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Steele EJ, Gorczynski RM, Lindley RA, Liu Y, Temple R, Tokoro G, Wickramasinghe DT, Wickramasinghe NC. Lamarck and Panspermia - On the Efficient Spread of Living Systems Throughout the Cosmos. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 149:10-32. [PMID: 31445944 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2019.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
We review the main lines of evidence (molecular, cellular and whole organism) published since the 1970s demonstrating Lamarckian Inheritance in animals, plants and microorganisms viz. the transgenerational inheritance of environmentally-induced acquired characteristics. The studies in animals demonstrate the genetic permeability of the soma-germline Weismann Barrier. The widespread nature of environmentally-directed inheritance phenomena reviewed here contradicts a key pillar of neo-Darwinism which affirms the rigidity of the Weismann Barrier. These developments suggest that neo-Darwinian evolutionary theory is in need of significant revision. We argue that Lamarckian inheritance strategies involving environmentally-induced rapid directional genetic adaptations make biological sense in the context of cosmic Panspermia allowing the efficient spread of living systems and genetic innovation throughout the Universe. The Hoyle-Wickramasinghe Panspermia paradigm also developed since the 1970s, unlike strictly geocentric neo-Darwinism provides a cogent biological rationale for the actual widespread existence of Lamarckian modes of inheritance - it provides its raison d'être. Under a terrestrially confined neo-Darwinian viewpoint such an association may have been thought spurious in the past. Our aim is to outline the conceptual links between rapid Lamarckian-based evolutionary hypermutation processes dependent on reverse transcription-coupled mechanisms among others and the effective cosmic spread of living systems. For example, a viable, or cryo-preserved, living system travelling through space in a protective matrix will need of necessity to rapidly adapt and proliferate on landing in a new cosmic niche. Lamarckian mechanisms thus come to the fore and supersede the slow (blind and random) genetic processes expected under a traditional neo-Darwinian evolutionary paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward J Steele
- C.Y.O'Connor ERADE Village Foundation, Piara Waters, Perth, 6112, WA, Australia; Centre for Astrobiology, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka; Melville Analytics Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
| | | | - Robyn A Lindley
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences, University of MelbourneVic, Australia; GMDx Group Ltd, Melbourne, Vic, Australia
| | - Yongsheng Liu
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Biological Breeding, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Robert Temple
- The History of Chinese Science and Culture Foundation, Conway Hall, London, UK
| | - Gensuke Tokoro
- Centre for Astrobiology, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka; Institute for the Study of Panspermia and Astrobiology, Gifu, Japan
| | - Dayal T Wickramasinghe
- Centre for Astrobiology, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka; College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - N Chandra Wickramasinghe
- Centre for Astrobiology, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka; Institute for the Study of Panspermia and Astrobiology, Gifu, Japan; Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, University of Buckingham, UK
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Attwood GT, Wakelin SA, Leahy SC, Rowe S, Clarke S, Chapman DF, Muirhead R, Jacobs JME. Applications of the Soil, Plant and Rumen Microbiomes in Pastoral Agriculture. Front Nutr 2019; 6:107. [PMID: 31380386 PMCID: PMC6646666 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2019.00107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of dairy, meat, and fiber by ruminant animals relies on the biological processes occurring in soils, forage plants, and the animals' rumens. Each of these components has an associated microbiome, and these have traditionally been viewed as distinct ecosystems. However, these microbiomes operate under similar ecological principles and are connected via water, energy flows, and the carbon and nitrogen nutrient cycles. Here, we summarize the microbiome research that has been done in each of these three environments (soils, forage plants, animals' rumen) and investigate what additional benefits may be possible through understanding the interactions between the various microbiomes. The challenge for future research is to enhance microbiome function by appropriate matching of plant and animal genotypes with the environment to improve the output and environmental sustainability of pastoral agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Suzanne Rowe
- Animal Science, AgResearch, Invermay, New Zealand
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Noble
- University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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González-Recio O, Toro MA, Bach A. Response: Commentary: Past, present and future of epigenetics applied to livestock breeding. Front Genet 2016; 7:101. [PMID: 27377318 PMCID: PMC4894893 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2016.00101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Oscar González-Recio
- Departamento de Mejora Genética Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y AlimentariaMadrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Oscar González-Recio
| | - Miguel A. Toro
- Departamento de Produccion Animal, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, Universidad Politécnica de MadridMadrid, Spain
| | - Alex Bach
- Department of Ruminant Production, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats – Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia AgroalimentàriesCaldes de Montbui, Spain
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