3 ms·
Photosynthesis is fascinating for how inefficient it is. And slow. Usually, when you look up some enzyme's rate of reaction you realize it's operating at a spee
by KarlKemp 5y ago
Photosynthesis is fascinating for how inefficient it is. And slow. Usually, when you look up some enzyme's rate of reaction you realize it's operating at a speed drastically higher than what you were imagining. DNA synthesis? 10,000 nucleotides added per second. (≃ 3s to copy the COVID genome)
Rubisco runs at a speed where you could count along, easily, in realtime.
- civilized 5y agoIt's amazing that life gets anything done at all, given that everything that happens has to be initiated by the right two molecules bumping into one another, in the right configuration, at random, inside a tiny wet bag.
- euroderf 5y agoExcept that molecules in our cells are moving at hundreds of miles per hour. A pretty vigorous scene. A mosh pit. A many-to-many collision.