Tension in biosemiotics

In biosemiotics, tension refers to the dynamic interplay between signals, meanings, and interpretations within biological systems. It highlights how living organisms continuously exchange and respond to signs—like chemical signals or behaviors—to maintain life processes. This tension drives the flow of information that enables growth, adaptation, and communication, emphasizing that life is an ongoing negotiation of meaning at a cellular and systemic level. Understanding this tension helps explain how organisms interpret their environment and coordinate actions, underpinning the complex semiotic processes that sustain biological functioning.