Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Structure
Function (n)
=
Process Mechanism
(
n-1
)
Fig. 2.10
The function viewed as a node (or sign) on the nth level of organization “encoding” (or
“chunking”) a network on the (n
1)th level. Conversely, a function on the nth level of organi-
zation can be decoded (de-chunked) into a network of structures, processes and mechanisms on the
(n
1)th level (See Sect.
6.2.11
for a triadic model of function)
be viewed as sign processes (or coding and decoding processes, i.e., semiosis).
In other words:
Chunking and de-chunking operations are the molecular equivalents of coding and
decoding processes in semiotics. (2.61)
The chunking and de-chunking operations shown in Fig.
2.9
occur within one
language, namely, DNA language. It is interesting to note that chunking and
de-chunking processes can occur involving two or more different languages, for
example, from
DNese
to
RNese
(during transcription), from
RNese
to
proteinese
(during translation), and
proteinese
to
biochemicalese
(during catalysis) (see Table
11.3
and Footnote d for the background behind the various “-eses”).
The suggestion seems reasonable that the chunking and de-chunking operations
occurring within DNese may be mainly to facilitate cell
replication
(or
mitosis
). An
equally reasonable suggestion may be made concerning the role of the chunking
and de-chunking operations occurring between different languages: The chunking
and de-chunking operations involving two or more different languages may be
mainly for facilitating cell
differentiation
in space and time.
Since
cell divisions
and
cell differentiations
are essential for both development
and evolution, it may be concluded that chunking and de-chunking operations
involving DNese, RNese, proteinese, and biochemicalese taking place in cells are
necessary and sufficient for ontogeny (under the synchronic environment; see Sect.
15.4
) and phylogeny (under the diachronic environment). Individual cells can only
experience synchronic environment, not the diachronic one, while populations of
cells as a group can experience both the diachronic and synchronic environments.
If the above analysis is correct, chunking and de-chunking (or “renormaliza-
tion”) operations may turn out to be fundamental to life, and the reason for this may
well lie in the fact that when complex processes or structures are chunked into
simpler processes or structures, it becomes easier to control or regulate them. For
this reason, we may refer to this idea as the “chunk-and-regulate” (C & C) principle,
which may be isomorphic with the “divide-and-conquer” (D & C) principle in
computer science.
