Now lets make a table of subcell volumes using cubic nanometers.
Table 6
Subcell
Volume (cubic nanometers)
Typhus fever rickettsia
54,000,000
Cowpox virus
5,600,000
Influenza virus
800,000
Bacteriophage
520,000
Tobacco mosaic virus
50,000
Gene, human
40,000
Yellow fever virus
5,600
Hoof and mouth virus
700
The range of subcells is huge. The largest rickettsia is nearly
three times the size of the smallest bacterium. It is not size alone that
makes an organism a subcell : it is the absence of at least one essential
enzyme. The smallest subcell, on the other hand, is only 1/3,500 as large
as the smallest bacterium. The largest subcell is to the smallest subcell
as the largest whale is to the average dog. (Labrador size).
As one slides down the scale of subcells, the number of molecules
decreases. Naturally, the nitrogon-phosphorus macromolecules don't disappear
entirely, for life, however distantly potential, is impossible (in the
form we know) without them. The very smallest subcells consist of nothing
more than a very few of these macromolecules; only the bare essentials
of life, so to speak, stripped of all superfluity.
The number of atoms, however, is still sizable. A cubic nanometer
will hold several hundred atoms if they were packed with the greatest possible
compactness, but of course, in living tissue, they are not.
Thus, the tobacco mosaic virus has a molecular weight of
40,000,000 and the atoms in living tissue have an atomic weight that averages
about 8. (All but the hydrogen atom have atomic weights that are
well above 8, but the large number of hydrogen atoms, each with an atomic
weight of one, in tissue pulls the average weight far down).
This means there are roughly 5,000,000 atoms in a tobacco mosaic
virus particle, or just about 100 atoms per cubic nanometer. We can then
prepare a new version of table 6 as follows.
Table 7
Subcell Number of Atoms
Typhus fever rickettsia
5,400,000,000
Cowpox virus
560,000,000
Influenza virus
80,000,000
Bacteriophage
52,000,000
Tobacco mosaic virus
5,000,000
Gene, human
4,000,000
Yellow fever virus
560,000
Hoof-and-mouth virus
70,000
It would seem then, that the barest essentials of life can be
packed into as few as 70,000 atoms. Below that level, we find ordinary
protein molecules, definitely nonliving. Some protein molecules (definitely
nonliving) actually run to more than 70,000 atoms, but the average such
protein molecule contains 5,000 to 10,000 atoms.
Lets consider 70,000 atoms as the "minimum life unit". Since
an average human cell contains macromolecules possessing a total number
of atoms at least half a billion times as large as the minimum life unit,
it is not surprising that a trace of a trace of silver atoms will disrupt
viruses, subcells, and bacteria, and not affect the gigantic human cells
(relatively speaking). It is supposed that the silver atoms substitute
themselves for other essential trace metals and disrupt the operation of
necessary enzymes. Even if a small number of enzymes were affected in the
gigantic human cell if would make little or no difference to the human
cell in its overall operation. Picture throwing a grain of sand on a mountain,
would the mountain be changed much ? Of course not. The silver atom will
not damage the human cell, but will it help heal it ? Oh, yes, by supplying
a missing trace element and causing the activation of enzymes that
needed the silver atom, which enzymes in turn activate genes and DNA molecules
to direct healing of cell injuries. Its amazing that the silver atom can
disable the cells enemies and, at the same time, also enable the cells
healing powers.
Since the cerebral cortex contains ten billion such cells, it
is not at all surprising that our brain is what it is. Imagine what would
happen if we could make up units containing half a billion working parts,
and then use ten billion of those units to design a computer. It would
make our present brain look like a wet firecracker.
Well, Lucent Technologies Bell Labs has invented the smallest
transistor made from organic molecules. Thats right, it is comprised of
carbon, hydrogen, and sulfur molecules, the stuff of life. Researchers
have already built simple logic circuits using the simple organic transistors.
Lab spokeman Saswato Das says the organic transistors are a millionth the
size of a grain of sand. This reminds me of the Robot series of books with
the Robots having "Positronic Brains" that were grown in special tanks.
Lets see now, if we add a little protein here and some amino acids there,
maybe we can make them grow and multiply on their own. Oh yes, lets throw
in some Genes and DNA to control the structure growth. Make them do their
own interconnections with some RNA, Whoops, just started making more people
(creatures), with super brains.
--The end--
Bless you, Bob Lee
--
oozing on the muggy shore of the gulf coast
[email protected]
--
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