A new theory postulates multiple origins of life
New theories on the origins of life. Is there a multiple beginning, different from the one we know?
Throughout history, scientists around the world have tried to understand the origins of life. But, until now everyone has understood the origin as something linear. Current theories on the origin and history of life on Earth are based on the assumption that life arose on our planet at a given time. And, from that moment on, it would diversify and expand to give rise to all of today's biodiversity.
Chris Kempes and David Krakauer, scientists at the Santa Fe Institute (USA), presented recently a new theory that contemplates a multiple origin of life. In fact, they argue that, to understand the origins of life, it is necessary to see life from a wider context, due to the great variety of life's form that exist in the universe.
In an article published in the Journal of Molecular Evolution, the scientists proposed a new theory. According to which life may have evolved several times and independently. Researchers argue that in order to recognize and understand the full range of life forms, a new theoretical framework needs to be developed.
In short, this new theory considers life as adaptive. The wide range of life that exists forces us to see the forms of life that inhabit our planet and it is necessary to break down some established concepts and build new ones.
This theory consists of a three-layer structure:
- first, the complete space of materials in which life would be possible (genome and cells)
- secondly, the restrictions that limit the universe of possible life. For example the energy requirement
- and finally, the role optimization processes that guide the adaptation
According to the authors, when researchers focus on the life traits of individual organisms, they often overlook the extent to which organisms' life depends on entire ecosystems. As their core material. And they also ignore the ways in which a system of life can be more or less alive.
In the framework of Kempes-Krakauer, on the contrary, another implication appears:
Life becomes a continuum rather than a binary phenomenon. In this regard, the authors point to a number of recent efforts that quantitatively place life on a spectrum.
By adopting a broader view of the principles of life, Kempes and Krakauer hope to generate more fertile theories for the study of life. With clearer principles for finding life forms and a new range of possible life forms emerging from new principles.
Human culture lives on the material of minds, just as multicellular organisms live on the material of single-celled organisms. By taking this view of life, the researches hope to generate more comprehensive theories for the study of life, with clearer principles for finding life forms and a new range of possible life forms emerging from new principles.
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