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I am the Online Community Manager at PLoS-ONE (Public Library of Science). My scientific specialty is chronobiology (circadian rhythms and photoperiodism), with additional interests in comparative physiology, animal behavior and evolution. I am not an MD so I cannot diagnose and treat your sleep problems. This is a personal blog and opinions within in no way reflect the policies of PLoS. You can contact me at: Coturnix@gmail.com

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« My Picks From ScienceDaily | Main | Origin, Evolution and Adaptive Function of Religiosity »

Rube-Goldberg Cascades of Molecular Reactions

Category: FunScience Education
Posted on: April 23, 2007 9:50 AM, by Coturnix

RPM found this on The Disgruntled Chemist's blog: the most awesome Rube-Goldberg machine I have ever seen. Much better than the one built by the Mythbusters guys. Just follow this link and watch the movie!

RPM complains that it does not appear to actually do anything, but, who cares? The thing is so intricate! Think of it this way - this is a metaphor for a cell: the (circadian) clock sounds an alarm and as a result a large number of molecular interactions occur resulting, in the end, in the opening of the curtain an ion channel.

I have already mentioned here, here and here that a Rube-Goldberg machine is a better metaphor for the circadian mechanism than the Clock, but it is also a better metaphor for all things intracellular as well: one biochemical reaction leading to another, to another, to another....

Comments

No, this is the most awesome Rube Goldberg machine ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kvdq8cRNBM

Not only does it symbolically represent the major tourist attractions of Yokohama, it even cooks you a bowl of ramen!

Posted by: Elia Diodati | April 23, 2007 10:59 AM

Wow - that really is an amazing one!

Posted by: coturnix | April 23, 2007 11:08 AM

"a Rube-Goldberg machine is a better metaphor for the circadian mechanism than the Clock, but it is also a better metaphor for all things intracellular as well: one biochemical reaction leading to another, to another, to another...."

I think all you pro-evolution folks should adopt and expand on this theme. If everything intracellular is Rube Goldberg, that should be pretty convincing evidence for random mutation and natural selection. I doubt that the ID folks would like to see their "intelligent designer" revealed to be Rube Goldberg.

Posted by: chezjake | April 23, 2007 11:27 PM

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