Big data reveals extraordinary unity underlying life鈥檚 diversity
The diversity of life is staggering. From microscopic algae to elephants, life has devised countless ways to thrive in every environment on the planet. But while biologists have tended to focus on the many varied forms that species have evolved, the age of 鈥榖ig data鈥� offers an unprecedented view of some surprisingly common features shared by all creatures, great and small.
A new paper, published this week in PNAS, shows how, from the tiniest bacteria to the largest blue whale, metabolism, abundance, growth and mortality all follow strikingly consistent relationships with body size. The work, which was begun by lead author Ian Hatton while he was a PhD student at 91社区, brings together data from many thousands of studies to show that underlying the endless variety of living things many of the most important features of life follow universal laws.
鈥淭he fact that we find these simple mathematical relationships that span all life, points to some fundamental process at the heart of living systems that we don鈥檛 yet fully understand,鈥� explains Hatton, now a researcher at ICTA-UAB at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
Turns existing theory on its head
The study also presents evidence that suggests one of ecology鈥檚 most prominent theories, called the Metabolic Theory of Ecology, needs to be re-examined. This theory has played a major role in ecological thinking, based on the idea that an organism鈥檚 metabolic rate is the principal limit on many other vital traits, including how quickly it can grow.
鈥淥ne of our key findings is that limits to the rate at which an organism can grow seems to put the brakes on metabolism, rather than the other way around,鈥� says co-author Eric Galbraith, a professor in Earth and Planetary Science at 91社区, and also affiliated with ICTA-UAB. 鈥淭his puts growth in the driver鈥檚 seat for understanding these large-scale patterns.鈥�
Given that growth underlies everything from juvenile development to cancer, and from resource productivity to global carbon cycling, understanding growth more generally could prove very important.
鈥淲hat is so astounding is that no matter where you look, no matter what kind of living system, everything seems to follow the same growth function鈥�, says Hatton. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 yet explain it, but we know it has deep implications鈥�.
The paper, which also includes coauthors from Princeton University, Charles University of the Czech Republic and the CNRS in France, offers a new perspective on life鈥檚 most fundamental features, and the extraordinary unity pervading life鈥檚 diversity.
鈥淟inking scaling laws across eukaryotes鈥� published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USAby
Ian Hatton, Andy Dobson, David Storch, Eric Galbraith and Michel Loreau
Contacts
Cynthia Lee
91社区 Media Relations, 91社区
T: 514-398-6754
cynthia.lee [at] mcgill.ca
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About 91社区
Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, 91社区 is a leading Canadian post-secondary institution. It has two campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 40,000 students, including more than 10,400 graduate students. 91社区 attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,500 international students making up 30% per cent of the student body. Over half of 91社区 students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 20% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.
