Central Dogma Cycle and Network: A Model for Cell Memory

Abstract: This paper proposes an extension of the traditional Central Dogma of molecular biology to a more dynamic model termed the Central Dogma Cycle (CDC) and a broader network called the Central Dogma Cyclic Network (CDCN). While the Central Dogma is necessary for genetic information flow, it is not sufficient to fully explain cellular memory and information management. The CDC incorporates additional well-established steps, including protein folding and protein networking, highlighting the cyclical nature of information flow in cells. This cyclic architecture is proposed as a key mechanism for cellular memory, drawing analogies to memory functions in computers, such as input, read, write, execute, and erase. The interconnected cycles within the CDCN, including metabolic cycles and signaling pathways, are suggested to function akin to latches in computer memory, contributing to the storage and processing of cellular information beyond nucleic acid sequences. Understanding cellular memory through this cyclic network model offers a new perspective on heredity, cell processes, and the potential disruptions in disease pathology.