Introduction
If trillions of tiny bits of consciousness are floating around inside you, it could change how we think about life.
Before you became you, your entire existence was wrapped up in just two cells: your mother’s egg and your father’s sperm. The union of these two cells sparked an incredible journey, transforming a simple embryo into a complex organism with a heart, gut, fingers, and every other part of your body. These developing cells constantly communicated, extending tendrils to sense and interact with their neighbours. Such intricate cooperation is driven by what some scientists now believe to be a form of cellular intelligence.
The Sentient Cell
Evolutionary biologist and physician William B. Miller, Ph.D., proposes a radical idea in his book, The Sentient Cell: The Cellular Foundations of Consciousness, published in January 2024. Miller, along with a growing number of scientists, argues that cells are not merely passive robots executing genetic instructions. Instead, they suggest that the approximately 37 trillion cells in our bodies possess a form of consciousness, and that life and consciousness began simultaneously.
Miller’s theory, though revolutionary, offers a profound insight into cellular processes. He contends that recognizing cells as conscious entities could transform our understanding of cellular communication, decision-making, and even the specialization of embryonic cells. This concept, while not widely accepted, has the potential to reshape approaches in cellular bioengineering, disease treatment, and even space exploration.
Cellular Consciousness and Evolution
In a May 2024 paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Miller and his colleagues challenge the traditional view of natural selection as random. Instead, they argue that cellular consciousness has driven evolution. This perspective posits that cells, through their own form of awareness, have influenced the development of life on Earth.
How Cells Experience the World
Cellular consciousness does not equate to human thoughts and feelings. Instead, cells experience their environment in simpler ways. For example, when daylight hits a cell’s membrane, the cell measures the light signal internally, forming an experience that helps it determine its actions. This internal processing of external stimuli is a basic form of consciousness.
From the earliest stages of life, cells have demonstrated remarkable abilities to combine their skills to survive and reproduce. Microbes, for instance, form colonies that function much like human-engineered cities, complete with nutrient channels and collective metabolism. These cells communicate, trade resources, and make decisions, showcasing a form of cognitive action that Miller describes as elemental consciousness.
The Sceptical View
Despite these intriguing ideas, not all scientists are convinced. Alfonso Martínez Arias, Ph.D., a cell biologist who spent 40 years at the University of Cambridge, acknowledges that cells exhibit intelligent behaviours, such as responding to environmental stimuli and differentiating into specialized tissues. However, he remains sceptical about labelling these behaviours as consciousness.
Martínez Arias argues that cellular responses can often be predicted and explained without invoking consciousness. He emphasizes the complexity of defining consciousness and suggests that cells’ abilities to adapt and respond are part of a sophisticated, yet non-conscious, system.
Implications for Medicine and Beyond
Miller believes that viewing cells as conscious entities could revolutionize biomedical research. By understanding cells as intelligent, problem-solving materials, scientists could develop more effective therapies. For instance, targeting the communication pathways of cancer cells could lead to treatments that specifically disrupt tumour growth without harming healthy cells.
Additionally, recognizing cellular consciousness could inspire innovative solutions in environmental and space sciences. Engineering microbes to degrade plastic or exploring ways to protect human cells from radiation on Mars are examples of how this perspective could drive future advancements.
The notion that every cell in our body might possess a form of consciousness is a groundbreaking idea with far-reaching implications. While still a matter of debate, this perspective challenges traditional views and opens new avenues for scientific exploration. By embracing the concept of cellular consciousness, we could gain deeper insights into the fundamental processes of life, evolution, and our place in the universe.
References
- Miller, W. B., & Friston, K. J. (2024). The Sentient Cell: The Cellular Foundations of Consciousness. Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology.
- Martínez Arias, A. (2020). The computational nature of cellular processes in development. Current Opinion in Systems Biology.
- Inquiries Journal. (2020). The Brain-Gut-Microbiome Axis: The Link Between Gut Microbes and Human Health.
- Popular Mechanics. (2024). William B. Miller on cellular consciousness and its implications for science and medicine.