Life 2012, 2, 1-105; doi:10.3390/life2010001
OPEN ACCESS
life
ISSN 2075-1729
www.mdpi.com/journal/life
Article
Theory of the Origin, Evolution, and Nature of Life
Erik D. Andrulis
Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Case Western Reserve University School of
Medicine, Wood Building, W212, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; E-Mail: exa32@case.edu;
Tel.: +1-216-368-0261; Fax: +1-216-368-3055
Received: 15 November 2011; in revised form: 10 December 2011 / Accepted: 13 December 2011 /
Published: 23 December 2011
Abstract: Life is an inordinately complex unsolved puzzle. Despite significant theoretical
progress, experimental anomalies, paradoxes, and enigmas have revealed paradigmatic
limitations. Thus, the advancement of scientific understanding requires new models that
resolve fundamental problems. Here, I present a theoretical framework that economically
fits evidence accumulated from examinations of life. This theory is based upon a
straightforward and non-mathematical core model and proposes unique yet empirically
consistent explanations for major phenomena including, but not limited to, quantum
gravity, phase transitions of water, why living systems are predominantly CHNOPS
(carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur), homochirality of sugars and
amino acids, homeoviscous adaptation, triplet code, and DNA mutations. The theoretical
framework unifies the macrocosmic and microcosmic realms, validates predicted laws of
nature, and solves the puzzle of the origin and evolution of cellular life in the universe.
Keywords: quantum; gyre; emergence; thermodynamics; singularity; natural law; adaptation;
learning and memory
1. Introduction
How life abides by the second law of thermodynamics yet evolutionarily complexifies and maintains
its intrinsic order is a fundamental mystery in physics, chemistry, and biology [1]. Solving this
problem requires an interdisciplinary knowledge and an awareness of conventional theories, especially
those related to the origin and evolution of life. Rather than give a comprehensive literature review,
I introduce a handful of these ideas and point out their limitations.
Life 2012, 2 2
The panspermia hypothesis has many forms, some of which suggest that life started elsewhere
in the universe and arrived on Earth by cometary, meteoric, or planetary delivery [2,3]. The problem
with this group of models is that it does not, in an empirically complete and consistent manner, explain
the molecular origin of the first cell and hence avoids the issue in need of solution. The primordial
soup hypothesis, also know as the Oparin-Haldane model, posits that during the early evolution of the
Earth, a reducing atmosphere provided the correct environment for the formation of basic organic
compounds [4,5]. Though the soup model has matured in recent decades, it has difficulty explaining
the exact conditions of the early Earth atmosphere and the manner and order of emergence of
polymeric systems. In the iron-sulfur world theory, primitive life is assumed to have started at deep-sea
hydrothermal vents as a mineral base; redox reactions provided the chemical energy to drive the
emergence of cellular life [6]. However, this model does not explain the origin of genetic information,
membrane systems, or the complexification or diversity of cellular structure. Finally, the RNA
(ribonucleic acid) world hypothesis posits that ribonucleotide-based genetic systems evolved prior to
protein and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). This hypothesis does not fit well with the central dogma
and is unable to resolve precisely how the translation apparatus, genetic code, and biometabolic
pathways evolved [7-9]. In short, no consensus model for life has emerged.
Now, therefore, to know what life is and how life works, scientists need a scientifically accurate
theory. The aim of a scientific theory is to construct a formal structure—in which the natural world is
being modeled—to explain, predict, and control systems, events, and objects. Insofar as the physical,
chemical, and biological sciences are true, physical reality and life itself thus reflexively model such a
scientific theory; tautologically, the natural world subsumes said theory. Several investigators have
detailed what would be required of a unifying bioscientific theory [1,10-24]. The correct theory would
be expected to not only explain how the living cell works now, but also to provide insight into the
evolution of life on Earth.
In the theory proposed herein, I use the heterodox yet simple gyre—a spiral, vortex, whorl, or
similar circular pattern—as a core model for understanding life. Because many elements of the gyre
model (gyromodel) are alien, I introduce neologisms and important terms in bold italics to identify
them; a theoretical lexicon is presented in Table 1. The central idea of this theory is that all physical
reality, stretching from the so-called inanimate into the animate realm and from micro- to meso- to
macrocosmic scales, can be interpreted and modeled as manifestations of a single geometric entity, the
gyre. This entity is attractive because it has life-like characteristics, undergoes morphogenesis, and is
responsive to environmental conditions. The gyromodel depicts the spatiotemporal behavior and
properties of elementary particles, celestial bodies, atoms, chemicals, molecules, and systems as
quantized packets of information, energy, and/or matter that oscillate between excited and ground
states around a singularity. The singularity, in turn, modulates these states by alternating attractive and
repulsive forces. The singularity itself is modeled as a gyre, thus evincing a thermodynamic, fractal,
and nested organization of the gyromodel. In fitting the scientific evidence from quantum gravity to
cell division, this theory arrives at an understanding of life that questions traditional beliefs
and definitions.
Life 2012, 2 3
Table 1. Gyromodel Lexicon a.
Term Meaning
Alternagyre A gyrosystem whose gyrapex is not triquantal
Dextragyre A right-handed gyre or gyromodel
Focagyre A gyre that is the focal point of analysis or discussion
Gyradaptor The gyre singularity—a quantum—that exerts all forces on the gyrosystem
Gyrapex The relativistically high potential, excited, unstable, learning state of a particle
Gyraxiom A fact, condition, principle, or rule that constrains and defines the theoretical framework
Gyre The spacetime shape or path of a particle or group of particles; a quantum
Gyrequation Shorthand notation for analysis, discussion, and understanding gyromodels
Gyrobase The relativistically low potential, ground, stable, memory state of a particle
Gyrognosis The thermodynamically demanding process of learning and integrating IEM
Gyrolink The mIEM particle that links two gyromodules in a gyronexus
Gyromnemesis The thermodynamically conserving process of remembering and recovering IEM
Gyromodel The core model undergirding the theoretical framework
Gyromodule A dIEM particle in a gyronexus
Gyronexus A polymer of dIEM particles linked by mIEM particles
Gyrostate The potential and/or kinetic state that a particle occupies in its gyratory path
Gyrosystem A gyromodel with specific IEM composition, organization, and purpose
IEM b Information, energy, and/or matter
Levoragyre A left-handed gyre or gyromodel
Majorgyre A gyrosystem whose gyrapex is triquantal
Matrioshkagyre A model that demonstrates how gyres organize in nested sets
Ohiogyre Higher-order organization in which a gyre gyrates around another gyre
Particle A discrete, finite, empirically definable unit of IEM
Quantal Of or relating to the quantum; tri-, di-, uni- and aquantal gyrostates found in majorgyres
Quantum A capacious, potentially infinite, uncertain unit of IEM; a gyre
Subgyre The gyre that subsumed by the focagyre
Supragyre The gyre that subsumes the focagyre
Trimergence Evolutionary emergence of a triquantal IEM
Prefixes c
Amino Of or relating to sulfur compounds (particles), amino acids, polypeptides
Carbo Of or relating to carbon particles, carbohydrates, hydrocarbons
Cellulo Of or relating to cells, archaebacteria, eubacteria, eukaryotes
Electro Of or relating to visible matter particles, chemical elements, planetary cores
Geno Of or relating to genes, DNA, chromosomes, genomes
Oxy Of or relating to oxygen particles, water, oceans, lunar cores
Phospho Of or relating to phosphate particles, phospholipids, phosphate signaling
Ribo Of or relating to nitrogen particles, nitrogenous bases, RNA
Suffixes c
–cycle The spacetime period to complete a regular series of events in the same order
–gyre Having the quality of a vortex; characterized by cyclical, oscillatory, and unpredictable
motion; attractorepulsive, expansocontractive, and creatodestructive
–gnose Characterized by learning or by IEM consideration and integration
–helix Having a three-dimensional twisting, winding shape like that of a spiral staircase
–matrix Having a three-dimensional networked, latticed shape like graphene or an ice crystal
–mneme Characterized by memory or by IEM storage and retrieval
Life 2012, 2 4
Table 1. Cont.
Term Meaning
Suffixes c
–nexus Being connected or linked in a series
–on Having the quality of a quantum; a particle or an amalgam of such particles
–sphere Having orb-like features and hyperbolic geometry
a This lexicon is presented alphabetically. In several circumstances, this ordering of words causes definitional
cascading—that is, reading of word 1 uncovers an undefined word 2; reading the definition of word 2 reveals
undefined word 3; the definition of word 3 provides an ultimate explanation and a meaningful backdrop for
understanding words 1 and 2. b The gyromodel has defining IEM (dIEM) and modifying IEM (mIEM)
particles. c Each prefix is combined with each and every suffix to expand the lexicon of the theoretical
framework. This neologistical appending reveals the commonality between, within, and among the distinct
gyrosystems.
2. Model
Throughout history, scholars have used the gyre in their models. For example, in ancient Greece,
Democritus posited vortex motion to be a law of nature. In the 16th century, Copernicus modeled
planets gyrating around a stellar singularity and Descartes proposed his vortex theory for planetary
motion in the 17th century. The 19th century found Helmholtz rediscovering the Democritean law and
Lord Kelvin and Maxwell using the gyre as the basis of different electromagnetic theories. In the early
20th century, Bostick used the gyre in his spiraling helicon fiber model and Thomson proposed that
atoms were vortex rings. Many others have promulgated the gyre as core model of nature.
Perhaps one reason for their theoretical appeal is that gyres are detectable throughout the cosmic
and tellurian realms. Astronomically, galaxies, solar systems, comets, and lunar bodies gyrate.
Atmospherically, tornadoes, hurricanes, eddies, and vortex streets are all gyres. Oceanographically,
there are seven major gyres. Molecularly, numerous nucleic acid and protein structures—DNA double
helix, RNA hairpins, pseudoknots, α-helices, coiled coils, and β-propellers—all gyrate. Cellularly and
organismally, shells, horns, antennae, flagellae, and the cochlea all carry a spiral imprint. Given its
theoretical pedigree, empirical ubiquity, and dynamic character, the gyre appears, a posteriori, to be a
prime candidate for a core model of natural systems.
2.1. Gyre Facts
There are numerous facts that characterize all gyres [25-28]. These facts—introduced here for
propaedeutic purposes—demonstrate that the gyre is protean. For this presentation, I have separated
these facts into four broad, overlapping categories and subsections: gyre structure, gyre qualities, gyre
thermodynamics, and gyre forces. I conclude this section with a brief summary regarding the gyre and
its relevance to theoretical pursuits.
2.1.1. Gyre Structure
A visual examination of the gyre reveals a remarkably plastic geometric form. That is, gyres
manifest particular shapes and patterns of a non-Euclidean form. Viewed transversely, many gyres are
elongated, helicoid, conical, or funnel-shaped, with a tapered bottom that ends in a point or singularity
Life 2012, 2 5
and have a wide aperture at their top. Other gyres are cylindrical, catenoid, flattened, or disc-like.
When viewed head on, both the singularity and aperture frequently appear as perfect circles, like in a
galactic center or the eye of a hurricane. Measurements from the singularity of a natural gyre to its
circumferential aperture show exponential growth whereas the converse shows exponential decay. Any
gyre is fractal because of its self-similarity, fine structure, and simple and recursive nature.
The gyre singularity is defined here as the central position around which energy and matter
(discussed further in 2.3.1) revolve. The singularity is also the point of highest energy and matter
density and potency in the gyre. Suggestive of the applicability of the gyre to modeling nature, the
singularity concept is found both in astrophysics [29,30] and in life sciences [31]. Gyres are also
symmetrical: they have organizational or compositional reflectivity, identity, or similarity around a
radial axis that bisects the singularity. This symmetry is detectable in spiral galaxies, chemicals like
heme, and macromolecules structures like the centrosome.
Gyres are chiral, i.e., have handedness. When viewed head on, a left-handed gyre rotates clockwise;
a right-handed gyre rotates counter-clockwise. The paradox of chirality is that a left-handed gyre,
when inverted 180° and viewed anew, is a right-handed gyre. This paradox is at the core of the
problem of life. Indeed, homochirality—exclusive use of one chiral form or the other—is observed
throughout life, where sugars are dextral (D), amino acids in polypeptides are levoral (L) and nucleotides
in nucleic acids are D form [32]. With this paradox in mind, the core, generic gyromodel can be
viewed as either left-handed (levoragyre; (Figure 1a (i)) or right-handed (dextragyre; (Figure 1a (ii)).
2.1.2. Gyre Qualities
There are several characteristics of a gyre that make it theoretically appealing. Most notably, gyres
are organic, that is, they have qualities identical to those found in living systems: they adapt their
shape, size, position, rate, strength, and direction. Furthermore, gyres follow a life cycle of emergence
(birth), development (aging), and dissolution (death). Gyres spontaneously self-organize when the
pressure, temperature, energy, and matter conditions are appropriate. Foreshadowing gyromodel
application, scientists have proposed that the universe, matter, molecules, cells, and ecosystems,
among other aspects of nature, are self-organizing [33-36]. Given gyre spontaneity, the precise
spatiotemporal coordinates of gyre emergence or trajectory are unpredictable. Likewise, accurately
predicting gyre strength and composition is beyond current scientific techniques.
This unpredictability is found in nonlinear equations: gyres do not operate in a sequential or
deterministic manner and therefore do not permit simple mathematical depiction. Restated, the versatile
gyre does not avail itself to the predictive power of mathematics. As an aside, it is worth mentioning
that a complete and consistent mathematical model of the universe is thought impossible due to Gödel’s
incompleteness [37,38]. The vicissitudinous gyre, though non-mathematical, epitomizes nature.
