A new mathematical model explains how living systems maintain order and resist disorder.
The model views genes as active agents rather than static instructions. They produce enzymes that guide chemical reactions efficiently and steer them toward useful outcomes, helping cells stay organized. It also highlights how proteins consistently fold into precise 3D shapes despite many possibilities, creating functional information beyond what is directly encoded in DNA.
The research shows how small amounts of genetic data can build complex organisms through cell communication and feedback as tissues form. Clinically, the model suggests cancer may arise when cells lose communication with surrounding tissue due to aging or damage, pointing to new strategies focused on restoring cellular communication instead of only destroying cancer cells.