The Living Sign: A Biosemiotic Critique of the Modern Synthesis

-


The Living Sign: A Biosemiotic Critique of the Modern Synthesis

Abstract:

In his 2021 article "The Living Sign: Reading Noble from a Biosemiotic Perspective," Jos de Mul argues that the reductionist tendencies of the Modern Synthesis in biology stem from a limited, syntactical understanding of biological information. De Mul proposes that biosemiotics, with its focus on the meaning-making processes inherent in living systems, offers a more comprehensive and nuanced framework for understanding life. This essay will delve into de Mul's critique of the Modern Synthesis, explore the key concepts of biosemiotics, and analyze how they can illuminate the shortcomings of a purely syntactical approach to biological information.

1. The Modern Synthesis and its Discontents

The Modern Synthesis, a framework in biology since the mid-20th century, attempts to reconcile Darwinian evolution with Mendelian genetics. It emphasizes the role of natural selection in shaping populations through mutations and gene frequencies. While the Modern Synthesis has had its sucesses in explaining some biological phenomena, it has also faced increasing criticism for its reductionist tendencies.

One key point of contention is the Modern Synthesis' focus on genes as the primary units of information and selection. This gene-centric view overlooks the dynamic interplay between genes, environment, and developmental processes that shapes phenotypic expression. Additionally, the Modern Synthesis often treats information as a passive entity, encoded in DNA and transmitted through replication. This neglects the active role organisms play in interpreting and utilizing information to adapt and respond to their surroundings.

2. Biosemiotics: A Lens for Interpreting Life as Sign-Making

Biosemiotics offers an alternative perspective on information and meaning in living systems. It posits that life is fundamentally a semiotic process, where organisms engage in the production, interpretation, and transmission of signs. These signs can be anything from behavioral gestures to biochemical signals to morphological features. The meaning of these signs arises from their interactions within the organism and its environment.

Biosemiotics draws on a diverse range of disciplines, including biology, philosophy, linguistics, and anthropology, to provide a holistic understanding of living systems. Key concepts in biosemiotics include:

  • Sign: Any entity that carries meaning within a specific context.

  • Signification: The process of creating and interpreting meaning.

  • Semiosis: The ongoing, dynamic process of sign-making and interpretation.

  • Interpretant: The meaning assigned to a sign by an interpreter.

3. Rethinking Information in Biology: Beyond the Syntagmatic

De Mul argues that the Modern Synthesis' reliance on a purely syntactical notion of information, derived from Claude Shannon's work in information theory, is insufficient for understanding the complexities of biological information. Shannon's information theory focuses on the quantitative aspects of information, such as its transmission and storage efficiency. However, it neglects the crucial dimensions of meaning, context, and function that are essential for understanding how organisms utilize information.

Biosemiotics, on the other hand, offers a more expansive understanding of biological information. It recognizes that information is not just about quantity or structure, but also about its significance and its role in shaping the interactions and activities of living systems. De Mul emphasizes the importance of considering the pragmatic and semantic dimensions of information alongside the syntactical.

4. Implications for Biological Research

A biosemiotic approach to biological information has significant implications for research across various fields. It encourages scientists to:

  • Move beyond the gene-centric view: Recognize the intricate interplay between genes, environment, and developmental processes in shaping biological phenomena.

  • Acknowledge the active role of organisms: Consider how organisms interpret and utilize information to adapt and respond to their surroundings.

  • Investigate the meaning-making processes: Explore how organisms create, interpret, and transmit signs to understand their behavior, communication, and evolutionary trajectories.

By incorporating biosemiotic perspectives, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of the dynamic and context-dependent nature of biological information. This can lead to new avenues for investigating phenomena like:

  • The evolution of communication systems: How organisms develop and utilize signal repertoires to convey information and coordinate behavior.

  • The role of information in development: How organisms utilize and interpret environmental cues to guide their growth and differentiation.

  • The emergence of collective intelligence: How information exchange and shared meaning contribute to the coordinated behavior of groups of organisms.

5. Conclusion: Toward a Broader Understanding of Life

Jos de Mul's call for a biosemiotic understanding of biological information challenges the reductionist tendencies of the Modern Synthesis and opens doors for a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of life. By recognizing the inherent meaning-making processes in living systems, biosemiotics offers a valuable framework for exploring the complexities of information, adaptation, and evolution. Embracing this broader perspective can lead to a richer appreciation for life.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

No, the EES is not just a add on to Neo-Darwinism aka the Modern Synthesis

-
Image
" The summary of the state of affairs on the 150th anniversary of the Origin is somewhat shocking: in the post-genomic era, all major tenets of the Modern Synthesis fthe theory of evolution) are, if not outright overturned replaced by a new and incomparably more complex vision of the key aspects of evolution (EES). So, not to mince words , the Modern Synthesis is gone" -Eugene Koonin, an evolutionary biologist (Cited by over 270,000 evolutionary scientists.) The Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES) represents a significant departure from the traditional neo-Darwinian framework, also known as the Modern Synthesis . While both theories aim to explain evolutionary change, they differ fundamentally in their underlying mechanisms and the roles they assign to various biological processes. A crucial point of divergence lies in the interpretation and application of the term " evolutionary ," particularly concerning the incorporation of epigenetic mechanisms....
Read more

Is the random mutational model of evolution on its way out?

-
Image
While the random mutational model of evolution has long been a cornerstone of evolutionary biology, the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES) and the study of epigenetics are challenging its core assumptions. The Random Mutational Model and Its Limitations The traditional view of evolution, often called the Modern Synthesis or neo-Darwinism , emphasizes random genetic mutations as the primary source of variation. Natural selection then acts upon this variation, favoring individuals with advantageous traits. This model has been successful in explaining some evolutionary phenomena, but it also has limitations: It struggles to explain complex adaptations: The idea that complex features like the eye or the immune system arose solely through random mutations seems statistically improbable. It overlooks the role of the environment: The traditional model treats the environment as a selective force, but it doesn't fully consider how organisms can actively respond to and s...
Read more

ERVs and Common Descent: A Reassessment in Light of Recent Findings

-
Image
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) have long been considered strong evidence for the common descent of humans and chimpanzees. These remnants of ancient viral infections, embedded in the genomes of both species, were once thought to be non-functional "junk DNA." The premise was that the shared presence of these seemingly random insertions in corresponding genomic locations could best be explained by a shared evolutionary history. However, recent research, such as the "Switching Sides" article published in May 2021, has challenged this assumption by demonstrating that ERVs play a functional role in the development of the human embryo and immune system. This discovery raises questions about the validity of using ERVs as primary evidence for common descent. The Traditional Argument for Common Descent The traditional argument for common descent based on ERVs rests on the following points: Random Insertion: Retroviral insertions are thought to occur randomly in...
Read more