The biochemistry of cell communication (Introduction)

by David Turell , Thursday, September 01, 2016, 21:25 (3004 days ago) @ dhw

dhw: The researchers seem rather to take it for granted that cells deliberately communicate and cooperate.-And I take my view for granted.-> dhw: It is the conscious processing of information and decision-making that you refuse to distinguish from the automatic perception and final implementation of the decision.-Of course the batter is making conscious decisions in his brain from his proprioceptive sense of knowing where all parts of his body are positioned so he can adjust his swing to the right spot at the right moment.
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> dhw: since the 1990s the Tasmanian devil has been driven almost to extinction by a highly contagious form of cancer. In just four generations, however, there has been a “remarkable” genetic shift, and “the survivors appear to have a degree of immunity to the cancer, and go on to spread their genes throughout the local population.” How can we explain this?-Easy. There is a variability in individual immunity. Those with some immunity survive and produce young with more immunity, just as some bacteria develop a population of immune individuals by the same method. Not all bacterial immunity is lateral transfer.
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> dhw: I have just seen your post about Shapiro, for which many thanks.-> DAVID: Shapiro thinks cells think. Is this panpsychism? This article tends to accept it:
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> http://www.thestranger.com/slog/2016/08/23/24492279/what-the-white-mans-fly-tells-us-ab... 
> As I understand it, there are different forms of panpsychism. I have problems identifying with the idea that everything in the universe has a mental aspect, but I have no difficulty with the idea that all living organisms think in their own different ways. Once more, I am very grateful for the integrity with which you present us with articles that run contrary to your own beliefs. Of course Shapiro is a prime example of scientists who follow the Margulis line mentioned above.-Thank you. Shapiro's main contribution is that organisms can reorganize their DNA. I agree with that point.