Gasocrine hypothesis – a potential supplement to cell theory

Biology textbooks lack precise terms to describe oxygen-based inter-organismal signaling between oxygen-producing and aerobic organisms. To address this gap, I recently proposed the concept of gasocrine signaling, which encompasses all signaling mediated by gaseous molecules and gasoreceptors within and between cells, organisms, and even abiotic factors. Given the fundamental importance of gaseous molecules for life, I propose the gasocrine hypothesis: all cells require gasocrine signaling. This hypothesis can be divided into three sub-hypotheses: First, all living organisms composed of one or more cells require gasocrine signaling to sense, communicate, grow, and propagate. Second, gasocrine signaling mediated via gasoreceptor proteins (or yet to be identified gas-sensing riboceptors) is the most essential cellular and inter-organismal signaling. Third, acellular entities arising from or replicating in pre-existing cells require gasocrine signaling. I propose several potential experiments to falsify these hypotheses. If they withstand falsification, the gasocrine hypothesis would supplement cell theory. It would also provide a novel framework for understanding fundamental biological principles, cellular and organismal communication, and the role of abiotic factors. Furthermore, it establishes the foundation for the emerging field of gasocrinology, which is critical in the context of a changing environment.