Gilbert Ling
| Gilbert Ning Ling | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | December 26, 1919, Nanjing, Republic of China |
| Died | November 10, 2019 (aged 99), California, U.S. |
| Nationality | Chinese, American |
| Education | B.Sc. in Biology (1943) Nanjing University
Ph.D. in Physiology (1948) University of Chicago |
| Occupation | Physiologist, biophysicist |
| Known for | Association-Induction Hypothesis |
| Notable works | "A Physical Theory of the Living State: The Association–Induction Hypothesis" (1962) |
| Website | https://www.gilbertling.org/ |
Early life
Gilbert Newton Ling was born on November 27, 1919, in China. He grew up during a period of political instability and war, which shaped his early education and scientific outlook. Ling demonstrated an early aptitude for science and pursued formal training in biology and physiology during the final years of World War II.
Education and career
Ling earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from National Central University (now Nanjing University) in 1943, with additional training in physics and chemistry. He later received a Boxer Indemnity Scholarship, which enabled him to continue his education in the United States. Ling completed his Ph.D. in Physiology at the University of Chicago in 1948, where his research focused on muscle physiology and membrane potentials.
After completing his doctorate, Ling worked as a research scientist and physiologist in the United States. He held academic and research positions at institutions including the University of Chicago and later worked independently. Over time, he became increasingly critical of the dominant membrane-based models of cell physiology, which led him to develop alternative theoretical frameworks.
Notable/unique
Ling is best known for formulating the Association–Induction Hypothesis, a theory of cell physiology that challenged the conventional membrane pump theory. He argued that the properties of living cells could be explained by structured water, protein adsorption, and ion binding rather than by active membrane transport mechanisms such as the sodium–potassium pump.
His work was highly controversial, as it directly contradicted mainstream biological models. Although his theories were largely rejected by the biomedical establishment, Ling continued to publish experimental data and theoretical arguments in support of his views over several decades.
In later life, Ling worked largely outside mainstream academic institutions, continuing to publish and defend his theoretical framework. He became a prominent figure among critics of orthodox cell physiology and was frequently cited in alternative and interdisciplinary scientific discussions.
Death
Gilbert Newton Ling died on November 8, 2019, at the age of 99.
Published works
"A Physical Theory of the Living State: The Association–Induction Hypothesis" (1962)
"Life at the Cell and Below-Cell Level: The Hidden History of a Fundamental Revolution in Biology" (2001)
