From: ct (tilley314@attbi.com)
Date: Tue May 07 2002 - 13:54:25 MDT
Wanted:
Parts List:
Wiring Diagram
Quantitative System Models
[PICERAS - the fundamental principles on which a living system is based]
Program
Improvisation
Compartmentalization
Energy
Regeneration
Adaptability
Seclusion
--Daniel E Koshland Jr. (AAAS)
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Genomes to Life
[An entirely different class of molecular machines functions as motors,
converting chemical energy into mechanical motion, both linear and rotary.
The dynein motor ... a cellular complex believed to be composed of 12
distinct protein parts, performs fundamental transportation tasks critical
to the cell; defects in its structure can prove fatal. This machine
converts chemical energy stored in an ATP molecule into mechanical energy
that moves material though the cell along slender filaments called
microtubules...
Multiprotein machines, such as the ones described above, tend to be quite
highly conserved in overall composition and function during evolution
albeit often as variant forms on a basic theme. As a result, one can expect
that much of what is discovered in one organism will be applicable to
others. Once a class of multiprotein machines is defined, variations on the
theme can be plumbed to illuminate critical details for pathways of high
relevance to DOE. No one yet knows the number of different basic types of
such machines, but extrapolation from discoveries of the past few years,
coupled with new knowledge of total protein diversity that comes from
having whole-genome DNA sequences, suggests that the number is in the range
of several thousand types. This suggests that the goal of characterizing
the basic repertoire of machine types in the Genomes to Life program is an
audacious but tractable undertaking.]
[...the ultimate goal...is to figure out just how a cell, in its entirety,
actually works. Then biologists will have a set of genetic building blocks,
and the real adventure can begin to use them intelligently for assembling
useful and specific microbial tools to address the nation's needs.]
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I really do empathize with Fukuyama. He's in a lecture hall listening to
geneticists like Lee Hartwell and Leroy Hood who are proclaiming:
"Scientists show you what is possible. Then the public dialogue and
framework of democracy will determine how to best utilize that knowledge."
I suppose that Francis should dialog with the DOE within his home country (
before embarking on his crusade to establish an international political
organization to police the oncoming biotechnology revolution).
Meanwhile, the extropians appear to have their own local nuisance fires to
extinguish:
(part of the exhibit at the Henry Art Gallery: Gene(sis), Contemporary Art
Explores Human Genomics)
http://www.gene-sis.net/artists_lee.html
see:
http://www.critical-art.net/cone/welcome/bg1.html
Mission Statement
Members of the Cult of the New Eve swear...
CA) To eradicate the Extropian Menace
So, which one of you guys are they referring to?
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