A new study unexpectedly reveals that cells thrive on chaos.
It may have fewer than many of the other sciences, but biology does have two dozen or so “rules”—broad generalizations about the behavior or nature and evolution. Now, USC researchers want to add a new rule called “selectively advantageous instability ,” which explores how instability can actually benefit a cell and a cellular organism.
While nature does tend toward stability , USC molecular biologist John Towers argues that instability in biological components like proteins and genes can actually be helpful to cells. The study was published last week in the journal Frontiers in Aging. “Even the simplest cells contain proteases and nucleases and regularly degrade and replace their proteins and RNAs, indicating that SAI is essential for life,” Tower said in a press statement.
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