasoning, it is possible to pull out a significant solution

of the above equation is:

< + d. ( I ) = - d. (E ) -d. (M) >.

Note: (E), can be substituted by< E= h f> with, f = frequency) , and( M) can

be extracted from: < E= Mc2>.

The above formula give a fundamental meaning to the gradually evolution

of complex systems because shows, how ever increasing of Information

( + d. (I) ) is balanced by the decrease of flows of Energy

( - d. (E) ) and/or of Matter (- d. (M) ) .

This Equation is named <Principle of Fertile Evolution> “PFE” , and can be

applied to any dynamics of trasformation, because can be considered a

general pathway for any evolutionary changes from not living , to living

complexity in nature. In fact this principle address the direction of the

energy flow transformation, in every interaction among dissipative

structures, working in terms of Matter and Energy trasformation ,

oriented by the catalityc information activities.

It is clear that the “PFE” follow the same criteria of minimum energy

performance that occurs in the traditional physics , but in this new triadic

approach of the <E,M,I> paradigm , if the “minimum of energy” is reached,

at the same time is achieved the “maximum of Information activity”.

This result is clear, if we remember that the classical physics is based on the

“invariance of forms” during the motion activities of transferring matter, while

in the context of transformation, based on the triadic relationships among

<E,M,I> paradigm , the information activity need to be introduced as an axiom,

that is “a priori”, for understanding the “changes of the forms of matter” during

every bio-chemical transformations .Following the initial hypothesis about the

need to discover a new foundation of science, now we can utilise the

“PFE” equation to explore the possibility to overcome the reductionisms of

mechanical science starting with an open bio-semiotic debate, about the

evolutionary aspects of the interactive co-organization in nature of Energy,

Matter and Information.

Approaching this problem for debating about and developing new triadic

paradigm of science, we underline that the information based on “sign//signal”

communication need to be considered a characteristic of every system

without distinction between living and not living states. This because the

evolution of complexity utilizes always some catalytic activities for developing

an irreversible open-cyclic transformation in presence of appropriated raw

materials and energy.

In synthesis the observation about the continuous emergence of information

in parallel to the growing of the system complexity , allow us to formulate the

following trend of evolution by means the following sentence : <Biochemical

transformations , working far from equilibrium conditions,

always utilises “information-energy”, for generating an

increasing complexity of catalytic system evolution>.

- The origin of “information- energy”.

The process of establishing a relationship between information and energy

went gradually in science.

As a matter of facts the essence of information, at the physical level, can be

related to the quantum mechanical studies of the micro-world interaction.

In particular a preliminary significance of information can be derived by

the assumption of the Nobel Prise Louis De Broglie (1892- 1987) when in 1923

proposed that electrons like photons do not existed only as well as particles,

but also conduct the themselves motions by means quantum-coupled waves .

The “Pilot wave” is an section of energy associated to the three-

dimensional particles of energy ( photons , phonons …) and also of matter

( electrons , atoms, molecules.. ). That is the “Pilot wave” is not a virtual wave;

in fact generates a real activity as it is experimentally demonstrate.

The “Pilot wave “ is capable of physical effects giving a quantum information

probability , based on instantaneous signals that induces coherence in the

diffraction pathways of particle’s motion.

After De Broglie, the studies on Quantum Mechanics developed by

David Bohm (1917-1992), permits to think to an conceptual extension of the

“Bohm-de Broglie - Pilot wave”.

Thus those additional studies on quantum mechanics allows a more

appropriated description of double physical reality of matter and energy at

microscopic quantum level. As a matter of facts the experiment of single

particle diffraction (photons, electrons , neutrons ..) on a double slits

interferometer , lets to demonstrate that all the single micro-particles are

able to show interference with itself , passing in a synchronic interfering

across the two slits.

Those experiments unambiguously demonstrate the quantum inseparability

of the “Pilot wave” from the “Particle”. This complementary action, was

foreseen by Niels Bohr (1885 - 1962 ) when he proposed his theory of

"complementarity". Therefore a “quantum particle”, can be regarded in two

complementary ways, i.e. both as a particle and as a wave phenomenon.

Hence the two entangled realities are equally true because their validity is

well demonstrated on the basis of reproducible experimental circumstances.

At this proposal Albert Einstein (1879- 1955) said : “God does not play dice

with quantum reality “ , this because the entangled particle’s performances

are “not a-priori” determined. In fact the “double slit’s experiment”,

demonstrates that the twice properties of micro-particles are “self determined”

into a not an isolated system. That means , they are not owing to an dual

inner reality of the particles, but are depending from an external relations ,

based on a synchronic connective information reply of the particle with the

relative time-space configuration of surrounding environment. Thus the entire

world seems to be linked by force of a complete communication of information.

Therefore through these theoretical studied , based on the fact of

“waves-particles duality ”, the “Pilot wave” can be considered an effective

wave of information, functional to the self- organization of the dynamic

properties of the particles motion.

As a consequence we can assume that the “Pilot wave” it is not only a

“probability wave-function”, but need to be considered as well as an

“information-energy” able to synchronizing particle’s motion with

environment by means a signalling oscillatory flux of signals.

The above conclusion is a consequence of the experimental diffractions

of single particles, where we can consider the “Pilot- wave” function, as an

effective guiding signalling of entangled states of matter and energy

interactivity , in a way that the particles can show simultaneously two types

of motion appropriated to the particle and also to the waves.

The last can be interpreted as an effective self –organizational

interference result; this because the “Pilot wave” as well as a wave of signal

of information , can pass through both the two splits, while the particle can

surpass indifferently one or the other fissure.

In this way of thinking about the twin motion opportunities of particles

belonging to a micro-states , we can also comprehend how, in the

macroscopic realm , the various “Pilot waves” associated to the single

particles, disappear, as a consequence of the destructive wave

interferences inside of the bulk of matter . So that the “Pilot wave” effects

remain only as an surface action of macroscopic substances , while in the

case of microscopic world interactions, among Energy and Matter ,

the Pilot wave supports a space-temporal information energy ,

that can be seen in terms of oriented flux of signals.

Thoughts in this way of reasoning , it will be more easy to be aware of the

catalytic activity of “information –energy” , during a chemical or bio-chemical

transformation that evolving gradually in complexity by means self-organized

chemical and bio-chemical catalysed transformations . Therefore it is becoming

more understandable, how the “shift from life to non life” is gradually turn out

by the “PFE” Principle, that works for both animated and unanimated realms,

because includes “a priori” the information parameter in the context of the

new triadic <E,M,I> paradigm of science. In this way we follow the generalised

assumption that “information-energy” exchanges, are not confined to living

and social experiences but participates to an universal co-evolution , mediated

by different strategies of semiotic interactions working at different levels of

complexity.

- A novel interpretation of Catalysis: going beyond the classical interpretation.

In the past, the focus of research in catalysis science it is focused to

optimize turnover rates of chemical equilibria . In the future, the catalysis

challenge will be mostly oriented to understand the “selectivity action of

catalysts”, aiming to form the desired product without the formation of

byproducts. Therefore “catalyst theory” needed to approach a different

conception to understand the selective control of the reaction.

As a matter of facts a characterization of the catalysts under reaction

conditions is essential because the catalyst generates a multiple informational

activity in restructuting the Reaction Path (R.P.) of the reactant mixture

transformation, in a way that it is no limited to the changes of the reaction

rates. In living systems the field of studies in catalyst selectivity in particular

about enzymatic, heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis, is extraordinary

important to provide new opportunities for deleloping innovative bioproducts.

Consequently looking to improve a paradigmatic change toward a synthetic

view of a bio-semiotic approach of science integration ,“catalysis can be seen

as a “Signs//Signals” generator in the active site”, so that the catalysis

become capable to addressing information for “in-forming” new molecules by

means driving the chemical transformation from an old to a new equilibrium .

In synthesis the strengthen of “Information Energy” ( + d. (I) ) it is becoming

interrelated to the “active catalytic – centres” , because they are able to

pulsing signals. This admission can be assessed accepting that ( + d. (I) )

is coming from the transformation of the energy flow in a more qualified

“Information-Energy”. This process of energy conversion to higher quality,

can be enriched in the framework of each auto-catalytic loop.

To be concrete and to justify the above set of scientific assumption,

we declare that in our research for a “new conception of catalysis”,

admitting that our motivation to develop this approach in the context of

an bio-semiotics , is aiming to reinterpreting a synthesis very open to the

growing up of a NON- Mechanist & Cartesian paradigm of science.

For this reason in our bio-semiotic endeavour, forwarded to acquire a

novel theory of catalysis , “Signs” are considered as potential action of

information , while “Signals” are related to the actual interactive flux of

information , and finally “Information” correspond to the transformation of

a particular section of Energy into the high quality of “Information- Energy”.

This conversion of the quality of Energy it is possible that happen during

the interactive catalytic process of energy transformation. In fact we

suppose that it become possible to consider the spitting of the quality of

chemical energy in three diverse segments :

1) - Heat-Energy,

2) - Free–Energy ,

3) -Information-Energy.

This way of thinking about the possible energy conversion by means a

qualitative intensification , permits to subdivide the total chemical energy

flow, in the different activities, directly related to the contemporary actions

of breaking reactants and reorganizing products. In this conceptual context

“Free-energy”, corresponds to a vector- energy which can be utilized in work,

while “Heat-Energy” is the section that in thermodynamics is considered as

the quantity of energy lost, because diffuses in all directions, while

“Information-energy” represents the conversion of a fraction of the energy

fluctuation , able, for instance ,to enrich the state of the active site of the

catalyst , in a way that the catalysis becomes capable to favour and control

the selective process of transformation from entropy to neg-entropy by means

the emission of “Signalling activities”.

In this way it is possible to understand how the total energy flow

generates an high quality of “Information-energy”, in a way that the

Matter/Energy transformation can become self-organized during the dynamics

of transfer of chaos to a new molecular order.

Thinking in this sense “catalysis”, by means the creation of “information-

energy”, alters matter/energy pathways during bio-chemical transformations;

that is, during the changes that occurs from a old to a new molecular order.

In fact looking to the evidence that the catalyst induces the proper

activity at distance , it is not so difficult to appreciate the idea that the

catalysis is a generator of “Signalling activities”. As a matter of facts it is

unproblematic to think that signals can be received by some target molecules,

for instance by a resonance effect or other interactive modalities; that is ,

all the way through a particular set of receptors can be activated over the

full course of the reaction, without realising any net change in the catalytic

material .

Therefore thinking in this manner, the modification of the reactivity rates

it is not only a question of accelerating and decelerating the motion of the

molecules; in fact the catalytic induced at distance some specific variation of

changes of molecular bond’s stimulating an selective ordering reformation.

The last bonding reformation evidently it is not only a question of heat-energy

incentive to the speed of the molecular motions, and in fact the catalyst

activity can be shown as well as a bonding changes , both in exo-thermal or

endo-thermal reactions.

- Energy “transformity” or energy quality transformation ratio.

H.T.Odum, in 1983, introduces by his studies about “Energy & Ecology” ,

the concept of “Energy Transformity” to establish the hierarchical rank of

“Energy Quality”. In that cognitive context, the dispersion of heat is

considered an energy at “low transformity factor”. For Odum energy quality

rank is based on the amount of energy of one form required to generate a unit

of another energy form. The ratio of one energy form input to a different

energy form output , was what Odum and colleagues, called “Transformity”,

and this definition it is used to understand the storage of embodied energy

(called “Emergy” ) in natural evolution.

Like in the Odum research, now it is becoming necessary generalise the

possibility to order the various energy form conversions, according to their

quality. Therefore the hierarchical scale for ranking the quality of energy

can be related with a the higher growing of “information” content.

For enriching this goal, we can remember that entropy (“S”) is a

thermodynamic concepts strictly in connection with the dispersion thermal

energy , and also recalling the “Information theory” of Claude E. Shannon

(1916-2001), we can keep in mind that entropy is also joined in

“information-science”, to the loss of information in a transmitted messages.

So that we know that, at the contrary, Neg – Entropy (“N”) corresponds

to the direction with the variation of Entropy is minimized ; therefore we can

use the gradient (“N/S”) to understand the different quality of chemical

energy transformation .

The “Quality of Energy” is a concept that can be related to the

“vectorial – property”, as they are required to address the energy

flux forward the right transformation path.

In fact we know that heat diffuse without any preference in direction,

while Free –energy can be utilised to produce mechanical work, because

express a better directional ordering of the dynamic of mechanical

activities. In this way of thought, during an bio-chemical reaction path ,

we can understand that: if the upper ratio “N/S “ has superior Neg-entropy

gradient , than the inverse ration “S/N” ; this means that the quality of the

conversion in “Information- Energy” can be interpret as well as a process of

energy qualification , namely producing a transformation of Energy into a

better-quality rank, both as mechanical work , and also in relation to

addressing the power of catalytic selectivity.

Following this logic about the increase of qualitative ranking of energy

conversions, it is possible to establish a hierarchical order of the energy-quality

evolution in relation to each “energy/matter” transformation process . So that

we can subdivide the energy conversions, among the three fundamental types

of energy-quality, attributing the lowest status to the “Thermal energy”,

and after the second to the “Free-energy”, and the higher grade to the

“Information - Energy”.

- Comments about the historical approach to the catalysis.

To appreciate from an historical point of view the above approach, written

to formulate a better meaning of life , it is important to remember that in

1835, the Swedish chemist Jons Jakob Berzelius (1779 – 1848) , intuitively

presented a new notion to chemistry named “Catalysis” as a combination of

two Greek terms ( Kata = down and Lysis = break ) . Berzelius starts to think

at the idea of catalysis , from the observation that the nucleation of some

crystal precipitates, initiates through the introduction of heterogeneous solid

bodies that facilitate the crystallisation.

Therefore observing from various experiments how different small quantities

of matter , which apparently do not react stoichiometrically with the

reactants, seems to modify the reaction path, Berzelius considered the

existence of a new “driving -force” different from ordinary mechanical forces,

namely , the “Catalytic force”, as it is necessary to address the irreversible

reaction path forward the better result.

After Bezelius the biochemical catalytic power in biology was attributed to

an self-catalytic systems driven by “enzymes, hormones, and vitamins” as

fundamental means to co-organize the life metabolism.

The original intuition of Berzelius, clearly tray to introduce an particular

“vector – force”, before unknown, this because the catalytic effect it is very

different from the mechanical contacting forces, that are not bright to mean

the new chemical catalyst activity. Also Berzelius underlines that catalysis is a

diverse force from the other forces resulting from action at distance, like the

gravity and the magnetic forces.

Therefore Berzelius introduces the “Catalitic power” as a solution to

interpret an entirely new force, acting at distance during the chemical

transformation . This powerful idea vanish quite completely after the utilization

of an extension of “Thermodynamics” to chemical equilibria , developed by the

mathematician Josiah Willard Gibbs (1839-1903), and also during the

successive interpretation of chemical equilibria , as proposed by Svante August

Arrhenius (1859 -1927) , Jacobus Henricus van’t Hoff ( 1852-1911) and

Wilhelm Ostwald (1853- 1932).

In fact after Bezelius, chemical studies separates kinetics from chemical

equilibria, taking in consideration only the reversible reactions; so that the

“catalysis” was merely embodied in some “activity multiplication coefficients”,

but, in practice, also they can be neglected in the case of dilute solutions.

Only in more recent years the “catalysis” is taken in serious scientific

consideration in relation to the evolution of biosynthetic pathways. First of all

the physicist “David Bohm” argued that the distinction between organic life

and non-organic matter is arbitrary . As a consequence the “catalysis” is a

driving force for coding/ decoding molecules by chemical bonds.

In similar way the RNA’s catalyses the genetic information by means to

codify and de-codify in complex nucleic acids. In this mode of thought,

molecular catalysis can be seen as a driving force to develop a wide range

of very powerful procedures to storage in a variety of chemical bonds,

codified information.

From the above remark it is possible to emphasize that in the evolution

catalytic pathways from chemical to biochemical catalysis , there is only a

difference in complexity, but there is not any diversity in principle. Therefore

between the genetic codification of DNA and the other bonding procedures as

well as the various covalent and not covalent bonding connectivity, there

are no fundamental difference in storing codified “information energy” .

The catalytic method to address the storage in bonds of the

“information energy “, in principle is no so different from DNA double helix

construction and /or from other sequences of molecular conformation of

bio-chemical and bonds.

In ending all the bonding procedures can be seen as well as an

“Information Energy” conservation , in force to the molecules as an

information preservation via specific types of intra molecular or supra

molecular bonds. This is an important reflection to explore in bio-semiotic

trans-disciplinary science a new open cognitive process, that enabling

the improved knowledge of “catalysis” to interpret energy transformation

into a more accessible scientific meaning of living systems evolution.

Hence looking to enrich this goal, the DNA architectural codification

dynamics, need to be correlated to an fundamental evolution of

“information energy quality maintenance ” in more and more complex

strategy of storage of “Information Energy” in chemical bonds .

Remembering in this context that for definition Energy means the

“power to change”, from now on, we can consider “Information –energy”

as the section of very high qualitative energy, that it is necessary to favor

and stabilize the increasing complexity all bio-chemical processes, based

on a catalytic transforming of the codifying information procedures ,

through a dynamical re-bonding of all the forms of interactions between

Energy and Matter.

- CONCLUSIONS

Starting from the previous considerations, in order to compare dyadic or

Cartesian mechanics science based on the quantitative Energy & Matter

interactions , with the triadic interactivity among three forms of Energy of the

<E,M,I> paradigm, I am going to precise and resume a number of

interpretations of terms and processes used in this paper.

For this motive we can specify that Total energy organization in nature can

operates in three different states of developmental quality : “Thermal –Energy”,

in relation to the dissipation of heat , “Free Energy”, capable to doing

mechanical work’s potentiality , and “Information-Energy”, that is available

energy used to increase an information bond’s storage, in relation to the

evolutionary potentiality of “Energy/Mass” codification in the evolution of self-

organizational dynamics .

The “catalysis” activity is based on an type of at distance work, based on

signaling modulation, as it is necessary to straight the best composition of the

bond information storage and to address the most favorable selective rules of

“Information Energy” communication of “sign/signal” codification and

reproduction.

Consequently an sign/signal producing is enclosed in the bond vibration ,

generating the potential construction of signalling communication , as it is

necessary to implement the evolution of bond codification/de-codification

dynamics of “Information Energy”. In this conceptual context the “PFE” can

be seen as well as an “Universal Principle” regulating the information of flux of

“signs/ signals” ; this fluctuation –variation, is the operative function of

information energy obtained in a way to set up the hierarchical relationships

among the development of energy quality grades .

In fact the “PFE” indicated how grows the quality of information increase

( + d. I ), while the total energy decrease (= - d. (E ) - d. (M) .

Hereafter this formula can be seen as the basis to understand the

transformative evolution of the catalytic co-organization of life.

At the present it is possible to better understand the “Principle of Fertile

Evolution” ( “PFE”) as a solution of the equation that include the “information

energy” in the scientific postulate that admit : “ the total energy remain

constant while the quality of the forms of energy can change in the rank of

quality”. Henceforth by means the above simple intuitive definitions, based

on Bio-semiotic integration with the fundamental concepts of sciences, it is

becoming promising to obtain a better meaning of life as it is necessary to

explore, through successive studies of bio-semiotic and through a trans-

disciplinary integration of sciences , how various agents works as an signalling

emission for obtaining any catalytic information transfer and transduction.

Ultimately the “PFE” Principle move towards to open a new approach to

the old question that splits the “vitalist” construction of science against the

“mechanical reductionist science”.

This contradictory duality of science, need to be surpassed in a way that a

more significant unity of science can be researched , for understand better

the possibility of co-organization of a variety of performing programs of

biological processing, especially in the case of building blocks of biochemical

remain based on a binary relationships between energy and matter. So that

the fixed dyadic approach prohibits alternative diversification of new forms

of energy .

In fact this paper would like to affirm the new conceptual need to

overcome the dyadic approach of science, as was been expressed by Charles

Sanders Peirce (1839-1914), one of the fathers of semiosis (sign-generation)

and semiotics (sign-relation) .

In fact Pierce works on the optimization of the impact of the explicit

meaning of signs generation and sign-relations against of scientific prejudices

and wrote : “ The machine, by itself, as a dyadic architecture of separate bits,

has no capacity to evolve because all its properties and relations operate

within closures”.

In spite of this Pierce’s sentence the common language of molecular biology

converge till today, in a machine metaphor, based on the dyadic properties of

energy and matter interactions.

Therefore the mechanist approach exclude a more advanced ideas bio-

semiotic evolutionary creative generation about the meaning of life.

As a matter of facts in the context of the dyadic scientific approach,

traditionally the world “information” is seen as having an “immediate -meaning".

This is not right now true , because the meaning of information is coming

from a cerebral working function of neurons , that transform “information-

energy”, in an conventional language of historical knowledge.

Differently in the triadic loom among the <E,M,I> paradigm, the meaning of

life is becoming an evolution- function of the qualitative -grows of

“Information Energy” .

In the end I believe that the “PFE” Principle, founded on the reasonable

characterization of the “Information Energy”, will get a valid opportunity to

prevail over the old reductive approach of mechanist science understanding

“for developing a fruitful new kind of reasoning about the scientific meaning

of life”.

BIBLIO On LINE

E.SCHROEDINGER: http://www.whatislife.com/reviews/schroedinger.htm ;

http://whatislife.com/about.html

Principle of Fertile Evolution :

http://www.edscuola.it/archivio/lre/science_of_information_energy.htm

Catalyst and Catalysis: http://

www.bookrags.com/sciences/sciencehistory/catalyst-and-catalysi-wsd.htm

Chemical Bases of Biological Information:

http://www.edscuola.it/archivio/lre/chemical_bases.htm

Pathfinder E .U. Proposal: http://www.edscuola.it/archivio/lre/pathfinder.htm

Chemical Signalling :

http://www.mansfield.ohio-state.edu/~sabedon/lectures/biology/campbl11.ppt

Matter. Energy, Information: http://fdavidpeat.com/ideas/activeinfo.htm

RNA-WORLD: http://nobelprize.org/articles/altman/

H.T.ODUM : Energy Quality- Energy Quality :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_quality

C.S.PIERCE : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Sanders_Peirce

ACTIVE INFORMATION SYNCRONISM : http://xoomer.alice.it/a.i.s/Home.html

Si ringrazia il prof. PAOLO MANZELLI per la sua disponibilità.