The problem of biological hierarchy

Abstract

This chapter shows that the molecular machines present for the physicist some profound problems, which go beyond the classical machine language used in most molecular biological models. A hierarchy in common language is an organization of individuals with levels of authority - usually with each level subordinate to the next higher level and ruling over the next lower level. Viewed from the lower side of this interface, the elementary laws are regarded as the given conditions and the problem is to see how the hierarchical constraints arise to perform integrated function at the higher level. Polanyi clearly sees the hierarchy problem as central to biology, but judges it irreducible. To put the problem of dynamical hierarchical control in a more general way, it is easy to understand how a simple change in a single variable can result in very complicated changes in a large system of particles.

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