verzagen
The processes by which biological molecules are broken down and resynthesized form a complex, yet highly regulated, network of interdependant enzymatic reactions that are collectively known as life.
- Fundamentals of Biochemisty, Voet Voet and Pratt
It is a strange thing to be a product of evolution.
The human condition at its best can barely assume equilibrium: a negotiation of forces in both the forward and backward directions of a reaction such that chemical balance is acheived and a stasis of sorts is perceived by the outside observer. But equilibrium can be a red herring to those not paying close enough attention. Because a system at equilibrium does not equal a system at rest. By definition, at this point the system is still moving back and forth from the thing is was to the thing it has become and back again. Even at equilibrium this never ever stops.
And while in theory once the bigger reaction has come to its end, that 99.9% of what will happen when two things are mixed has happened, we still can't say we're there, done, because we're assuming no other forces are at play. Because even in the simplest of systems once the chemicals have arrived at one place a new negotiation is in play. Once a system as it's defined in one case has achieved stability it must be redefined to include the new conditions surround it. A beaker of reacted solution left after the fizz, pop is finished is still open to time, to water, to air with all the living stuff within. And though it works itself slower than the big show, a good experimentor understands that indeed, not even this outward calm will be "stable". And in fact the only chemical definition of stability of the human organism is more or less death.
And yet, something inside us is programmed, hard wired, to find that something fixed. To anchor down and if possible stop moving. Create the reaction that ends the hunger, the cold, the lonely. Find the thing to add to the pot that stops those outside forces, and if possible stops them for good. It is an inner drive that we may take up or deny but nags at us quietly when we risk things that keep us at rest.
And so it seems that we war within to decide whether we must keep moving, running around to find those things that we want, or stay fixed and hold on to the things that we already have. A dance between constant action and complete immobility.
And despite what Voet, Voet and Pratt might lead one to believe I think that dance, that balance is really what life is all about. We can only hope to look for those things that best assauge our needs while at the same time knowing that they can't stay the same forever. That even holding on means learning to grow, that the very definition of existing means one has to change.
Because while an object in motion will indeed stay in motion given no outside force acting on it, only in theory is there ever a world where outside forces stop existing.
- Fundamentals of Biochemisty, Voet Voet and Pratt
It is a strange thing to be a product of evolution.
The human condition at its best can barely assume equilibrium: a negotiation of forces in both the forward and backward directions of a reaction such that chemical balance is acheived and a stasis of sorts is perceived by the outside observer. But equilibrium can be a red herring to those not paying close enough attention. Because a system at equilibrium does not equal a system at rest. By definition, at this point the system is still moving back and forth from the thing is was to the thing it has become and back again. Even at equilibrium this never ever stops.
And while in theory once the bigger reaction has come to its end, that 99.9% of what will happen when two things are mixed has happened, we still can't say we're there, done, because we're assuming no other forces are at play. Because even in the simplest of systems once the chemicals have arrived at one place a new negotiation is in play. Once a system as it's defined in one case has achieved stability it must be redefined to include the new conditions surround it. A beaker of reacted solution left after the fizz, pop is finished is still open to time, to water, to air with all the living stuff within. And though it works itself slower than the big show, a good experimentor understands that indeed, not even this outward calm will be "stable". And in fact the only chemical definition of stability of the human organism is more or less death.
And yet, something inside us is programmed, hard wired, to find that something fixed. To anchor down and if possible stop moving. Create the reaction that ends the hunger, the cold, the lonely. Find the thing to add to the pot that stops those outside forces, and if possible stops them for good. It is an inner drive that we may take up or deny but nags at us quietly when we risk things that keep us at rest.
And so it seems that we war within to decide whether we must keep moving, running around to find those things that we want, or stay fixed and hold on to the things that we already have. A dance between constant action and complete immobility.
And despite what Voet, Voet and Pratt might lead one to believe I think that dance, that balance is really what life is all about. We can only hope to look for those things that best assauge our needs while at the same time knowing that they can't stay the same forever. That even holding on means learning to grow, that the very definition of existing means one has to change.
Because while an object in motion will indeed stay in motion given no outside force acting on it, only in theory is there ever a world where outside forces stop existing.
posted by A at 5:44 AM
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