grandpa's biology

hormone balance, cell regulation, plant evolution... an approach
to biology in which the notions of balance and regulation.
are considered as two sides of the same problem

Modern biology rests on two observations:

1. Every living organism is constituted by cells. Better: it's always initially constituted from a cell which, by successive divisions, gives birth to a multitude of other cells all possessing the same nucleus.This way of envisaging things is called "cellular biology".
2. By burning, every living organism releases carbon dioxid, water vapor, mineral salts and energy. It may thus be considered as the visible result of a multitude of chemical reactions, based on the carbon chemistry. This way of envisaging things is called "molecular biology".

I am happy today introduce you to another approch to the problem. At once molecular and cellular, this approach rests on two techniques our scientists may not have used much off: reflection and good sense. It's name: "Grandpa's biology". Does it prefigure the biology of the future? It's simply what I hope...

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Grandpa's biology represents a global approach to the function of the living organism, which differs from today's concept of biology by the fact that the notions of balance and regulation are considered as two sides of the same problem. It can be condensed as such:

A living organism is in good health (it passes then normally from egg to embryo, from embryo to youth, from youth to adulthood, old age and death) so long as the physiological activity of its cells is normal... It is ill when this same physiological activity changes from the norm. And that for various reasons:
- reasons which are tied to the nature of certain genes, as in the case of genetic diseases,
- reasons which are tied to the nature of certain factors of the environment, as in the case of physiological diseases,
- reasons which are tied to the presence of pathogical organisms (viruses, fungi, bacteria, animals), as in the case of infectious diseases.

The black arrows indicate reactions of synthesis and degradation requiring intervention of specific enzymes...

White arrows indicate that these are simple reactions of exchange, balance, regulation.

With Grandpa's biology in effect, all that happens within a living organism is directly affected by a very precise hormonal balance. In the plants, the balance auxins/gibberellins (AUX/GIB). This balance conditions all reactions of synthesis and degradation by controlling the enzyme synthesis. In consequence, it conditions too in the short run the whole cells activity, in the long run the whole plant evolution. And that in function of the changes that occur with regards to the tissues, the age, the physiological state of the plant, with regards too to the environment conditions... A practical example:

Take three perfectly identical plants; in this case, three plants having reached the "4 leaves" stage of life. Treat the first plant with plain water, the second with auxin, the third with gibberellin. Two or three weeks later the following observation can be made:

- the plant treated with water now has...	10 leaves
- the plant treated with auxin now has...	12 leaves
- the plant treated with gibberellin has...	14 leaves

And you say: This seems perfectly normal, as one would expect plants treated with growth hormones to grow faster than plants treated with plain water. You say: This is perfectly normal, but you know too Grandpa's biology can't be true... Remember: in Grandpa's biology, all activity in a plant's life is affected by the evolution of a natural complex auxins/gibberellins balance. The treatment with auxin changed this balance, as did the treatment with gibberellin. So, if Grandpa's hypothesis is to be taken serious, the results of our experience should necessary correspond to the following results:

- the plant treated with auxin shoud have...	12 leaves
- the plant treated with water shoud have...	10 leaves
- the plant treated with gibberellin shoud have...	8 leaves
or
- the plant treated with auxin shoud have...	8 leaves
- the plant treated with water shoud have...	10 leaves
- the plant treated with gibberellin shoud have...	12 leaves

What really happens? If you want to know more, consult the various pages of the site. It's free so long you are interested on a personal basis. If it is professional curiosity, you can contact the site.

Joséphine, 10 february 2002