Chapter 4
Some Biochemical Reflections on Information
and Communication
Erkki J. Brändas
Abstract The biochemical aspects of communication have been investigated via an
extended framework of original quantum-statistical concepts. The key idea develops from the notion of a so-called Spatio-Temporal Neumatic, STN, configuration,
an open dissipative structure resting on the boundaries connecting micro-, meso- and
macroscopic levels. In this category one finds de novo self-organization of molecular motion, enzymatic catalysis and the self-assembly of nano-structures all the way
to biologically relevant processes like cell evolution, cellular neurobiology etc. The
possibility to store and communicate coded messages in this enlarged organization
is documented and recognized, unifying various proposals of theoretical understanding including in particular the law of Gödelian self-reference. It is demonstrated that
intra-cell and inter-cell order leads to differentiation through a Poissonian modus
operandi. The latter lacks intrinsic memory, but its statistical nature gives way to
something non-intrinsic of teleonomic significance. Various consequences of this
idea prompt a broadened notion of communication and information, generating encodable cell differentiation through cell quality value factors resonating through
original communication channels accessible through Poisson statistics. It is shown
that inter-cell communication is temporally dominated while intra-cell information
is largely spatio-controlled. The nested (spatio-temporal) property of the “code of
codes” extends from the genetic- through the socio-, ecological- and to the cosmological rank, while taking account of a more stringent and appraisable representation
of the contemporary concept of a meme.
4.1 Introduction
Communication is a fundamental concept that covers as well as demands a deeper
and philosophical understanding at all levels of physical, chemical and biological (even social) processes. Communication appears between the various parts of
a microscopic system, e.g. to interpret single-molecule-information transfer or in
E.J. Brändas (B)
Ångström Laboratory, Theoretical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Uppsala University,
Box 518, 751 20 Uppsala, Sweden
e-mail: erkki.brandas@kemi.uu.se
M. Hotokka et al. (eds.), Advances in Quantum Methods and Applications in
Chemistry, Physics, and Biology, Progress in Theoretical Chemistry and Physics 27,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-01529-3_4,
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2013
75
Some Biochemical Reflections on Information
and Communication
Erkki J. Brändas
Abstract The biochemical aspects of communication have been investigated via an
extended framework of original quantum-statistical concepts. The key idea develops from the notion of a so-called Spatio-Temporal Neumatic, STN, configuration,
an open dissipative structure resting on the boundaries connecting micro-, meso- and
macroscopic levels. In this category one finds de novo self-organization of molecular motion, enzymatic catalysis and the self-assembly of nano-structures all the way
to biologically relevant processes like cell evolution, cellular neurobiology etc. The
possibility to store and communicate coded messages in this enlarged organization
is documented and recognized, unifying various proposals of theoretical understanding including in particular the law of Gödelian self-reference. It is demonstrated that
intra-cell and inter-cell order leads to differentiation through a Poissonian modus
operandi. The latter lacks intrinsic memory, but its statistical nature gives way to
something non-intrinsic of teleonomic significance. Various consequences of this
idea prompt a broadened notion of communication and information, generating encodable cell differentiation through cell quality value factors resonating through
original communication channels accessible through Poisson statistics. It is shown
that inter-cell communication is temporally dominated while intra-cell information
is largely spatio-controlled. The nested (spatio-temporal) property of the “code of
codes” extends from the genetic- through the socio-, ecological- and to the cosmological rank, while taking account of a more stringent and appraisable representation
of the contemporary concept of a meme.
4.1 Introduction
Communication is a fundamental concept that covers as well as demands a deeper
and philosophical understanding at all levels of physical, chemical and biological (even social) processes. Communication appears between the various parts of
a microscopic system, e.g. to interpret single-molecule-information transfer or in
E.J. Brändas (B)
Ångström Laboratory, Theoretical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Uppsala University,
Box 518, 751 20 Uppsala, Sweden
e-mail: erkki.brandas@kemi.uu.se
M. Hotokka et al. (eds.), Advances in Quantum Methods and Applications in
Chemistry, Physics, and Biology, Progress in Theoretical Chemistry and Physics 27,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-01529-3_4,
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2013
75