Modern biology rests on two observations:
- Every living organism is constituted by cells. Better: it’s always initially constituted from a cell which, by successive divisions, gives birth to a multitude of other cells all possessing the same nucleus.This way of envisaging things is called « cellular biology ».
- By burning, every living organism releases carbon dioxid, water vapor, mineral salts and energy. It may thus be considered as the visible result of a multitude of chemical reactions, based on the carbon chemistry. This way of envisaging things is called « molecular biology ».
In recent decades, advances in research and new technologies brought in these two fields a huge number of data difficult to interpret, for now stored in databases. And the great challenge posed to the scientific community is to develop a new approach to biology, allowing us to benefit from all this data. To meet this challenge, the solution unanimously proposed today is called « systems biology »…, biologists, computer scientists, mathematicians, physicists, biochemists and statisticians work together in order to better understand, thanks to computer and nanotechnology, the functioning of living systems, starting with the simplest of them: the cell …
I am happy today introduce you to another approch to the problem. At once molecular and cellular, this approach rests on two techniques our scientists may not have used much off: reflection and good sense. It’s name: « Grandpa’s biology ». Does it prefigure the biology of the future? It’s simply what I hope…
Grandpa’s biology represents a global approach to the functioning of the living organism, which differs from today’s concept of biology by the fact that the notions of balance and regulation are considered as two sides of the same problem. It can be condensed as such:
- A living organism is in good health (it passes then normally from egg to embryo, from embryo to youth, from youth to adulthood, old age and death) so long as the physiological activity of its cells is normal…
- It is ill when this same physiological activity changes from the norm. And that for various reasons:
- reasons which are tied to the nature of certain genes, as in the case of genetic diseases,
- reasons which are tied to the nature of certain factors of the environment, as in the case of physiological diseases,
- reasons which are tied to the presence of pathogical organisms (viruses, fungi, bacteria, animals), as in the case of infectious diseases.
With Grandpa’s biology in effect, all that happens within a living organism is directly affected by a very precise hormonal balance. In the plants, the balance auxins/gibberellins (AUX/GIB). This balance conditions all reactions of synthesis and degradation by controlling the enzyme synthesis. In consequence, it conditions too in the short run the whole cells activity, in the long run the whole plant evolution. And that in function of the changes that occur with regards to the tissues, the age, the physiological state of the plant, with regards too to the environment conditions.
What really happens? If you want to know more, consult the various pages of the site. It’s free so long you are interested on a personal basis. If it is professional curiosity, please contact us.