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“9x6” b2726 Self and the Phenomenon of Life: A Biologist Examines Life from Molecules to Humanity
- Gravity plays a lesser role.
- Of all the elements, the nucleus of iron contains the lowest amount of
energy. Therefore, fusing lighter elements into iron releases energy,
whereas fusing iron into higher elements requires net energy input. - Many of these signaling proteins have enzyme activities, consisting of add-
ing a phosphate group (phosphorylation) to a molecule, or removing one
(dephosphorylation). Enzymes that perform phosphorylation are called
kinases; those that perform dephosphorylation are called phosphatases. - A steady state, in simple language, is constancy in a state of flux. As an
example, a waterfall retains its shape and appearance despite rapid rushing
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the conditions for the first production of a living organism are now present,
which could ever have been present. But if (and oh what a big if) we could
conceive in some warm little pond with all sorts of ammonia and phospho-
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was chemically formed, ready to undergo still more complex changes, at the
present day such matter would be instantly devoured, or absorbed, which
would not have been the case before living creatures were formed.” See:
Darwin F. ed. (1887) The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin. Vol. 3, John
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