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Evolution of Organic Life in Jaina Biology
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place without mutations, and although natural selection does not create new characteristics, it plays an important part in determining which of them shall survive" 25 Truly speaking, "The evolution of new species involves both mutation and natural selection". 26
The origin of life :
Now the question is how the ultimate origin of life on this planet took place. The Jainācāryas do not believe in the origin of life as modern Biology advocates. Plant life27 and animal life28 are, according to them, beginningless (anādi) and endless (a paryavasitā ) with regard to santati (series of species ).29 But Jaina Biology conceives the different states of birth of the world of life: plants and animals in some sort of evolutionary relationsbip. So according to its concept, the first living organisms are the inifinite Nigodas (micro-organisms), 30 continuing their life in inclusion bodies ( sädhārana striras ,31 like huge colonies of viruses, but inost them do not attain the state of movable animals.
It appears that they exist in an atmosphere, presumably obtaining common energy and common respiration by the fermentation of certain of the organic substances (i. e. molecules of the common body), as it is suggested by the statement that "common differentia of these Nigodas (micro-organisms) is said to be the common food and common respiration."33
These heterotrophs could survive only as long as the supply of organic molecules accumulated from the past lasted, as is implied by the words that "in that common inclusion body when one Nigoda (micro-organisin) dies, there is the death of infinite Nigodas
25. Biology p. 515. 26. Ibid, p. 517. 27. Uttaradhya ana Sūira 36.1 11. "Samtaim pappa näyä, 2 pajjavasiyāvi ya/
Thiim puducca saiya. sapajja vasiy, vi ya," 28. Uttaradhyayana Sutra 36, 131, 140. 150, 159, 174. 183, 189, 198. 29. Ibid. 30. "Atthi ana mto jivi, jot in na ratio ta: a ipainimo," Bịhatsamgrahani, v. 277,
p. 22 31. Gommatasara, Jivakinda 191. 32. Pphat Samgrahani, v. 277. 33. "Säharanamāharo sahāranamaņapánagahanam ca, Saharaṇajivāņam sahāraṇal:k
khanar bhaniyam !/", Gommațasāra, 192 (Jivakända ).
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