Abstract
Individuation and organization in complex living multi-level ecosystem occurs as dynamical processes from early ontogeny. The notion of living “holon” displaying dynamic self-assertion and integration is used here to explain the ecosystems dynamic processes. The update of the living holon state according to the continuous change of the dynamic system allows for its viability. This is interpreted as adaptation, selection and organization by the human that observes the system a posteriori from its level. Our model concerns the complex dynamics of the adaptive immune system, integrating holon-lymphocytes that collectively preserve the identity and integrity of the organism. Each lymphocyte individualizes as a dynamic holon-lymphocyte, with somatic gene individuation leading to an individual, singular antigen immunoreceptor type, promoting the self-assertion. In turn, the “Immunoception” allows for perception of the environmental antigenic context, thus integration of the holon in its environment. The self-assertion/integration of holon-lymphocyte starts from fetal stages and is influenced by mother Lamarckian acquired historicity transmissions, a requisite for the integrity of the holobiont-organism. We propose a dynamic model of the perception by holon-lymphocyte, and at the supra-clonal level of the immune system functions that sustain the identity and integrity of the holon-holobiont organism.
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Notes
G. Simondon, Communication et information 1962 « Être ou ne pas être information ne dépend pas seulement des caractères internes d'une structure; l'information n'est pas une chose, mais l'opération d'une chose arrivant dans un système et y produisant une transformation. L'information ne peut se définir en dehors de cet acte d'incidence transformatrice et de l'opération de réception ». Translated as “Being or not being information does not depend only on the internal characters of a structure; information is not a thing, but the operation of a thing arriving in a system and producing a transformation. The information can not be defined outside this transformational impact act and the receiving operation”.
Abbreviations
- DNA:
-
Deoxyribonucleic acid
- Ig:
-
Immunoglobulin
- CIS:
-
Central immune system
- PIS:
-
Peripheral immune system
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I thank P.A. Miquel and A. Ehresmann for helpful discussions.
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Thomas-Vaslin, V. Individuation and the Organization in Complex Living Ecosystem: Recursive Integration and Self-assertion by Holon-Lymphocytes. Acta Biotheor 68, 171–199 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10441-019-09364-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10441-019-09364-w