From: mk_thisisit
Despite individual cellular processes being random, a form of determinism appears to arise within biological systems [00:00:30]. A key question in biology and physics is understanding how apparent order emerges from this underlying chaos [00:00:30].
Randomness in Cellular Processes
At the cellular level, every process, when observed out of context, appears random [00:15:35]. This includes the random movement of proteins and the random occurrence of biochemical reactions [00:15:48]. For instance, diffusion, the random movement of molecules inside a cell, is influenced by the surrounding environment, with proteins moving slower in the crowded cellular interior than in pure water [00:09:33].
Emergent Determinism
Despite the randomness at the micro-level, the overall behavior of a system, such as an organism speaking coherent words, is not random [00:16:05]. This suggests the existence of a principle that adjusts and synchronizes these random processes, leading to deterministic outcomes [00:16:19]. Discovering this principle is a significant scientific ambition [00:16:32].
The Role of Energy
Energy is considered a primary concept in the universe, essential for maintaining systems far from equilibrium in stationary states where time does not significantly alter streams [00:12:03]. Systems tend to treat energy “like a hot potato,” trying to pass it on [00:12:43]. This energy exchange governs the structure of systems, as they change to get rid of as much energy as possible [00:13:48]. Therefore, it is energy, not movement, that rules the world [00:13:56].
Life as Synchronized Biochemical Cycles
Life can be defined as the adjustment of all biochemical cycles to work in harmony, allowing for division and perpetuation [00:00:39], [00:18:04], [00:33:51]. When two systems are connected, new emergent properties appear, but traces of the old ones should also remain [00:19:31]. This concept of adjustment and cooperation between chemical molecules, even when competing for resources, is fundamental to how life organizes itself [00:17:23].
Cellular Survival Strategies
- Hibernation: Cells can enter a state similar to hibernation, especially under stress like starvation [00:00:02]. When deprived of glucose, cells limit ATP consumption and expel water, forming a gel [00:01:03]. This gelling stops the movement of molecules like ribosomes, which produce protein and consume a lot of energy, allowing the cell to survive [00:01:42]. This survival strategy is an example of natural selection, where cells that didn’t adopt this method did not survive [00:02:02]. Perfect hibernation would involve stopping the movement of all atoms to allow for indefinite survival [00:03:18].
- Aging and Immortality: Aging is considered an irreversible process, a “trick of mother nature” to ensure species stability [00:05:25]. If individuals were immortal, there would be no need for new generations, potentially leading to an unstable system [00:07:07].
- Cellular “Garbage” Accumulation: The accumulation of dysfunctional proteins (cellular “garbage”) within cells contributes to aging, causing movement to slow down and processes to degrade [00:21:01]. Some organisms, like E. coli bacteria, manage this by segregating garbage to one end during division, so daughter cells are born clean [00:21:42].
- Potential for Reversing Aging: The ability to clean cells of this garbage, or prevent its aggregation, could be a path to reversing the aging process and achieving a form of immortality [00:08:43], [00:21:59]. There is no known law prohibiting the exchange or purification of cell components to prevent aging [00:08:50].
Boundaries of Life
Viruses exist at the border of what is considered alive and dead [00:24:14]. They do not draw energy on their own, existing in a survival form until they use a host’s resources to initiate their mechanisms and copy themselves [00:24:23]. This behavior is mirrored in computer simulations like “Tierra,” where self-replicating programs can develop “viruses” that utilize code fragments from other programs to copy themselves, demonstrating emergent complexity from simple rules [00:24:40].
Broader Implications
Discovering a general principle of synchronization in biological systems could revolutionize medicine, shifting it towards a more holistic approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of organs and processes [00:22:53]. Instead of treating isolated symptoms, medicine could aim to restore harmonious functioning among various bodily systems [00:23:17].