But the information contained in the two examples (silicon cube vs cell) are several orders of magnitude apart in complexity. I don't think that's really a grea

But the information contained in the two examples (silicon cube vs cell) are several orders of magnitude apart in complexity. I don't think that's really a great counter to the thesis of the OP. Though I agree that simulating down to an atomic level is probably not necessary, understanding will come from analysis closer to that level of granularity of analysis than it would from [given so many units of volume of a cell, we can conclude that X and thus achieve understanding].