SOMATIC ECOLOGY
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 3113 ▶ |
| Object type | Discipline oriented, Human sciences, Methodology or model |
This term has been introduced by the biologist L. BUSS, who writes: “Evolution of multi-cellular forms of life is characterized by an increasing sophistication of cells , tissues, and organs , which perform somatic duties of value to theindividual as a whole ”(1987, p. 53)
In fact, this behavior of the elements (biological, social or robotic) is coupled with specific, and also more and more sophisticated communication means: from physico-chemical links to symbolic language , through pheromones and mimics.
BUSS adds that this process requires that: “ the cells composing them (the tissues and organs)…limit their inherent potential for proliferation. The propensity for continued self-replication has been subjugated to the interest of the whole”(Ibid).
This “subjugation” is in fact a bottom-up upbuilding of an harmonized hierarchy and a functional network, through reciprocalconstraits within a sharedenvironment .
The complex nature of these somatic ecology processes is also described by J. HOFFMEYER (1995, p. 16-25)
See also
Autogenic systems precursors, Dictyostelium discoideum, Parallel distributed processing, Stigmergy, Swarm intelligence, Zero-system