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The cell as a thermostat: how much does it know?
1Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. db10009@cam.ac.uk
Abstract:
How does bacterial thermotaxis compare to a simple wall thermostat? Elements with similar function can be found in the two, including a temperature-sensing element, an output switch, and an external control. But they differ in their origins. A thermostat is designed and made by humans and embodies their understanding of seasonal fluctuations in temperature and how these affect room comfort. By contrast, the bacterial system is self-contained and assembles according to information in its genome acquired by evolution. This information is far richer than anything carried by a thermostat and closer to the 'knowledge' that higher animals have about the world.
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