Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 2.15 A classification of hyperstructures based on the dissipative structure theory of
Prigogine
Hyperstructures
Active
Passive
1. Alternative names
SOWAWN machines
SAWAWN machines
2. Self-organizing
Yes
No
3. Self-assembling
Yes
Yes
4. Equilibrium structure
No
Yes
5. Dissipative structure
Yes
No
6. Kinetics of the formation - degradation
cycle (t 1/2 )
Rapid (ms?)
Slow (min ~ h?)
SOWAWN self-organzing-whenever-and-wherever-needed, SAWAWN self-assembling-whenever-
and-wherever-needed
Table 2.16 The three levels of characteristic spatiotemporal scales of organisms (or living
systems)
Microscopic
Mesoscopic
Macroscopic
Examples
Enzymes
Cells
Animals and plants
10 - 10 4
10 4 -10 10
Distance scale (nm) 1 - 10
Volume scale (nm 3 )1-10 3
10 3 -10 12
10 12 -10 30
10 12 -1
1-10 6
10 6 -10 10
Time scale (s)
Order parameter
Degree of coincidence of
(or correlation between)
amino acid residues
at the active site
Degree of coincidence
of (or correlation
between)
intracellular events
Degree of coincidence
of (or correlation
between)
intercellular events
Chap. 9 ) (Ji 1991), and hyperstructures (Norris et al. 1999, 2007a,b). The last concept
is especially interesting because it is highly detailed and supported by strong experi-
mental data originating from microbiology. Therefore, it may be instructive to
compare SOWAWN machines and hyperstructures as shown in Table 2.15 .In
constructing Table 2.15 , it became necessary to make a distinction between “self-
organization” and “self-assembly,” the former implicating dynamic steady states
far from equilibrium and the latter implicating “an approach-to-equilibrium.” Norris
et al. (1999) also distinguish “nonequilibrium” or “dissipative” and “equilibrium”
forms of hyperstructures. It should be noted that Table 2.15 lists both the similarities
and differences between hyperstructures and SOWAWN/SAWAWN machines. The
most important difference may be the differential kinetic behaviors specified for
SOWAWN vs. SAWAWN machines (see Row 6) whereas no such differential
behaviors were specified for active and passive hyperstructures.
2.4.5 Micro-Macro Correlations in Bionetworks
Organisms, from the unicellular to multicellular levels, cover a wide range of sizes
and temporal scales, which may be conveniently divided into three levels as shown
in Table 2.16 . What is common to these three levels of organization is the
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