Modeling of processes of specialization and integration as a basis for development of multicellularity

The formalized description of the procedure of division of labor as the most important invariant of progressive development is presented. The concept of histion is introduced—the elementary unit of multicellularity that arises as a result of such division and represents the so far overlooked independent level of biological organization. Based on the division of labor there is proposed the theory of progressive development, which allows calculating the composition and structure of multitude of histions and constructing their model. It has been shown that development of these units obeys the periodic law and their classification looks like the periodic table whose parameters have biological meaning and are useful for measuring progressive development. The obtained results constitute the basis for the nomogenetic theory of the progressive development of multicellular organisms.