Genetic information channel

The genotype and phenotype of any species can be seen as providing indications of the environmental conditions under which that organism evolved. The fact that a species is adapted to breathe a particular mixture of gases must mean that those gases were present in the atmosphere when that species emerged. Thus an organism with a particular genetic make-up transmits information about the environment in which it evolved, namely that it was capable of supporting such organisms.

Genetic medium need - security

Security - the need to preserve one's physical integrity from possible threats within the environment. 

Within the genetic channel, the physical body is the main transmission medium. In order for the genetic channel to function at all an individual organism must ensure its own survival long enough for it to pass on to subsequent generations any information it has extracted from its environment. 

Genetic input needs — sustenance and sex

Sustenance - the need to obtain appropriate nourishment from one's environment. 

The chemical compounds and energy available in a particular location contain information about the history of that environmental niche. Living organisms that are able to survive by extracting nutrients from their environment make it possible for this information about the chemical composition of a particular environment to be passed on to future generations. 

Sex - the need to find desirable reproductive partners

This is an additional input need for the genetic channel representing the fact that sexual reproduction requires input from two individuals.  Care should be taken in differentiating a desire to reproduce from a to a desire to experience sensual pleasure, as this latter could be more strongly linked to the need for stimulation.

Genetic encoding needs — health and rest

Health - the need to maintain one's physical (and mental) wellbeing. 

If an organism is well adapted to its environment, then it can use more of the nutrients available to build internal structures and to fuel physiological processes. Thus successful encoding of chemical information from the environment will result in healthy growth and physiological functioning. The desire for health is thus a need linked to encoding for the genetic channel. The development of later information channels has expanded this need to include maintaining psychological wellbeing. 

Rest - the need for regular temporary cessation of goal-directed physical, social and mental activities

This supports the encoding function across all three channels and is related to the operation of the parasympathetic nervous system (rest & digest) and the default mode network in the brain. It is a method of addressing differences between input bandwidth/capacity and encoding bandwidth/capacity.

Genetic output need - nurturing

Nurturing -  the need to attend to the survival, nourishing and wellbeing needs of others, especially of subsequent generations 

Sexual reproduction and parenting provide a mechanism for genetic information to be transmitted from one generation to the next and, thus, to be preserved beyond the death of the individual. Nurturing is more likely to be expressed to others who are perceived to be recipients of transmitted information (i.e. they share characteristics with the nurturer and are considered to be part of a relationship ingroup at whatever level — kin, proximity or cultural). 

Genetic input-filtering need - attention

Attention - the need to for a dependent individual to be worthy of caregiving and having one's needs met by others

Genetic filtering can occur through parents or other responsible adults eschewing their nurturing responsibilities by neglecting or abandoning offspring who are perceived to be unworthy through insufficient healthy development or if there is doubt of paternity. In any species where parental nurturing of immature offspring occurs, the fulfilment of the offspring’s sustenance  and security needs will be dependent on its ability to secure nurturing attention from caregivers.  Under the influence of subsequent information channels, the needs that an individual might seek to have satisfied by a caregiver extended beyond these basic needs to include other aspects of nurturing, such as providing stimulation, predictable environments, learning opportunities and affirmation. 

Genetic output-filtering need - attraction

Attraction - the need to considered sexually desirable

The ability of an individual to attract a reproductive partner based on the demonstration of environmentally adaptive physical characteristics determines whether that individual will be able to take part in the transmission of genetic information to subsequent generations. Once again, subsequent information channels may have extended the grounds of attractiveness beyond physical traits to include other factors such as attitudes, interests and social skills. 

Next: Behavioural information channel