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However, if the fundamental hypothesis of cellular reproductive denounced the difficulties of categorising all those microscopic anomaly is questioned, it becomes clear that all the theories based organisms which, because of their characteristics and properties, on this hypothesis are inevitably flawed. could not be attributed to either the vegetable or the animal It follows that both an auto-immunological process, in which kingdom. For these organisms, he proposed a third kingdom, the body's defence mechanisms against external agents turn their _Protista (protists). destructive capacity against internal constituents of the body, and "This vast and complex world includes a range of entities an anomaly of the genetic structure implicated in the development beginning with those that have sub-cellular structure—existing at of auto-destruction are inevitably disqualified. the limits of life—such as viroids and viruses, moving through the Moreover, the common attempt to construct theories about mycoplasms to, finally, organisms of greater organisation: multiple causes that have an oncogenic effect on cellular bacteria, Actinomycetes, Myxomycetes, fungi, protozoa and reproduction sometimes seems like a concealing screen, behind perhaps even some microscopic algae." which there is nothing but a wall. These theories propose endless The common element of these organisms is the feeding system, causes that are more or less associated with each other; and this which, being implemented (with very few exceptions) by direct means in reality that no valid causes are found. The invocation in absorption of soluble organic compounds, differentiates them both turn of smoking, alcohol, toxic substances, diet, stress, from animals and vegetables. Animals also feed as above, but psychological factors, etc., without a properly defined context, especially by ingesting solid organic materials that are then causes confusion and resignation, and creates even more transformed through the digestive process. Vegetables, by mystification around a disease which may turn out to be simpler utilising mineral compounds and light energy, are capable of than it is depicted to be. feeding by synthesising the organic substances. As background information, it is important to review the picture The contemporary tendency of biologists is once again to pick of presumed genetic influences in the up, though in a more sophisticated way, development of cancer proce as the concept of the third kingdom. One they are depicted by molecular goes even further, however, arguing biologists. These are the scientists who When facing the most that within that kingdom, fungi must perform research on infinitesimally 5 be classified in a distinct category. small cellular mechanisms, but who in pressing contemporary O. Verona? says that if we put present medical astems are based on | Ml@dICal problem, Cancer, or sccrnitic capabilities (plants) in this research, and thus, unfortunately, the first thing to do is to the first kingdom and the organisms senescent cet gc | admit that we still do not ff moireviei wih phonies neoplastic causality is essentially know its real cause. ingdom—and organisms from both reduced to the fact that the structures these kingdoms are made of cells and the mechanism in charge of normal rovided with a distinct nucleus reproductive cellular activity become, (eukaryotes)—and, furthermore, if we for undefined reasons, capable of an ut in another kingdom (protists), autonomous behaviour that is disjointed from the overall tissular those monocellular organisms that have no chlorophyll and have economy. The genes that normally have a positive role in cellular _ cells that are without a distinct nucleus (prokaryotes), the fungi reproduction are, then, imprecisely referred to as "proto- can well have their own kingdom because of the absence of oncogenes"; those that inhibit cellular reproduction are called photosynthetic pigmentation, the ability to be monocellular and "suppressor genes" or "recessive oncogenes". Both endogenous multicellular, and, finally, their possession of a distinct nucleus. (never demonstrated) and exogenous cellular factors—that is, Additionally, fungi possess a property that is strange when those carcinogenic elements that are usually invoked—are held compared to all other micro-organisms: the ability to have a basic responsible for the neoplastic degeneration of the tissues... microscopic structure (hypha) with a simultaneous tendency to From a very superficial analysis of the presumed oncological grow to remarkable dimensions (up to several kilograms), keeping picture, however, it seems to be clear how the assertion of all this unchanged the capacity to adapt and reproduce at any size. unstoppable genetic hyperactivity can do nothing more that unveil From this point of view, therefore, fungi cannot be considered the abysmal stupidity that is at the basis of this way of conceiving true organisms, but cellular aggregates sui generis with an things. All those who work in the field do nothing but repeat the organismic behaviour, since each cell maintains its survival and stale litany of reproductive cellular anomalies on a genetic basis. reproductive potential intact regardless of the structure in which it It is better to look for new horizons and conceptual instruments exists. It is therefore clear how difficult it is to identify all the that are capable of unearthing a real and unique neoplastic biological processes in such complex living realities. In fact, even aetiology. today, there are huge voids and taxonomical approximations in mycology. Daal ta tavanans: When facing the most pressing contemporary medical problem, cancer, the first thing to do is to Crt or oe | i. ers Back to taxonomy In order to find the possible carcinogenic ens morbi on the horizon of microbiology, it appears useful to return to the basic taxonomical concepts of biology where we can see, incidentally, the existence of a noticeable amount of indecision and indetermination. Already in the last century, a German biologist, Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919), departing from the Linnaeian concept that makes for two great kingdoms of living things (vegetable and animal), Fungi characteristics It is worthwhile to examine more deeply this strange world, with such peculiar characteristics, and try to highlight those elements that somehow may be pertinent to the problems of oncology. 1) Fungi are heterotrophic organisms and therefore need, as far as nitrogen and carbon are concerned, pre-formed compounds. Of these compounds, simple carbohydrates, for example 28 = NEXUS admit that we still do not know its real cause. www.nexusmagazi ne.com AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2007