Historia de los retos actuales de la Fisiología Experimental / History of the present challenges of Experimental Physiology

Introducción: La fisiología experimental es una ciencia exitosa como muestra el volumen de sus resultados, publicaciones, sociedades, así como el premio Nobel. No obstante, hoy enfrenta nuevos retos. Entre estos: concepciones animistas de nuevo tipo, presiones diversas que dificultan la experimentación y reduccionismo a otras disciplinas. Objetivo: Obtener en la historia las pistas que contribuyan a enfrentar los desafíos de la Fisiología actual. Material y Método. El método histórico-lógico se utilizó, desde la etapa de las cavernas hasta el origen de la Fisiología experimental y su establecimiento definitivo. Resultados: Se encontró una secuencia de apariciones y desapariciones de los retos. La interpretación animista de las funciones comenzó cuando el hombre vivía en cuevas y concluyó en Grecia con los physiologoi. La prioridad proclamada por Aristóteles de la observación catalizó el nacimiento de la Anatomía y se favoreció el reduccionismo de la Fisiología. Poco después del origen de la Fisiología con Harvey (1628), hubo intentos de reducir la Fisiología a leyes físicas (iatrofisica) y químicas (iatroquímica) que fracasaron. Estos fallos guiaron al resurgimiento del nuevo animismo desarrollado por Stahl y Barthez. Finalmente, la consolidación de la fisiología experimental en el siglo XIX significó: a) el fin del reduccionismo; b) la superioridad de la experimentación; c) el colapso del animismo Stahl-Barthez y el preformismo. Conclusiones: La Fisiología enfrenta actualmente desafíos con raíces en el pasado; los retos del presente tienen una secuencia de apariciones y desapariciones(AU)

Introduction: Experiment Physiology is a successful science as it is shown in the amount of results, publications, societies, and the Nobel Prize. However, it faces new challenges today. Among them, we can mention: animist conceptions of a new type, diverse pressures that make experimentation difficult, and reductionism to other disciplines. Objective: To obtain, from history, the clues that contribute to face the challenges of present Physiology. Material and Method: The historical-logical method was used, from the era of the caves to the origin of experimental physiology and its final establishment. Results: A sequence of appearance and disappearance of the challenges was found. The animist interpretation of the functions began when the man used to live in caves, and finished in Greece with the physiologoi. The priority of observation proclaimed by Aristotle catalyzed the beginning of Anatomy, and reductionism benefitted from Physiology. Shortly afterwards the origin of Physiology with Harvey (1628), there were attempts to reduce Physiology to physical (iatrophysics) and chemical laws (iatrochemistry), which both failed. These failures lead to the appearance of the new animism developed by Stahl and Barthez. Finally, the consolidation of experimental physiology in the 19th Century meant: a) the end of reductionism; b) the superiority of experimentation; c) the disappearance of Stahl-Barthez animism, and preformism. Conclusions: At present, Physiology faces challenges that are due to the past; these present challenges have a sequence of appearances and disappearances(AU)

Phylogenetical metabolite logical algorithm: A test using phylogenetic metabolite analysis using TLC in some convolvulaceae members.

Chemical substances act as vital substances occurring in living organisms and can be studied through various biotechnological approaches. The characteristic metabolites of a plant species may reflect evolution towards the resistance produced to environment. Evolvulus alsinoides, Evolvulus nummularius and Merrimia tridentata belongs to convolvulaceae members has been taken as experimental plants in the present study. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) has been used as a data collection technique for identification of similar organisms by logical method, from various Rf values occurred by experimentation. Based on phylogenetic analysis using UPGMA method, E.nummularius has shown good matches with both E.alsinoides and M.tridentata. Hence E.nummularius may be showing evolutionary link between E.alsinoides and M.tridentata. Seventeen compounds are visualized with similar Rf values between all these plant members. Hence most of the data are observed to be having similar compounds, which makes to be placed in same family (convolvulaceae).