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> It gets wilder. In a 3D printer, the commands come from a computer and the current state is maintained in its memory as well. In a multicellular biological s
by Melting_Harps 3y ago
> It gets wilder. In a 3D printer, the commands come from a computer and the current state is maintained in its memory as well. In a multicellular biological system, that state is stored within the thing itself that is being built. And the commands come from it self-organizing.
I'm a cellular and molecular biologist by education and training, and I still vividly recall when I realized what detriments were and the role in the formation of tissue/muscle/organs/human and the innate complexity in all living things. I was in us awe, such that I couldn't speak for a few days and my mind raced as everything around me felt... magical.
Sadly, the health sciences is amongst the most corrupt Industries and has a habit of breaking the best amongst us, and despite my exodus I still think biology is the most comprehensive (and perhaps less understood by the general public) of all the Sciences and if we have any semblance of self-awareness as a Species will be what defines the 21st century.
Ive seen it outlined here before that physics, engineering and chemistry has given us computers from iterative processes of innovation, whereas Biology as given us a level of complexity that far surpasses computers and even encompasses sentient self-organized systems with no blueprint for how exactly it got there from amino acids (and thus RNA/DNA) and it us our responsibility to understand, revere and eventually emulate the Laws of Nature.
- redandblack 3y agowe need those star trek replicators that can build up food (and medicine as food)
- devinrodgersr 3y ago[dead]
- otoburb 3y agoThere were tinkerers at home in rooms or garages on personal computers in the early days with (what we consider today to be) underpowered equipment and tools, but the DIY spirit arguably pushed computing forward out of the mainframe age. Are we at that point yet with cellular and/or molecular [synthetic] biology where curious individuals can tinker in their own homes?
- melagonster 3y agoif they are biologists, yes. but the problem is you need spend many time on it, and only scientists need results, no benefit for normal people.
- jcims 3y agoAbsolutely https://www.youtube.com/@thethoughtemporium/playlists https://www.youtube.com/@thethoughtemporium/playlists Homeboy genetically modified a virus that would repair his lactose intolerance and then tried it on himself. It worked (until the stomach lining wore down and was replaced with fresh cells, and he just used it again).
- FrustratedMonky 3y agoI tend to think all Industries are corrupt, but everyone thinks their own is the worst. My day to day interactions with the health industry seems normal, like all good people. My doctor seems normal, my neighbors seem normal. But then when I see the non-stop big pharma ad-campaigns, then it looks shady. Guess it comes down to the definition of 'corruption', and what level we are talking about. I think when most people say their industry is corrupt, we are talking about general Greed, and that isn't really corruption, it is just capitalism. And it gets shady on a sliding scale with the amount of money involved.
- grishka 3y agoI wouldn't call it "corrupt", but it amazes me how often you would ask a doctor something seemingly trivial and they're like "oh we don't know why this happens". It must be one of the few industries where it's impossible to have a complete understanding of the subject, no matter how hard you try.
- grishka 3y agoI like to think of biology as a form of alien technology reverse engineering.