The new cell physiology: an outline, presented against its full historical background, beginning from the beginning.

The primary objective of this review is to present a brief outline of the new cell physiology. First introduced in 1962 under the title of the association-induction hypothesis, the theory is now confirmed in its essence, after more than thirty years of world-wide experimental testing. While minor, and even more than minor, improvements and revisions may yet be needed, the weight and scope of the confirmatory evidence have left little doubt that a comprehensive and coherent new theory of cell physiology is established. For the first time in history we have available a realistic cell physiology, awaiting to unite and to guide future biomedical research and teaching. The review also demonstrates in passing how, as well as why, the old cell physiology has fizzled so miserably. Instead of providing the guiding light for all biomedical research it has degenerated into a fairy tale of make-believe. This degradation began with a wrong theory. The situation has grown steadily worse with time by the impact of premature progressive fragmentation on something inherently indivisible; and by the universal adoption of the peer-review system which gives to those with strong vested interests in the preservation of the status quo absolute power in determining who prospers and who is cast out (see Endnote 9). It is thus hardly surprising that up to now, despite superlative chemical engineering know-how available and the lure of great financial awards, not a single drug has been designed from understanding, an understanding that will remain forever beyond reach as long as the guiding theory of the cell physiology is basically wrong. In contrast, in its brief history, and despite its minuscule list of subscribers and their endless debilitating struggle merely to stay alive (see Endnote 9), the new cell physiology has already generated one mankind-enhancing medical technology of major proportions, magnetic resonance imaging or MRI (see Ling, 1984, p. vii; 1992, p. xxv). To this day, most biomedical research scientists, teachers as well as students, still operate under the delusion that the old cell physiology, a little battered perhaps, is still basically sound. By far the greatest majority of them simply do not know enough; and it is hard for them to find a convenient source of relevant information that will help in this regard. A second purpose of the present review is to fill this need. To a few "true believers" of the old cell physiology the preservation of the status quo is of overriding importance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)