Biological Foundations of Communication

**6**

*A Complex Systems Perspective of Communication from Cells to Societies*

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**References**

**9**

**Chapter 2**

System

*Paul A. Brown*

cellular communication

effective communication to occur.

**1. Introduction**

**Abstract**

Extracellular Vesicles: Living

Communication is an ever-present part of our world. Such transfer of information occurs on many levels from the spoken natural languages, to artificial languages, to the cellular exchanges that govern the molecular world. Cells interact using various coded and non-coded molecules, which although not natural languages, could be considered types of biological language. These molecules are packaged into extracellular vesicles by cells from all three domains of life. Vesicles may then participate in intracellular trafficking of their cargo molecules. Or cells may secrete vesicles into the extracellular world, from where they are transported to, and taken up by, target recipient cells. Once delivered, extracellular vesicles exert a plethora of physiological and pathological effects, as well as an influence on recipient cell evolution. In executing their functions, both vesicles and their molecular cargo face evolutionary pressures over time and across habitats, forcing them to adapt to meet changing needs. This chapter will present extracellular vesicles as a

**Keywords:** extracellular vesicles, exosomes, microvesicles, apoptotic bodies,

Communication is ubiquitous in our world and spans the range of human experience from social, to physical, to biological. In all these spheres, systems have been developed, or have evolved, to facilitate the transfer of information. All communication requires the delivery of a shared system of codes and signals between a source and a recipient. The information must be packaged, relayed and received for

We package our spoken languages by our choice of words and phrases (diction) from among our vast repertoire, as well as by how we arrange those words (syntax). But other types of information can also be packaged in different ways, like our choice of facial expressions, gestures and body postures. The information is then relayed either verbally or in non-verbal ways, to be received by a recipient who understands and can respond to the information received. If any of these stages is

This chapter will describe an evolutionarily conserved biological method of communication that also packages, transports, and delivers intelligible information,

outer membrane vesicles, membrane vesicles, biological network,

not properly executed, effective communication may not occur.

Prototypal Communication

highly conserved prototypal communication system.

### **Chapter 2**
