Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 15.10 (continued)
Coordination dynamics at three scales
Macroscopic
(~1m)
Mesoscopic
( ~10 5 m)
Microscopic
( ~10 10 m)
(a) Anatomical e
(a) Physical p
Ji
(a) Molecular
biological n
(b) Physiological e
(b) Chemical q
(b) Cell
biological o
(c) Pharmacological m
(c) Singe-
molecule
enzymological r
4. Key concepts
Synergies s
(synergies) t
(synergies) t
Kelso
IDSs u
(dissipatons,
SOWAN
machines, or
gnergons) u
Conformons v
(dissipatons,
SOWAN
machines, or
gnergons) u
Ji
Renormalizable
bionetworks a
(dissipatons,
SOWAN
machines, or
gnergons) u
BocaRatonator x
5. Models based
on PSO w
Kelso
Piscatawaytor y
Bhopalator z
RMWator aa
Ji
of biopolymers, and biopolymers are networks of atoms. It is interesting to note that
each bionetwork is characterized by a unique mechanism of interactions among its
nodes - short-range covalent interactions among atoms to form biopolymers;
medium-range noncovalent interactions among biopolymers to form cells; and
long-range messenger-mediated interactions among cells to form the human
body. Extensive footnotes are attached to most of the items appearing in Table
15.10, often with their own tables and figures (reminiscent of nested networks of
self-similarity).
a Biological networks where a node can become a new network at a higher
resolution and a network can become a node of another network at a lower
resolution (see Sect. 2.4 ). For example, at the microscopic level, atoms (e.g., H,
O, C, N, deoxyribonucleotides) are the nodes of a network known as a biopolymer
(e.g., DNA); at the mesoscopic scale, biopolymers are the nodes of a network
known as the cell; and at the macroscopic scale, cells constitute the nodes of a
networks known as the human body.
b This type of interactions make it possible for long-distance interactions or
communications between cells, over distances ranging from 0 (e.g., contact inhibi-
tion) to meters (e.g., hormone-mediated or axon-mediated connections).
c Relatively weak and ATP-independent interactions or bonds requiring only
about 5 kcal/mol to break.
d Relatively strong, enzyme-catalyzed, interactions or bonds requiring 50-100
kcal/mol to break (Moore 1963, p. 57).
e According to the triadic definition of function (Sect. 6.2.11 ) , structures (includ-
ing anatomy; see Figs. 15.19 and 15.20 ) are as important as processes (including
physiology) and mechanisms to account for functions.
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