Reaktiotee

Reaktiotee is a theoretical construct used in discussions of reaction dynamics and information processing in chemical and biochemical systems. In its core usage, a reaktiotee describes a reactive intermediate or state that not only participates in chemical transformations but also encodes, transmits, or responds to information about its environment. Proponents employ the concept to explore how information feedback can influence the selection of reaction pathways under non-equilibrium conditions.

Etymology and origin: The term is a neologism introduced in speculative discussions of chemical networks as a way to talk about coupled reactivity and information flow. It is intended as a neutral, descriptive label rather than a claim about a distinct physical species.

Typical properties associated with a reaktiotee include an energy profile that allows rapid interconversion with adjacent species, sensitivity to external stimuli (such as light, pH, or catalytic state), and a feedback mechanism that can alter subsequent reaction rates or branching ratios. In models, reaktiotees can act as nodes that bias network dynamics toward particular products or pathways.

Applications and debates: In theoretical work, reaktiotees serve as a conceptual tool for studying information-thermodynamics interplay, autocatalytic networks, and prebiotic chemistry scenarios. Critics caution that treating information processing as a physical state risks conflating metaphor with measurable phenomena, and that the term should be clearly defined within each model.

See also: autocatalysis; information thermodynamics; reaction networks; non-equilibrium thermodynamics; chemical kinetics.