Complexity, communication between cells, and identifying the functional components of living systems: some observations

Acta Biotheoretica
D C Mikulecky

Abstract

The concept of 'complexity' has become very important in theoretical biology. It is a many faceted concept and too new and ill defined to have a universally accepted meaning. This review examines the development of this concept from the point of view of its usefulness as a criteria for the study of living systems to see what it has to offer as a new approach. In particular, one definition of complexity has been put forth which has the necessary precision and rigor to be considered as a useful categorization of systems, especially as it pertains to those we call 'living'. This definition, due to Robert Rosen, has been developed in a number of works and involves some deep new concepts about the way we view systems. In particular, it focuses on the way we view the world and actually practice science through the use of the modelling relation. This mathematical object models the process by which we assign meaning to the world we perceive. By using the modelling relation, it is possible to identify the subjective nature of our practices and deal with this issue explicitly. By so doing, it becomes clear that our notion of complexity and especially its most popular manifestations, is in large part a product of the historical processes ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jan 6, 2004·Developmental Psychobiology·Gary GreenbergWojciech Pisula
Jan 19, 2012·International Journal of Mental Health Nursing·David Andrew Buchanan
Jun 2, 2020·Neurosurgery Clinics of North America·R Mark Richardson

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