Prof. Dr. Sohan Raj Tater
It appears from the study of organization of bodies of plants and animals from the finest plants to higher plants and from the finest earth quadrates to man as revealed in the Jaina āgamas that the bodies of all plants and animals are composed of cells and tissues.[107] But there is found no clear analytical study of cells and tissues of plants and animals in Jaina biology as they are treated in modern biology. New cells can come into being only by division of previously existing cells as indicated below in Jaina āgams - A single fertilized egg (kalala) develops gradually into a many celled or five-celled embryo (panca pindas) by the process of cleavage, indicating that the egg cell splits or divides, out of five pindas arms, legs and head come into being.[108]
According to modern biology "the cell is the fundamental unit of both function and structure - the fundamental unit that shows all the characteristic of living things. [109] Modern biology explains that a single cell, if placed in proper environment, will grow and eventually be divided to form two cells. [110] The cells of different plants and animals and of different organs within a single plant or animals as found in Jaina biology appear to be different variety of sizes, shapes, colours and internal structures etc. as the sizes etc. of their bodies indicate, but all have certain features in common. [111] All nutrients (rasa or sneha) entering the cells [112] and waste product (khala) leaving it [113] must past through some membrane, a living functional part of the cell, extremely important in regulating its contents. According to modern biology this membrane is called plasma membrane which regulates the contents of the cell. [114]
The statement in Jaina āgamas that "the matṛ-añgas (mother's limbs)" received and passed by the child are flesh, blood and brain and the pitṛ-añgas are his bone, marrow, hair, beard and hairs on the body. [115] Each of the cell of the body of the child contains nucleus "a small spherical or oval body usually as explained by modern biology [116] an important centre of control which contains the hereditary factors (genes) responsible for the traits of the organism and directs many aspects of cellular activity. The activities of paryāpti provide the energy for the growth and development of organic system and cells may be thought of as energy transducers that convert the chemical energy and food stuff into the various forms of energy required for their activities. [117] According to Modern biology "such energy transformations are the most fundamental processes of living cells. [118] All forms of energy are at least partially inter-convertible and living organisms are constantly transforming one kind of energy into another. [119]
Scientists Galton was correct about the significance of the two types of twins. Identical twins develop from a single fertilized egg and therefore one exact replicates. Fraternal twins grow from separate egg and are only as genetically similar as ordinary siblings. Thus by comparing the resemblances and differences between identical twins, fraternal twins and unrelated individuals, it is possible to calculate how much of a difference in a trait is caused by inherited factors i.e. genes. This is known as heritability. [120] According to the theory that we are products of our environment. [121]
Doctoral Thesis, JVBU