A proposal for reformulating the foundations of biology,
based on the 2nd law of thermodynamics and which is in sharp contrast to the
prevailing genetic view, is published today in the Journal of the Royal Society
Interface under the title "Genes without prominence: a reappraisal of the
foundations of biology". The authors, Arto Annila, Professor of physics at
Helsinki University and Keith Baverstock, Docent and former professor at the
University of Eastern Finland, assert that the prominent emphasis currently
given to the gene in biology is based on a flawed interpretation of
experimental genetics and should be replaced by more fundamental considerations
of how the cell utilises energy. There are far-reaching implications, both in
research and for the current strategy in many countries to develop personalised
medicine based on genome-wide sequencing.