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The Role of the Conscious and Subconscious Mind in the New

Biology

Bruce H. Lipton, Ph.D.

Living organisms, from cells to human beings, survive through the integrated activities of numerous

physiologic systems that provide such functions as respiration, digestion, cardiovascular circulation,

excretion, awareness and immune protection. To understand how each system works, conventional

biomedical sciences disassemble organisms to study their molecular components. Through this process of

reductionism, science created the medical model, a belief that life is derived from a biochemical machine

controlled by genes.

As a research scientist and former medical school professor, I actively supported and endorsed the

fundamental belief that genes control life. The primacy of genes in the unfoldment of life is based upon

one of sciences most fundamental principles, TheCentral Dogma. The dogma, defined by Francis Crick,

co-discoverer with James Watson of the genetic code, describes the flow of information in biological

systems: DNA>RNA>Protein. Accordingly, genetic DNA blueprints which codify our physical bodies,

and consequently our lives, represent our source. Information encoded in the DNA is then translated intoRNA molecules. The short-lived RNA versions of genes represent the actual molecular templates used in

assembling proteins. Proteins, the final product derived from the DNA, are the complex molecular building

blocks that collectively form our bodies and provide for our behavior.

Based upon this dogma, the prevailing medical model emphasizes that the character and quality of human

life is derived from DNA programs comprising our genome. Our strengths, such as artistic or intellectual

abilities, and our weaknesses, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer or depression, represent traits that are

presumably preprogrammed in our genes. Thus we tend to perceive lifes attributes and deficits, as well as

our health and our frailties, as merely a reflection of heredity. This philosophy fosters the idea that both dis-

ease and disease represent an inherent inability on the part the body to heal itself, and that remediation

relies upon the administration of drugs. Hence the name medicine.

Interestingly, the word dogma is defined as a belief that is based upon religious reasoning rather than

scientific fact. Astonishingly, one of Sciences foundational pillars, The Central Dogma, which declares

that genes control life is by definition and in reality, merely a religious belief. Though the power of

genes is still emphasized in current biology courses, textbooks and mass media, a radically new

understanding is emerging at the frontiers of cell science. New findings reveal that the dogma concerning

genetic control is wrong. When the concepts of the new science are integrated into mass consciousness,

they will profoundly change the course of human civilization.

The first research revealing that genes did not control biology was published a hundred years ago, long

before the relevance of DNA was even understood. In those early days of cell research, many

experimenters traced the fate ofenucleatedcells. Enucleation is the process of removing a cells nucleus,

the organelle that contains its genome. In many organisms, enucleated eggs can divide and form a blastula,

an embryological stage consisting of forty or more cells. In enucleation experiments, the resultingembryonic cells possess neither nuclei nor genes. Enucleated, gene-less cells can survive for two or more

months while maintaining strict regulation of their behavioral mechanisms. They maneuver through their

world seeking food, digesting it, and excreting wastes, breathing, avoiding toxins and socializing with other

cells. If these cells possess no genesthen what controls their behavior???

Remember thoseproteins, the molecular building blocks comprising the bodys cells? Well, proteins

express a unique behaviorthey can change their shape. This is the secret to life! The significance is that

in changing its shape, a protein movesin so doing, it expresses a behavior. Cells harness the forces of


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moving protein molecules to generate the behaviors of living organisms. The complexity of life is derived

from the orchestrated activity of protein movements that provide for respiration, digestion and muscle

contraction among others.

However, there is an additional important factor regulating protein movement: Proteins only change shape

in response to specific activating signals from the environment (i.e., the whole Universe). Behavior-

eliciting signals range from the physical (mechanical or chemical influences) to the energetic (energy fieldsand vibrational resonance). Consequently, the behavior of a cell (the collective activity of its proteins) is a

reflection of, and directly connected to, its environment.

The visible units of heredity are the chromosomes. In the massive chromosomes, the strands of DNA

containing the genes are encased in sleeves of protein molecules. The DNA strand must be exposed in

order to read the gene blueprint. The regulatory proteins comprising the DNAs sleeve must change their

shape and detach from the DNA to expose the selected gene. What causes a protein to change shape?

Environmental signals. So what ultimately controls gene activity? Environmental signals! Cell behavior

and gene activity are both regulated by the environmentperceivedby the cell. Perception is the process by

which a cell becomes aware of an environmental stimulus and then elicits a behavioral response.

The outer and inner surfaces of the cells membrane (skin) is lined with antenna-bearing receptorproteins.

Cell receptors, the molecular equivalents of eyes, ears, nose, taste, and touch organs, monitorenvironmental signals and provide the cell with an awareness of their world. Specific environmental

signals cause complementary proteins to change their shape, producing life-sustaining responses. The

collective signals defining an environment directly select gene programs necessary for the organism to

survive in that environment.

For the first three billion years of life on Earth, the biosphere consisted of only single-celled organisms

such as amoebas, paramecia, yeast, algae and bacteria. Six hundred million years ago individual cells

began to enhance their survival by assembling into small colonial groups. Communal life offered two

important survival advantages: 1) the collective awareness of communal cells offers greater survival

opportunities over the limited awareness possessed by single, free-living cells; and 2) it is energetically

more efficient to live in communitytwo can live as cheaply as one.

In cell communities consisting of small numbers of cells, each cell is able to effectively read and respond to

environmental signals. However, in larger communities, cells in the middle of the crowd are unable to

efficiently communicate with the prevailing external environment. This problem was resolved by creating

a higher order of communal organization. Instead of each cell carrying out all of its own survival-requiring

tasks, cells in larger cell communities became more efficient by expressing specialized functions.

Through the process ofdifferentiation, specialized cell types such as skin cells, heart cells, bone cells,

muscle cells and nerve cells, among others, evolved from common progenitor (ancestor) cells. Each cell

type contributes a specialized service supporting the survival of the community. For example, nerve cells

evolved to organize and coordinate the activities of the individual cells comprising the community. Nerve

cells read environmental signals, interpret them, select appropriate behaviors and then send behavioral

directives to the cellular population.

While you might perceive of yourself as a single entity, in truth,you are a highly integrated organization of

50 trillion individual cells living in a bustling community beneath your skin. Your brain and nervous

system represent a subset of cells whose function is to perceive and interpret environmental signals and

then coordinate the functions of the bodys fifty trillion cells.

We are born with a genetically preprogrammed set of life-sustaining perceptions called instincts. Instincts

represent perceptions provided by nature. From mid- gestation onward, our brains are wired for learning,

creating new perceptions from environmental experiences. These learned perceptions are collectively


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ascribed to nurture.

As you are undoubtedly aware, not all learned perceptions are necessarily accurate. Many perceptions we

hold about the world are incorrect. Consider for example, the perception that genes control biology. That

is in fact, a misperception. Learned perceptions may be correct or incorrect. Consequently, we may

accurately refer to acquired perceptions as beliefs, with the assumption that they represent truths. Since

perceptions control behavior and gene activity, then it is logical to conclude that in humans, beliefscontrol biology.

The secret of life isBELIEF. Rather than genes, it is our beliefs that control lifeOh ye of little belief!

Additionally, no two people are biologically the same. Each human is unique in that our cells possess a

distinctive set of specialized environmental receptors. A subset of these receptors studied in medicine are

called, interestingly enoughself-receptors. Though every human shares identical cell types and a

common anatomy, each is a distinct individual defined by the particular spectrum of the environment their

self-receptors perceive. Each human being is a one of a kind protein complex specifically

complementing their unique perceptual window of the environmentthe Earth, the planets and the stars.

This new perspective of human biology does not view the body as just a mechanical device controlled by

genes, but rather incorporates the controlling influence of a mind and spirit. It should be noted that thereare, indeed, individuals whose health is negatively impacted by faulty genes and chemistry acquired from

errors called birth defects. However, these individuals represent less than 5% of the population. Greater

than ninety five percent of humans possess an adequate genome enabling them to experience a healthy,

happy and productive life. Diseases in this majority of the population cannot be attributed to preexisting

genetic and biochemical defects.

Conventional medical doctors adhere to the medical model, which envisions human disease to be derived

from a fundamental frailty of the bodys physical-chemical mechanisms. Complementary and energy

medicine practitioners focus on the environment and energy fields influencing the nervous system as the

controlling mechanism of life, not the genes. The effectiveness of complementary healing modalities is that

they support but do not interfere with the bodys own innate healing abilities. We possess an inherent

recuperative power to heal the body without the use of drugs or surgery.

The new insights into how perceptions control biology is fundamental for all healing, for it recognizes that

when we change ourperceptions (beliefs) we send totally different messages to our cells enabling an

effective reprogramming of their expression. The new-biology reveals why people can have spontaneous

remissions or recover from injuries deemed to be permanent disabilities.

Now heres some significant insight: though every cell is innately intelligent and can survive on its own

when removed from the body, within the body, each cell foregoes its individuality and becomes a member

of a coherent multicellular community. By definition, a community is an organization of individuals

committed to supporting a shared vision. Consequently, while every cell is a free- living entity, the bodys

community accommodates the wishes and intents of its central voice, the character we perceive as the

mindand spirit. Whenyou have a thought or perception, that vision is broadcast to all of your cellular

residents. It is as if your cells are all tuned to see the TV news of the day. Your eyes are the camera, yourthoughts the voice of the anchorman. Your cells are concerned with whatyou see because they depend on

yourlife for their lives. Yourjoys are their joysyourfears are their fears.

When the mind perceives that the environment is safe and supportive, cells are preoccupied with growth

and maintenance of the body, keeping us in a state of health. Perception of survival-threatening situations

causes cells to forego normal growth functions and adopt defensive, protection postures. The body

possesses two fundamental protection systems. The adrenal system mobilizes the musculoskeletal system

(arms and legs) for fight or flight defenses against external environmental threats. In contrast, the


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immune system is designed to protect the body from internal environmental threats posed by viruses,

bacteria, toxins, parasites and cancerous cells.

The bodys energy resources normally used to sustain growth are diverted to empower protection responses

during periods of perceived distress. Simply, growth processes are restricted or suspended in a stressed

system. Bodily energy reserves are distributed to either the immune or adrenal systems, based upon the

source of the perceived threats. In response to infections or other diseases, bodily energy reserves aredirected to the immune system. The lowered availability of bodily energy during these stresses produces a

tiredness that causes us to rest during the restorative period.

However, if perceived threats are from the external environment, the bodys energy flow is directed to the

arms and legs, the first line of defense. Distributing all available energy to the musculoskeletal system

removes resources required for growth processes and immune system function. Think of it this way, if you

have a bacterial infection and are also being chased by a saber-toothed tiger, to which protection system

would you direct your energy reserves: the immune or adrenal systems? The elevation of fight or flight

adrenal stress hormones in the body overrides and suppresses the function of the immune system.

Physicians take advantage of this system by injecting stress hormones into patients who receive tissue or

organ grafts, in order to suppress the immune system and prevent rejection of the transplant.

While our biology readily accommodates brief (acute) bouts of stress, prolonged or chronic stress isdebilitating. The energy demands of prolonged protection response interfere with required body

maintenance, leading to dysfunction and disease. It is particularly relevant when perceived threats are from

the external world, the higher levels of stress hormones not only shunt growth, they deactivate the immune

system functions. This is why sustained familial and professional pressures are so debilitatingthe

resulting inhibition of the immune system opens the door for infectious diseases and cancer.

The perceptions of life we hold in our minds control our growth and protection behaviors. The mind

resembles the driver of a vehicle. With good driving skills, a vehicle can be maintained and provide good

performance throughout its life. Bad driving skills generate most of the wrecks that litter the roadside or

fill our junkyards. Employing good driving skills in managing our behaviors and in dealing with our

emotions and perceived stresses should offer a healthy, happy and productive life. In contrast,

inappropriate behaviors and dysfunctional emotional management, like a bad driver, stresses cellular

vehicles and interferes with performance and provokes a breakdown.

Are you a good driver or a bad driver? Before you answer that question, realize that there are two separate

minds creating the bodys controlling central voice. The (self) conscious mindis the thinkingyou, it is

creative and expresses free will. Its supporting partner is the subconscious mind, a database of reflexes and

learned perceptions. Though some of its programs are derived from genetics (instincts, nature), the vast

majority are acquired through our developmental learning experiences (nurture).

The subconscious mind is nota seat of reasoning or creative consciousness; it is strictly a stimulus-

response device. When an environmental signal is perceived, the subconscious mind reflexively activates a

previously programmed behavioral responseno thinking required. The subconscious mind is a

programmable autopilot that can navigate the vehicle without the observation or awareness of the spiritual

pilot (conscious mind). While the subconscious autopilot is controlling behavior, consciousness is free todream into the future or review the past.

The dual-mind systems effectiveness is defined by the quality of perceptual programs stored in the

subconscious. Essentially, the person who taught you to drive molds your driving skills. For example, if

you were taught to drive with one foot on the gas and the other on the brake, no matter how many vehicles

you own, each will inevitably express premature brake failure.

Similarly, if our subconscious mind is programmed with inappropriate behavioral responses to lifes


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experiences, then our sub-optimum driving skills will contribute to a life of crash and burn experiences.

Cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death, is directly attributable to mismanaging stress. The

fundamental perceptions or beliefs we hold about life are down-loaded into the subconscious mind during

our first six years of life by simply observing the behaviors and attitudes of parents, siblings, peers and

teachers. Did your early developmental experiences provide you with good models of behavior to use in

the unfoldment of your own life?

Simply, are you a good driver or a bad driver? The answer is difficult to assess, for in our conscious

creative mind we may consider ourselves as good drivers, however self-sabotaging or limiting behavioral

programs in our subconscious, unnoticeably, undermine our efforts. The insidious part of the autopilot

mechanism is that subconscious behaviors are programmed to engage without the control of, or observation

by, the conscious self. Since most of our behaviors are under the control of the subconscious mind, we

rarely observe them or much less know that they are even engaged. While your conscious mind perceives

you are a good driver, the unconscious mind, which has its hands on the wheel most of the time, may be

driving you down the road to ruin.

As we become more conscious, and rely less on subconscious automated programs, we become the masters

of our fates rather than the victims of our programs. Conscious awareness can actively transform the

character of our lives into ones filled with love, health and prosperity by its ability to rewrite limiting

perceptions (beliefs) and self-sabotaging behaviors.

For more information visit: www.brucelipton.com

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