Membrane Area Expansion and Protein Catalysis in Cellular Growth and Division Why Surface Growth Precedes Volume Expansion

This study presents a general theory of biological growth grounded in membrane area expansion. The principle is illustrated through comparisons between volume expansion (which disrupts internal concentrations) and surface growth (which preserves chemical identity). It further explores how proteins catalyze key reactions in cell division, how lipid membranes function as dynamic containers, and how primordial life may have evolved through surface-bound expansion before volumetric complexity emerged. The implications span early biofilm theory, bacterial fission, and even applications in artificial cell design. Author: Tetsuo Konno (今野哲夫)Date: 2025-06Language: EnglishType: Theoretical Biology / Biophysical Theory