Tuesday, February 09, 2016
See what happens when you LOOK?
THIS IS AMAZING. Microbiologists have known for a long time that bacteria can sense more light or less light, and migrate toward more light. Now they've tried a specific experiment with cyanobacteria, and determined that the entire cell acts like an eyeball with input on one side focusing light on the other.
The link includes a short video. The most obvious action in the video doesn't say anything about focus. Cells move into a bright point of laser light and then back off. OW! THAT HURTS! I'M GETTING THE FUCK** OUT OF HERE!
The interesting part is what happens AFTER each cell says OW! It knows how to avoid the point of painful light. It REMEMBERS where the light is and slides sideways to get around it.
Unsurprising from the Grand Blueprint viewpoint. If we have a gene that purposes memory and a focusable eye, then everybody has a gene that purposes memory and a focusable eye. We already know that molluscs and arthropods and chordates use the purposegenes to make brains and eyes. Why not bacteria, and why not use the entire body?
= = = = =
** Well, bacteria wouldn't say that. Maybe "I'M SPLITTIN FROM HERE!"
Labels: Grand Blueprint
¶ 2:29 AM
