Epetermelés

Epetermelés is a hypothetical biological process that has been proposed in theoretical biology. It describes a unique form of reproduction where an organism creates a new individual using only its own genetic material, but in a manner distinct from typical asexual reproduction. The core concept of epetermelés involves a highly controlled and targeted self-replication that bypasses the usual cellular division mechanisms. Instead, it is imagined that specific genetic sequences within the parent organism are activated and assembled into a complete, independent entity, essentially a de novo creation from a blueprint.

This theoretical process is distinct from methods like budding or fragmentation, which involve the physical division of existing cellular structures. Epetermelés suggests a more sophisticated, almost developmental, pathway where genetic information is directly translated into a new organism without the intermediate steps of cell division. The energy and raw materials for this process are thought to be supplied and assembled internally by the parent organism. While epetermelés remains a theoretical construct and has not been observed in any known life forms, it serves as a thought experiment in exploring the ultimate limits and possibilities of biological self-replication and reproduction. Researchers in theoretical biology may use such concepts to push the boundaries of understanding how life could potentially arise and perpetuate itself under various conditions.