Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id BAA01070 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 19 Jan 2001 01:49:38 GMT From: <Zylogy@aol.com> Message-ID: <58.609932b.2798f663@aol.com> Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2001 20:46:11 EST Subject: Re: Phonosemantics and More parallels in the genome (and elsewhere) To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk CC: Zylogy@aol.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: AOL 5.0 for Windows sub 129 Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
In reply to Wade- in absolute terms, sure, there aren't any static
structures. But relatively, there are, in terms of staying power. A crystal
lattice, all other things being equal, has more ability to last than say, a
glass of the same material- at least on the local level. Obviously we're
talking about tight, close bonds and geometrical ordering. What I'm saying is
that the introduction of disorder- while it might help reduce the
vicissitudes introduced from the global environment an object is immersed in
(like the branch bending in the wind), at the local structural level can only
destroy that structure. Scaling is very important here, though, as a caveat.
That said, order within such relatively static structures can be structural
only.
Order IN the midst of flux, on the other hand, gives one the seeds of new
structure, and from that communication. Just as seed crystals in a molten or
dissolved matrix do.
Back to static structures, though- here, disorder can be used
communicatively, so long as it is mobile- think of how transistors work.
As for paramecia- evolution at the pellicular-cilial level is still
evolution, but not genetic. Permanent (unless something else comes along),
heritable change.
It really doesn't matter where information is stored, so long as the degrees
of freedom of change in the storage unit are low enough to maintain that
information in some form. DNA and the paramecium's pellicle are relatively
static even though they are being constantly renewed and repaired. Its the
old red brick/black brick building problem. It would be much harder to store
much information in a liquid, unless something was dissolved in it that could
hold it. Think of the immune system.
Obviously as I said a really static storage medium would be useless (unless
of course readable without damage). Natural media are capable of loosening
themselves up a bit (literally and figuratively) so that the information can
be retrieved or altered. But then they go back to relative stasis again, and
so are able to preserve what was gotten from them or transcribed to them.
In the end we are left with order and disorder, and degrees of freedom. Total
disorder, as well as total order, are useless communicatively. Like yin/yang,
only a little bit of the other added to the mix and you have a whole new
ballgame. If you can alternate between them, and who knows what you can
create. Like me, for instance.
Jess Tauber
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