I propose that all life consists of **inference models** guiding the actions of a _Self_, and that Darwinian evolution acts as a curator, selectively embedding useful information within organisms to maximise their collective persistence. Moreover, uncertainty arises from the inherent mismatch between these internal, simplified models and the infinitely complex reality they attempt to predict. At this point, I expect some pushback from biologists who might say, "Sure, that sounds reasonable, but isn’t this just another way of describing what we’ve long known? Isn’t this just another name for **DNA**?" Here’s my response: While biology has long recognised life as a form of information processing, much of this discussion has revolved around genetic information stored in DNA. The prevailing view, championed by figures like Richard Dawkins, holds that DNA is the primary driver of evolution. Dawkins’ **selfish gene** theory proposes that evolution operates not at the level of organisms or species, but at the level of genes, which use living beings as mere vehicles to ensure their replication and survival. However, this gene-centric perspective is increasingly being challenged from within biology itself. In fact, we’ve known since at least 1790 that this kind of framework is incomplete. That was the year Immanuel Kant published his _Critique of Judgment_.[^1] In it, Kant described living beings as **_natural purposes_**—systems in which each part is simultaneously cause and effect, means and ends, in relation to the whole. To illustrate this, he used the example of a tree. The overall structure of the tree determines where its leaves grow, but at the same time, the leaves serve a metabolic function essential for the tree’s survival. The tree will even rearrange its leaves to optimize their function. In short, causal power flows in _both_ directions—between the whole and its parts. Theoretical biologist Stuart Kauffman later formalized this concept as a **_Kantian Whole_**, describing the circular nature of causality within living systems.[^2] As we’ve discussed before, matter is far from inert. Even non-living matter—what Jane Bennett calls _Vibrant Matter_—interacts with its surroundings and produces effects. A falling rock dislodged by rainwater can trigger a landslide, altering the landscape. A photon striking a plant’s chloroplast initiates photosynthesis, converting solar energy into organic compounds. But crucially, this causal power always moves _outward_—it does not turn back upon itself to modify its own structure. ![[vibrant matter.svg]] *Self-Organising Matter*, on the other hand, operates differently. In living systems, **causality is not one-directional**. Instead, causal power flows between the parts, from parts to the whole, and back from the whole to the parts. This fundamentally contradicts the DNA-centric view of life because, under the _selfish gene_ model, causality moves outward from DNA alone—genes dictate everything, and the rest of the organism is merely a downstream effect. But we now have ample evidence that this isn’t the whole picture. ![[self.svg]] Rather than seeing DNA as the master control system of life, a more accurate analogy is to view it as a **_data storage system_**—a biological hard drive that retains information gathered by past generations. When an organism develops from a fertilised egg, DNA provides a crucial function: it supplies the blueprint for assembling the body. But once the organism is "booted up," cells frequently access, modify, and even rewrite sections of this hard drive in response to environmental demands. For example, cells selectively access and transcribe DNA regions based on internal and external signals, adjusting protein production to meet their needs. Liver cells, for instance, increase glucose production during stress or starvation. Hormonal changes in fruit flies alter gene expression to trigger metamorphosis. These adaptive processes demonstrate that organisms actively respond to their environments rather than merely executing pre-written genetic instructions.[^3] Furthermore, these gene expression changes can be passed on to future generations without altering DNA sequences—a phenomenon known as **_epigenetics_**. This challenges the traditional notion that evolution is solely driven by changes in DNA sequences over time.[^4] Even more strikingly, viral infections can trigger cellular mechanisms that modify DNA repair pathways, leading to mutations that enhance immune responses in future generations.[^5] In bacteria, encounters with viral DNA can lead to _CRISPR immunity_, in which short segments of viral DNA are incorporated into the bacterial genome, providing a form of adaptive immunity.[^6] All of this points to a larger truth: DNA is just _one_ component of a much larger, dynamic system. Life is not merely a passive expression of genetic code; it is an emergent network of interactions where structure, function, and information flow in both directions. What I call **_embodied knowledge_** is not just the DNA sequence itself, but the entire interplay of functional and structural arrangements that make up Self-Organising Matter. So yes, DNA matters. But it is not a dictator issuing commands from on high. It is better thought of as an archive—an evolving record of past successes, constantly consulted, modified, and reinterpreted by the living system in which it resides. And it is within this dynamic, ever-adjusting web of interactions that the true nature of biological persistence—and the foundation of uncertainty—emerges. [[Inference|Next page]] ___ Footnotes: [^1]: Critique of Judgement [^2]: Kauffman S, Roli A. The World Is Not a Theorem. Entropy (Basel). 2021 Nov 6;23(11):1467. doi: 10.3390/e23111467. PMID: 34828165; PMCID: PMC8621738. <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8621738/">https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8621738/</a> [^3]: Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 4th edition. New York: Garland Science; 2002. An Overview of Gene Control. <a href=" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26885/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26885/</a> [^4]: Ralston, A. & Shaw, K. (2008) Gene expression regulates cell differentiation. Nature Education 1(1):127 [^5]: Christensen, M., Paludan, S. Viral evasion of DNA-stimulated innate immune responses. Cell Mol Immunol 14, 4–13 (2017). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2016.06">https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2016.06</a> [^6]: Modell, J., Jiang, W. & Marraffini, L. CRISPR–Cas systems exploit viral DNA injection to establish and maintain adaptive immunity. Nature 544, 101–104 (2017). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/nature21719">https://doi.org/10.1038/nature21719</a>