Biomolecular Basis of Cellular Consciousness via Subcellular Nanobrains
International Journal of Molecular Sciences March 3, 2021 František Baluška, William B. Miller, Arthur S. Reber 96 citations
Consciousness and sentience are not exclusive to animals with nervous systems but are grounded in the fundamental biology of all cells. The cellular basis of consciousness (CBC) model proposes that the excitable plasma membrane, which defines a cell's internal and external domains, is the foundation for biological awareness. This article examines the biomolecular structures and processes that enable and sustain this cellular consciousness from an evolutionary perspective, arguing that unicellular organisms like protists and algae, as well as the cells of multicellular fungi, plants, and animals, all possess a primitive form of sentience rooted in general cell biology.