The enduring value of Gánti's chemoton model and life criteria: Heuristic pursuit of exact theoretical biology

James Griesemer

doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.05.016

The enduring value of Gánti's chemoton model and life criteria: Heuristic pursuit of exact theoretical biology

J Theor Biol. 2015 Sep 21:381:23-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.05.016. Epub 2015 May 19.

Author

James Griesemer¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Philosophy, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 25997793
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.05.016

Abstract

Gánti's chemoton model of the minimal chemical organization of living systems and life criteria for the living state and a living world are characterized. It is argued that these are better interpreted as part of a heuristic pursuit of an exact theoretical biology than as a "definition of life." Several problems with efforts to define life are discussed. Clarifying the proper use of Gánti's ideas to serve constructive engineering idealizations helps to show their enduring value.

Keywords: Chemoton model; Definition of life; Gánti; Life criteria.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Biochemistry / methods
Bioengineering / methods
Biological Evolution*
Models, Biological*
Origin of Life*
Systems Analysis
Terminology as Topic