552
12 Entropy and Information in Biology
Elements’, i.e. ways to forecast future events so that preparatory actions can be
taken before those events occur. Each of the elements benefit by having repair
mechanisms.
To make the diagram in Fig. 12.2 more explicit, consider the following examples.
Cell Operations
• Energy Source: Cell mechanisms for production of ATP
• Information Storage: Principally the DNA molecule in the nucleus of a cell
• Decoder: The transcription of the DNA code to mRNA in the nucleus
• Transmitter: mRNA transport mechanism from nucleus to ribosomes
• Receiver: Ribosomes
• Interpreter: tRNA to proteins
• Analyzer: Biochemical processes which use catalytic and structural proteins
• Feedback: Effectors, inhibitors, and protease production controls
• Internal structure: Built by action of proteins
• Sensory input: Chemical environment of the cell
• Discriminator: G-protein receptors in cell walls
• Actuators: Molecular transporters and molecular motors
• External actions: Cell wall pore and vacuole releases
• Anticipation: Response using the molecular memory storage of past attacks
• Energy Sink: Cell exterior environment accepts heat
Nerve Cell Excitation
• Energy Source: Cell mechanisms for production of ATP
• Information Storage: Dendritic innervation and synaptic plasticity
• Decoder: Pre-synaptic activation mechanisms based on cell wall polarization
• Transmitter: Nerve cell loci for the release of neurotransmitter proteins
• Receiver: Nerve cell wall receptors for neurotransmitters
• Interpreter: Nerve cell ion-channels-controlling proteins
• Analyzer: Biochemical reactions with the nerve cell
• Feedback: History of nerve firing affects subsequent nerve firing
• Sensory input: Electrical activity of synaptic bulbs in contact with nerve cell
• Actuators: Molecular transporters within nerve cell
• Energy sink: Cell environment
Human Brain Operations
• Energy Source: Sugars in blood
• Information Storage: Nerve synapses
• Decoder: The imprinted patterns in a subset of nerves
• Transmitter: Electrical activity in a neural network
• Receiver: A second neural network
• Interpreter: A subset of nerves used to filter activity in the second network
including cerebellum
• Analyzer: Pre-programmed and learned coding
• Feedback: Nerve synaptic re-enforcement
12 Entropy and Information in Biology
Elements’, i.e. ways to forecast future events so that preparatory actions can be
taken before those events occur. Each of the elements benefit by having repair
mechanisms.
To make the diagram in Fig. 12.2 more explicit, consider the following examples.
Cell Operations
• Energy Source: Cell mechanisms for production of ATP
• Information Storage: Principally the DNA molecule in the nucleus of a cell
• Decoder: The transcription of the DNA code to mRNA in the nucleus
• Transmitter: mRNA transport mechanism from nucleus to ribosomes
• Receiver: Ribosomes
• Interpreter: tRNA to proteins
• Analyzer: Biochemical processes which use catalytic and structural proteins
• Feedback: Effectors, inhibitors, and protease production controls
• Internal structure: Built by action of proteins
• Sensory input: Chemical environment of the cell
• Discriminator: G-protein receptors in cell walls
• Actuators: Molecular transporters and molecular motors
• External actions: Cell wall pore and vacuole releases
• Anticipation: Response using the molecular memory storage of past attacks
• Energy Sink: Cell exterior environment accepts heat
Nerve Cell Excitation
• Energy Source: Cell mechanisms for production of ATP
• Information Storage: Dendritic innervation and synaptic plasticity
• Decoder: Pre-synaptic activation mechanisms based on cell wall polarization
• Transmitter: Nerve cell loci for the release of neurotransmitter proteins
• Receiver: Nerve cell wall receptors for neurotransmitters
• Interpreter: Nerve cell ion-channels-controlling proteins
• Analyzer: Biochemical reactions with the nerve cell
• Feedback: History of nerve firing affects subsequent nerve firing
• Sensory input: Electrical activity of synaptic bulbs in contact with nerve cell
• Actuators: Molecular transporters within nerve cell
• Energy sink: Cell environment
Human Brain Operations
• Energy Source: Sugars in blood
• Information Storage: Nerve synapses
• Decoder: The imprinted patterns in a subset of nerves
• Transmitter: Electrical activity in a neural network
• Receiver: A second neural network
• Interpreter: A subset of nerves used to filter activity in the second network
including cerebellum
• Analyzer: Pre-programmed and learned coding
• Feedback: Nerve synaptic re-enforcement