1.2 Internal–Hierarchical Data Exchange

Questions now arise as to how it is possible for the operations in this

biological hierarchy to be carried out at a certain level, and also how the

operations at lower levels are able to affect and be affected by higher levels,

and vice versa? This is accomplished by what I call internal–hierarchical data

exchange. By this, I refer to the fact that data must freely fl ow between and

among the various levels of the organism. Data are the raw materials that

are of the kind that have the potential to be useful for a process or operation.

Data are exchanged between the components at one level of operation,

among the various processes of a subsystem, and among the subsystems

that make up the organism as a whole. In this sense, the operations and

processes must exhibit a certain amount of malleability and fl exibility so

that data actually can be exchanged. The data can take the physical form

of an electrical charge, an electron, a molecule, or a chemical transmitter,

among other forms. Examples of this kind of data exchange abound in

organisms, but we will take a look at one representative example.

Figure 1.1

A hierarchically organized system

A euglena is a one-celled microorganism that is a member of the protist

kingdom; in colloquial terms, it is known as a kind of algae (see fi gure 1.2).

Euglenas are about 10 micrometers in length and look like a sperm cell

with a more elongated body. They are equipped with a fl agellum, eyespot,

vacuoles, chloroplasts, plastids, and a cell nucleus. Each one of these components

has a function in the euglena; the fl agellum is a whip-like tail that

enables the euglena to move around, the eyespot is light/dark sensitive so

that the euglena can move toward sunlight (its food source), vacuoles allow

for wastes to be disposed, chloroplasts transform sunlight to energy and

food, plastids store the food, and the cell nucleus contains a nucleolus that

synthesizes and encodes ribosomal ribonucleic acid (RNA), which is important

for euglena structure and reproduction.

Referring again to our hierarchical model, an organism is an organized

system composed of subsystems that are made up of components engaged

in processes whose activities produce the particularized and generalized

homeostasis of the system. For an organism like the euglena to function

effectively in some external environment—basically, live its life in its

microbial world—it is necessary that data be exchanged between and

among the various subsystems of this system. Food storage in the euglena

can be viewed as a subsystem activity, which itself is made up of processes

concerning electron transport and oxygen exchange in photosynthesis. In

this activity, the data consist of electrons and oxygen molecules. The data

must be exchanged between the two processes; otherwise, there would be

no storage of food. At the same time, this subsystem works with the subsystems

concerning food acquisition and mobility. If data were not being

Nucleus

Plastids

Eyespot

Chloroplast

Flagellum

Vacuoles

Figure 1.2

A euglena

exchanged between the eyespot and the fl agellum, then there would be

no movement toward sunlight; in turn, there would be no photosynthesis,

and then no food storage.

Questions now arise as to how it is possible for the operations in this

biological hierarchy to be carried out at a certain level, and also how the

operations at lower levels are able to affect and be affected by higher levels,

and vice versa? This is accomplished by what I call internal–hierarchical data

exchange. By this, I refer to the fact that data must freely fl ow between and

among the various levels of the organism. Data are the raw materials that

are of the kind that have the potential to be useful for a process or operation.

Data are exchanged between the components at one level of operation,

among the various processes of a subsystem, and among the subsystems

that make up the organism as a whole. In this sense, the operations and

processes must exhibit a certain amount of malleability and fl exibility so

that data actually can be exchanged. The data can take the physical form

of an electrical charge, an electron, a molecule, or a chemical transmitter,

among other forms. Examples of this kind of data exchange abound in

organisms, but we will take a look at one representative example.

Figure 1.1

A hierarchically organized system

A euglena is a one-celled microorganism that is a member of the protist

kingdom; in colloquial terms, it is known as a kind of algae (see fi gure 1.2).

Euglenas are about 10 micrometers in length and look like a sperm cell

with a more elongated body. They are equipped with a fl agellum, eyespot,

vacuoles, chloroplasts, plastids, and a cell nucleus. Each one of these components

has a function in the euglena; the fl agellum is a whip-like tail that

enables the euglena to move around, the eyespot is light/dark sensitive so

that the euglena can move toward sunlight (its food source), vacuoles allow

for wastes to be disposed, chloroplasts transform sunlight to energy and

food, plastids store the food, and the cell nucleus contains a nucleolus that

synthesizes and encodes ribosomal ribonucleic acid (RNA), which is important

for euglena structure and reproduction.

Referring again to our hierarchical model, an organism is an organized

system composed of subsystems that are made up of components engaged

in processes whose activities produce the particularized and generalized

homeostasis of the system. For an organism like the euglena to function

effectively in some external environment—basically, live its life in its

microbial world—it is necessary that data be exchanged between and

among the various subsystems of this system. Food storage in the euglena

can be viewed as a subsystem activity, which itself is made up of processes

concerning electron transport and oxygen exchange in photosynthesis. In

this activity, the data consist of electrons and oxygen molecules. The data

must be exchanged between the two processes; otherwise, there would be

no storage of food. At the same time, this subsystem works with the subsystems

concerning food acquisition and mobility. If data were not being

Nucleus

Plastids

Eyespot

Chloroplast

Flagellum

Vacuoles

Figure 1.2

A euglena

exchanged between the eyespot and the fl agellum, then there would be

no movement toward sunlight; in turn, there would be no photosynthesis,

and then no food storage.