LIFESCI 3C03 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Orgasm, The Selfish Gene, Fuel
3 Oct 2015
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Selection has favoured genes that cooperate with others. Muscle/engine analogy - muscles like the steam engine use energy stored in chemical fuel to generate mechanical movement. Immediate mechanical force of a muscle is generated in the form of tension, rather than gas pressure. But muscles are likely engines in that they often exert their force on cords (tendons) and levers (bones) with hinges (joints). Neurones are just cells, with a nucleus and chromosomes like other cells. But their cell walls are drawn out in long thing wire like projections. one particularly long wire called axon, bundled together in thick multi stranded cables called nerves. The main way in which brains actually contribute to the success of survival machines is by controlling and coordinating the contractions of muscles. Need cables leading to the muscles > motor nerves! Brain is connected to sense organs by sensory neurones. One of the most striking properties of survival machine behaviour is its apparent purposiveness.
