Fields of the Cell:At a turning point

While progress is based on development, arevolution is associated with turning points anda phase-transition (speaking in the terms ofphysics). Over the last 10 years a tremendousprogress could be observed within the networkof researchers studying functional cell componentsthat have no weight but nevertheless induceeffects: the fields of the cell. This development ismainly due to advances in technology and innetworking. The latter leading to and sproutingof international conferences, workshops andcooperation between research groups. Insumma this bears the potential to revolutioniseclassical concepts that explain life basically asrandom encounters of molecules.

It is evident that within a cell the materialcomponents, i.e. (polar) molecules, ions as wellas chemical reactions exist together with theelectric currents and electromagnetic fields theyinduce. And yet, the deep research of that kindof cell physics appears like a satellite orbitingaround tremendous investment packages formolecular biology, or Life Sciences in general.

Fields of the Cell: At a turning point

Molecular and electromagnetic componentsare part of a mutually dependent system ofreciprocal causality leading to observed complexcell dynamics. This is, for example, well recognisedin neurobiology in case of membrane potentialswitches and tunnel proteins in the context ofinformation flow along axons. So, there we dolook at the intricate relationship betweenmolecules and electromagnetic components.We claim that there are much more effectsemerging from more endogenous electrostaticand electrodynamic fields with accumulatedevidence found in the newly released onlinebook ‘Fields of the Cell’ (Fels, Cifra &Scholkmann, 2015, Research Signpost).

We claim that in the near future molecular andelectromagnetic biology will merge (see graph)with an incredible power for emergentphenomena to study.

This qualitative graph describes the evolution ofmolecule-based research (red) as increasinglysuccessful (y-axis) over time (x-axis) regardingfinancing and manpower. Investigation in cellfields (blue) is considered as inevitable andhence, the two curves are predicted to approacheach other (sooner or later).

Questions and assumptionsMolecule-based research brought us atremendous insight into life and being interestedin the components of a cell one will – interestingfor basic and applied research – certainly lookfor and find molecules. What else? Cell fields.Being interested in the non-material componentsof a cell one will – interesting for basic andapplied research – certainly look for and find fields.

When it comes to functions we may be lockedlooking at molecules only. Are, e.g. substrateand enzyme within a cell really bangingrandomly into each other both of which being(hopefully) in the right cell space? Are cell fieldsplaying an organising role in cell space andencounter organisation? The latter is a questionthat would never arise from a classical celldescription but does so from a field- andmolecule-based theory about life! We wouldlike to give a few examples that show how afield- and molecule-based theory of life cangive rise to new questions and can answersome old questions.

‘Development’:What gives an organism itsform? Sensu Richard Lewontin (The Triple Helix)classical biology has no answer and skipped the

1900 1950 2000 2050

molecule-based research

investigation in cell !elds

Timeline (years)

Succ

ess

question over to: Which gene(s) is (are) requiredduring development. This however, does notexplain the development of form! Now we knowthat e.g. embryos produce a field as a resultfrom charged cells and that this field has a forminto which cells migrate by which the form ofthe field is altered and so on.

‘Mitosis and meiosis’:How do the microtubulesfind the chromosomes and why does thespindelapparatus resemble in form an electricfield?

‘Random’:We say random when somethingoccurs in a system, which we do not know. Thecritical question is, whether there is alwayssuch a system (if so, there would be no realrandom, which we do not discuss here). Quantumbiology perceives a molecule as a vibratingentity. This implies phenomena like resonanceand can, further, lead to attraction or distractionof similarly vibrating molecules (confer chapter

11 in Fields of the Cell, Preto et al).

‘Inheritance’: What is inherited (sensutextbooks) are genes and within egg cells a lot ofadditional molecules (leading also to so calledmaternal effects). Yet, if a cell is also a cavityresonator (confer chapter 16 in Fields of the Cell,Pietak) or more general, bears its fields (withtheir organising powers) we must ask whetherfields are inherited as well.

‘Natural selection’:Order and structure mayhave occurred due to a process of small randomevents followed by natural selection. Yet if fieldslead to order and structure and if life can followthese field forces, we may learn that not all orderand structure follows from natural selection butprobably also from life intrinsic fields.

‘Exogenous fields’: Fields (either from space orEarth or technology induced ones) surround us.It remains an open question how the exogenous

CellsMolecules Fields

LIFE

The figure describes the reciprocal causality between the polar matter of the cell and the fields of the cell. Together they establishthe kind of self-organisation which we call life

fields interact with the endogenous fields;assuming such interaction cannot exist appearshighly improbable (think of electrotechnology).

‘Reciprocal causality’:While evidence isaccumulating there is still research necessary toelaborate the mechanisms by which the fieldsdue to polar molecules, ions, and chemicalreactions feed back on polar molecules, ions,and chemical reactions thereby leading to thereciprocal causality between material and non-material cell components enablingcomplex cybernetic regulation in organisms.

Once better understood we will become able tointerfere with fields into the process of celldynamics. Another great responsibility wemust prepare ourselves for.

ConclusionThe Fields of the Cell allow us to understandhow self-organisation functions. Independent

from human reactions (territorial, psychological),textbooks will include many more pages on thefields of the cell than so far because fields andmolecules (therefore cells and organisms, too)belong together like mass and gravitation. For some this appears like an opinion. But thefields of the cell are about the truth of life andnot about opinion. We believe that we are on aturning point in the Science about Life wherethe courage to allow the revolution will bringunforeseen fruits emerging from the tree ofknowledge.

OutlookOver the years we became increasingly awarethat the book project Fields of the Cell wasoverdue. Without such an introduction one maynot undertake the effort of reading into thetopic. For granting a continuation we intend tolaunch a website (Fields of the Cell) informingabout research groups, conferences and relatingto recent research.

This is the cell (Paramecium caudatum) the author is working with. The results of the experiments are published in PLoS (2009)and Axiomathes (2012)

Dr Daniel FelsUniversity of BaselTel: +41 61 322 16 75

daniel.fels@unibas.chwww.botanik.unibas.ch/en/home