Dr. Michael Elowitz, Physicist at California Institute of Technology has conducted experiments on colonies of genetically identical (clones) E. coli bacteria under identical conditions and discovered that they behave in different ways. His experiments have revealed that a colony of genetically identical E. coli is actually a mob of individuals. The bacteria have fingerprints of their own and even when they share the exact same genome, they could still be identified as individuals. Genetically identical individuals can have different physical identities in the natural world. The protein molecules that make up living entities turn them into individuals.

THE IRRELEVANCE OF THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION :

In the natural world, all living entities exist as individuals and express their individuality. The Theory of Evolution proposes that a species can descend or arrive to become a new species by changing its genome in a gradual and incremental manner using a mechanism that is described as natural selection. The mechanism of natural selection operates by a process of random and unguided mutations in the genetic code that changes the genome of the organism and this may eventually generate the biodiversity. This Theory of Evolution has no relevance to the ultimate physical identity of each individual member of a given species as this identity is dictated by the interplay between quantum mechanics, interactions, and disorder that generates individual variations. With the same genomes or different genomes, the living entities can only exist as individuals and they have no other choice. The evolutionary connections are not relevant to this identity. Ape exists and is identified as an ape and man exists and is identified as a man. To understand the phenomenon of biodiversity, we will be forced to look at each individual member of each given species.

THE LAW OF INDIVIDUALITY :

Just like the Law of conservation of Energy, I suggest that the Law of Individuality governs all the living entities and the Law is manifested in various biological phenomena. The genes and the genetic codes function in accordance with the Law of Individuality. I would describe Individuality as a Trade Mark. It is the characteristic of a biological entity. Genes and the genetic codes are the tools that an organism uses to express its Individuality. Each organism assembles its own kind of protein molecules to define its identity and to defend its existence in the natural world.

Kindly review the thoughts about Individuality at my Home page of Bhavana Jagat.

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