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I am not sure I would call RNA transferring regulatory programs "memory". This looks more like epigenetic transfer than what we would call memory (IE, factual
by dekhn 3y ago
I am not sure I would call RNA transferring regulatory programs "memory". This looks more like epigenetic transfer than what we would call memory (IE, factual recall). My training was before the more recent work with Aplysia, but "RNA memory transfer in planaria" was presented as an example of "how to make big claims with irreproducible experiments" in grad school.
I appreciate that epigenetics is a well-established field at this point but I worry people conflate its effects with other phenomena.
- RaftPeople 3y agoI tend to agree that the word "memory" makes me think of a higher level (more abstract) type of action than a simple reactive switch, I'm not sure where the line is or if there really needs to be one or not. Having said that, are you familiar with the purkinje cell from a rabbit that they trained to respond to timed patterns of input in isolation? Timed pattern=input 1, delay X, input 2, delay Y, then input 3. Definitely more than a simple on/off switch type training, but does that rise to the level of "memory"?