Nonlinearity, coherence and complexity: Biophysical aspects related to health and disease

ABSTRACT

Biological organisms are complex open dissipative systems whose dynamical stability is sustained due to the exchange of matter, energy and information. Dynamical stability occurs through a number of mechanisms that sustain efficient adaptive dynamics. Such properties of living matter can be the consequence of a self-consistent state of matter and electromagnetic field (EMF). Based on the soliton model of charge transport in redox processes, we describe a possible mechanism of the origin of endogenous EMF and coherence. Solitons are formed in polypeptides due to electron–lattice interaction. Solitons experience periodical potential barrier, as a result of which their velocity oscillates in time, and, hence, they emit electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Under the effect of such radiation from all other solitons, the synchronization of their dynamics takes place, which significantly increases the intensity of the general EMF. The complex structure of biological molecules, such as helical structure, is not only important for “structure-function” relations, but also the source of the stability of biophysical processes, e.g. effectiveness of energy and charge transport on macroscopic distances. Such a complex structure also provides the framework for the spatiotemporal structure of the endogenous EMF. The highly hierarchical organization of living organisms is a manifestation of their complexity, even at the level of simple unicellular organisms. This complexity increases the dynamical stability of open systems and enhances the possibility of information storage and processing. Our findings provide a qualitative overview of a possible biophysical mechanism that supports health and disease adaptive dynamics.

KEYWORDS:

• Nonlinearity
• coherence
• soliton
• biophysical information
• electromagnetic field

Acknowledgments

One of the authors, LB, expresses her sincere gratitude to the organizers of the Fourth International Symposium “Biophysical Aspects of Complexity in Health and Disease” (Lugano, Switzerland, October, 22 2016) for a stimulating working atmosphere and travel financial support. Part of this work has been done under the Programme of the Fundamental Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The authors acknowledge stimulating discussions at the Summer School “Cycle of Life” (IILE, Wietow, Germany, August 1-5, 2017).

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest. Part of this research has been carried out under the partial support of the Fundamental Research Program of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.