Mike, et al,
There are several interesting neural situations in nature. Indeed, much of
what we know about synapses comes from the lobster stomatogastric ganglion -
that twenty-some neuron structure that controls the manufacture of lobster
poop. The thing that is so special here is that the neurons are SO big that
you can usually impale them with electrodes without destroying them. Hence,
ALL existing detailed observations about synaptic transfer functions comes
from this ganglion. What does it take to do things other than manufacturing
lobster poop - no one knows!
Another interesting situation is in snail brains. These are easily
accessible, the neurons are large, and experiments are SO easy to perform
that many biology classes conduct labs were biology undergrad students
perform snail brain surgery and observe individual neurons, all within the
space of a single lab session. If you audit a few biology classes at your
local university, you could doubtless do the same at home with very modest
equipment. In short, why accept the opinions of others how (primitive)
brains work, when this is quite accessible to your own efforts?!
Needless to say, many biologists like escargot appetizers with their lobster
tail dinners.
Steve Richfield
=
On 6/11/08, Mike Tintner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/10/science/10plant.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ei=5087&em&en=484cb
>
> A really interesting article about plant sensing. A bit O/T here but I'm
> posting it after the recent neurons discussion, because it all suggests that
> the control systems of living systems may indeed be considerably more
> complex than we are aware of. And I'd be interested if it prompts any
> speculations at all in that area, however wild. (I found Richard's idea
> about neuronal clusters interesting - anything similar/related v. welcome).
>
> Some more:
>
>
> "At the extreme of the equality movement, but still within mainstream
> science, are the members of the Society of Plant Neurobiology, a new group
> whose Web site describes it as broadly concerned with plant sensing.
>
> The very name of the society is enough to upset many biologists.
> Neurobiology is the study of nervous systems - nerves, synapses and brains -
> that are known just in animals. That fact, for most scientists, makes the
> notion of plant neurobiology a combination of impossible, misleading and
> infuriating.
>
> Thirty-six authors from universities that included Yale and Oxford were
> exasperated enough to publish an article last year, "Plant Neurobiology: No
> Brain, No Gain?" in the journal Trends in Plant Science. The scientists
> chide the new society for discussing possibilities like plant neurons and
> synapses, urging that the researchers abandon such "superficial analogies
> and questionable extrapolations."
>
>
>
> ---
> agi
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agi
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