Notes

Protien synthesis

• Protiens are made from chains of amino acids.

• DNA dictates:

  • which protiens are made?
  • how are they made?
  • quantity?
  • time?
• Protiens read the information on the DNA string and produce m-RNA (messenger molecule).
• m-RNA is transported from the cell's nucleus to ribosomes.
• Ribosomes translate m-RNA into amino acids.
• These amino acids are combined in order (probably defined by DNA).

Ant analogy and systems

• An individual ant is a simple organism. A colony of ants; is a complex system.
• They build specialized areas in the colony: brood chambers, garbage, ventilation.

• They have job distributions planned to sustain the colony.

  • Anecdote: If a group of specialized ants are killed by a foreign force, the remaining ants reorganize jobs.
  • They redistribute jobs in the same ratio.

Emergence: When an entity is observed to have properties its parts do not have on their own, properties or behaviors which emerge only when the parts interact in a wider whole. read more