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122Self-empowerment of life through RNA networks, cells and virusesF1000 Research 12 (138). 2023.Our understanding of the key players in evolution and of the development of all organisms in all domains of life has been aided by current knowledge about RNA stem-loop groups, their proposed interaction motifs in an early RNA world and their regulative roles in all steps and substeps of nearly all cellular processes, such as replication, transcription, translation, repair, immunity and epigenetic marking. Cooperative evolution was enabled by promiscuous interactions between single-stranded regi…Read more
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102Quasispecies ProductivityThe Science of Nature (Naturwissenschaften) 111 11. 2024.Abstract The quasispecies theory is a helpful concept in the explanation of RNA virus evolution and behaviour, with a relevant impact on methods used to fight viral diseases. It has undergone some adaptations to integrate new empirical data, especially the non-deterministic nature of mutagenesis, and the variety of behavioural motifs in cooperation, competition, communication, innovation, integration, and exaptation. Also, the consortial structure of quasispecies with complementary roles of memo…Read more
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78The Viral Origins of Telomeres and Telomerases and their Important Role in Eukaryogenesis and Genome MaintenanceBiosemiotics 1 (2): 191-206. 2008.Whereas telomeres protect terminal ends of linear chromosomes, telomerases identify natural chromosome ends, which differ from broken DNA and replicate telomeres. Although telomeres play a crucial role in the linear chromosome organization of eukaryotic cells, their molecular syntax most probably descended from an ancient retroviral competence. This indicates an early retroviral colonization of large double-stranded DNA viruses, which are putative ancestors of the eukaryotic nucleus. This contri…Read more
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69Memory and Learning as Key Competences of Living OrganismsIn Baluska Frantisek, Gagliano Monica & Guenther Witzany (eds.), Memory and Learning in Plants, Springer. pp. 1-16. 2018.Organisms that share the capability of storing information about experiences in the past have an actively generated background resource on which they can compare and evaluate more recent experiences in order to quickly or even better react than in previous situations. This is an essential competence for all reaction and adaptation purposes of living organisms. Such memory/learning skills can be found from akaryotes up to unicellular eukaryotes, fungi, animals and plants, although until recently,…Read more
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54Explaining and Understanding Life (review)Semiotica - Journal of the International Association for Semiotic Studies / Revue de l'Association Internationale de Sémiotique 120 (3/4): 421-438. 1998.
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41Memory and Learning in Plants (edited book)Springer. 2018.This book assembles recent research on memory and learning in plants. Organisms that share a capability to store information about experiences in the past have an actively generated background resource on which they can compare and evaluate coming experiences in order to react faster or even better. This is an essential tool for all adaptation purposes. Such memory/learning skills can be found from bacteria up to fungi, animals and plants, although until recently it had been mentioned only as ca…Read more
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33From Umwelt to Mitwelt: Natural laws versus rule-governed sign-mediated interactions (rsi's)Semiotica 2006 (158): 425-438. 2006.Within the last decade, thousands of studies have described communication processes in and between organisms. Pragmatic philosophy of biology views communication processes as rule-governed sign-mediated interactions (rsi's). As sign-using individuals exhibit a relationship to following or not-following these rules, the rsi's of living individuals dier fundamentally from cause-and-effect reactions with and between non-living matter, which exclusively underlie natural laws. Umwelt thus becomes a t…Read more
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26Introduction: Keylevels of Biocommunication in FungiIn Witzany (ed.), Biocommunication of Fungi, Springer. pp. 1--18. 2012.
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21Biocommunication of PhagesSpringer. 2020.This is the first book to systemize all levels of communicative behavior of phages. Phages represent the most diverse inhabitants on this planet. Until today they are completely underestimated in their number, skills and competences and still remain the dark matter of biology. Phages have serious effects on global energy and nutrient cycles. Phages actively compete for host. They can distinguish between ‘self’ and ‘non-self’. They process and evaluate available information and then modify their …Read more
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13Viruses: Essential Agents of Life (edited book)Springer. 2012.A renaissance of virus research is taking centre stage in biology. Empirical data from the last decade indicate the important roles of viruses, both in the evolution of all life and as symbionts of host organisms. There is increasing evidence that all cellular life is colonized by exogenous and/or endogenous viruses in a non-lytic but persistent lifestyle. Viruses and viral parts form the most numerous genetic matter on this planet.
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10Biocommunication of Ciliates (edited book)Springer. 2016.This is the first coherent description of all levels of communication of ciliates. Ciliates are highly sensitive organisms that actively compete for environmental resources. They assess their surroundings, estimate how much energy they need for particular goals, and then realise the optimum variant. They take measures to control certain environmental resources. They perceive themselves and can distinguish between ‘self’ and ‘non-self’. They process and evaluate information and then modify their …Read more
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8Key Levels of Biocommunication in PlantsIn Witzany & Baluska (eds.), Biocommunication of Plants, Springer. pp. 1--9. 2012.
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8Biocommunication of Animals (edited book)Springer. 2014.Every coordination within or between animals depends on communication processes. Although the signaling molecules, vocal and tactile signs, gestures and its combinations differ throughout all species according their evolutionary origins and variety of adaptation processes, certain levels of biocommunication can be found in all animal species: Abiotic environmental indices such as temperature, light, water, etc. that affect the local ecosphere of an organism and are sensed, interpreted. Trans-spe…Read more
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8Biocommunication of Archaea (edited book)Springer. 2017.Archaea represent a third domain of life with unique properties not found in the other domains. Archaea actively compete for environmental resources. They perceive themselves and can distinguish between 'self' and 'non-self'. They process and evaluate available information and then modify their behaviour accordingly. They assess their surroundings, estimate how much energy they need for particular goals, and then realize the optimum variant. These highly diverse competences show us that this is …Read more
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5Biocommunication of Fungi (edited book)Springer. 2012.Fungi are sessile, highly sensitive organisms that actively compete for environmental resources both above and below the ground. They assess their surroundings, estimate how much energy they need for particular goals, and then realise the optimum variant. They take measures to control certain environmental resources. They perceive themselves and can distinguish between ‘self’ and ‘non-self’. They process and evaluate information and then modify their behaviour accordingly. These highly diverse c…Read more
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2Biocommunication and Natural Genome EditingSpringer. 2010.First uniform description of all key levels of communication in the organismic kingdoms of plants, fungi, animals (bees and corals), bacteria and additionally the natural genome editing competences of viruses based on the most recent empirical data. The biocommunicative approach presented is based on the results of the philosophy of science discourse concerning coherent definitions of 'language' and 'communication'
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2Book Review: Paul Bains (2006) The Primacy of Semiosis: An Ontology of Relations. (review)Acta Biotheoretica 54 (4): 305-311. 2006.
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Noncoding RNAs: Persistent Viral Agents as Modular Tools for Cellular NeedsAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1178 244-267. 2009.It appears that all the detailed steps of evolution stored in DNA that are read, transcribed, and translated in every developmental and growth process of each individual cell depend on RNA-mediated processes, in most cases interconnected with other RNAs and their associated protein complexes and functions in a strict hierarchy of temporal and spatial steps. Life could not function without the key agents of DNA replication, namely mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA. Not only rRNA, but also tRNA and the process…Read more
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Biocommunication of Soil Microorganisms (edited book)Springer. 2011.Communication is defined as an interaction between at least two living agents which share a repertoire of signs. These are combined according to syntactic, semantic and context dependent, pragmatic rules in order to coordinate behavior. This volume deals with the important roles of soil bacteria in parasitic and symbiotic interactions with viruses, plants, animals and fungi. Starting with a general overview of the key levels of communication between bacteria, further reviews examine the various …Read more
Guenther Witzany
Telos - Philosophische Praxis
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Telos - Philosophische PraxisAdministrator
Ludwig Maximilians Universität, München
Faculty of Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and Study of Religion
PhD, 1983
Areas of Specialization
Philosophy of Language |
Philosophy of Biology |
Areas of Interest
Philosophy of Language |
Philosophy of Biology |
General Philosophy of Science |