In a message dated 12/14/98 10:03:55 PM, you wrote:
<<At 3:10 AM 12-12-98, Kathryn Aegis wrote:
>
>What is the measure of a C. Elegans? 959 cells, 302 neurons, 19,900
>genes, 97 million genetic codes.
What's amazing is that for all our supposed complexity we only have five
times as many genes...
best, patrick
>>
Yes, this is a wonderful observation. [My bio chem is way back so a factor
of 5 only? perhaps] The exact multiple is not the amazing thing. The
amazing thing is C. Elegans. Once you can make proteins and express an
epithelial cell, a neuron, etc, the 'miracle' is done. Just add more of them
[one hundred million times as many neurons] , and the interactions,
complexity, and hierarchy produces qualitatively new properties. Like
internet mailing lists...
-Jay