(Excerpts from book:
MIND POWER (1980) CH 9, Author - Swami
Vijnananand (S.V.), Manashakti publication)
CELL
·
Some scientist say that plants too feel.
·
Laws of Biology hold good at every step, though they become
complex.
9.1 Cell,
the mysterious links.
Though, comparatively imperfect, the knowledge of one cell
can be applied to other types of cells. However there are two general classes
of cells.
1)
Prokaryotic cell – Typical of bacteria and blue – green
algae
2)
Eukaryotic cell - Found in all other organisms, plants and
animals.
It is suggested that plant and
animal cells have been derived from the early cell, or more likely, both forms
might have a common ancestor. If so, the intermediate stage remains a mystery
9.3 Chemical picture of cell.
(I)
Both plant and animal cells contain organic substances and
mineral salts. The organic substances, whose composition is very complex, are
represented by proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, fats and fat like
substances known as lipids.
(II)
Liver cell in human body:- In the human body, for example,
liver cell contains
·
60 % water.
·
12 % protein
·
5 % fat
·
2 % nucleic acid
·
1 % (or 21 %?) carbohydrates and other substances.
(iii) Proteins are the most
important and indispensable constituents of cell they contain:-
·
50 to 55 % of carbon.
·
25 t0 30 % of oxygen.
·
15 to 19 % of sulfur
·
Occasionally – iron, phosphorous, iodine, zinc, magnesium,
and other elements.
(iv) Certain rare derivatives
apart, nucleic acid derivatives contain:-
- 5 nitrogenous bases.
- 2 purines – adenine (A), guanine (G)
- 3 pyrimidine – cytosine (C), uracil (U), thymine
(T)
There are two
main types of nucleic acids.
·
DNA (De-oxyribo Nucleic Acid), containing the sugar de-oxyribose
with adenine – thymine and guanine – cytosine as bases.
·
RNA (Ribo Nucleic acid), which contains ribose sugar and
adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil (instead of thymine) as nitrogen base.
9.4 Cell division.
The vitally important process of
cell division occurs either through karyokinesis or through mitosis. (Cell division)
(Karyokinesis = kernel i.e.
cover, movement)
(i)
Division of cell begins after a more or less protracted
(longer than expected) period, known as interkinesis or interphase; the
operative condition of the cell, when its inherent physiological functions are
most active. In the interkinetic nucleus, the chromosomes are not visible, but
instead appear as long, thin, intervened threads.
(ii)At this stage the cell is
already being prepared for mitosis. At a definite stage of interphase, known as
synthetic, the quality of DNA in the nucleus doubles.
iii) During the preparation for
mitosis, the cell center divides and begins moving apart to the opposites or
poles of the cell. The chromosomes threads coil up into spirals, thicken and
become visible under the ordinary microscope.
iv)The nucleolus and nuclear
membrane gradually disappears and a spindle is formed. This first stage of
mitosis is known as the prophase.
(v) In the second stage called the metaphase
(fig. 5), the chromosomes arrange themselves into the equatorial plane of the
cell in the form of a star.
(vi) The third stage of mitosis, known as the
Ana-phase begins when the chromosomes, already split, separate. (fig.6)
(vii)At this stage the space
between the chromosomes becomes greater and greater, the threads between
spindles extending between the centriol become shorter and the two halves of
each chromosome gradually migrate to the poles of the cell.
(viii) The fourth and final
stage of division is called the telophase. (fig. 7 & 8).During this, the
chromosomes uncoil, the nucleus re appears and nuclear membranes surround each
group of daughter chromosomes. Thus, the exact division of material of each
chromosome is made between the daughter nuclei. In the cytoplasm of each
daughter cell, a new division of the centriols takes place and a membrane forms
between the two cells obtained as result of the division. Morphologically the
telophase resembles the prophase, except that there are now two cells instead
of the original one. Each daughter cell is smaller than the maternal one, but
gradually grows and attains the dimensions and space typical of the cell of the
tissue concerned
More
information continues……
The duration of each phase of
mitosis and its frequency are dissimilar to different cells and vary greatly.
The younger the tissue, however, the more frequently the cell divides.
Mitotic activity depends on the
nature of the tissue and on its physiological condition. It is particularly
intensive during growth and regeneration. Hormones and other system regulators
of the organism have a great effect. In many tissues mitosis is not
observed, as in the liver. That does not mean that liver cells can’t
divide. If for instance, a piece is cut from liver of a rat, mitosis will occur
immediately along the line of cut and the livers will quickly and completely
regenerate.
The average length of the
principal stage of karyokinesis in human cell is as follows :-
·
30 to 60 minutes for prophase
·
02 to 10 minutes for metaphase
·
03 to 15 minutes for anaphase
·
30 minutes
for telophase.
(iv)During division cells are
very sensitive to various environmental influences, particularly to
temperature. The optimal temperature for human cell division is 37 degree
centigrade; deviation from that, either above or below, inhibits (restricts)
mitosis. The dividing cell is likewise sensitive to poisons and to radiant energy,
which is the basis for treating malignant tumors by ionizing radiation.
(v)It should also be noted that certain
highly differentiated cell have lost their capacity to divide, as far instance,
blood cells, after existing for a certain time, they disintegrate and
special blood forming organs produce new cells to replace them.
Nerves cells
are formed only during embroil developments after birth they grow but do not as
a rule divide.
A phenomenon known as “amitosis”
or direct division is sometimes encountered, which is not properly speaking a
means of cell division, by simply a pinching or fragmentation of the
nucleus. Amitosis is rare in higher
organisms and many biologists even doubt its existence.
9.5 Analogy
of chemicals but not of life.
Process of
amoeba:
- Is it possible to say that amoeba is conscious? Yes, certainly. Its acts are very much like
those which are talked of as conscious in us and the higher animals. It has
quite a clear reaction to changes in degree of light. For example: - -It seems
to have power of controlling its motion
·
It makes selection of food it does not take inside his body
whatever comes in his way.
·
It gives no attention for ex. To hard grains or stones,
which would give trouble to digestion?
·
We tend to say that behavior of this sort is conscious
behavior.
However one can take a view that
this behavior is like a machine, which is the outcome of the laws of physics
and chemistry. Is it possible to make something whose behavior is more or less
like the behavior of amoeba? If a drop of chloroform be supported in the liquid
and on coming up against a small grain of wax they will get all-round them very
much as amoeba gets round its food. Again by using certain chemical reaction,
it is possible for the process of cell division i.e. similar process the amoeba
itself into more amoebas.
The above similar example does
not make amoeba’s behavior clearer to us. It gives us the idea that it is
possible that the behavior of amoeba is like that of a machine.
9.6 Physical behavior: - Eight
alternatives against incoming substances.
Army rule: There is an old rule for
leading comfortable army life.
If it moves, salute it.
If it does not move, pick it up.
If it is too big to pick up,
paint it.
Cell response to incoming substances,
eight alternatives: The possible response of a cell to an incoming substance
has similar diversity.
(1)
The substance can be metabolized and used as a fuel.
(2)
Incorporated into whatever is being built at the time.
(3)
Copied.
(4)
Complemented by synthesis of antibody, or
(5)
Antitoxin engulfed (completely surrounded) in resin or
amyloidal (non-nitrogenous starchy food)
(6)
Used as an inducer, or
(7)
Bizarre (strange) morphogenesis as a prelude (pre-action) to
one of the other processes.
(8)
Rejected from the very beginning or by excretion.
These various responses are not
rigidly distinguishable from each other but overlap intricately. The shrewdness
of cell is exhibited in the manner of its response.
9.7 Sherrington; the noble prize winner and
others discussed mind of the cell. Cell has a mind to learn. Single cell
without sense organ and nervous system can learn. As per Dr. Sherrington,
the noble prize winner scientist, there are observers with skill (skilled
observers) , who after devoting patient study to the motor behavior of a such
single cell conclude that microscopic single cell life, without sense organ
without nervous system can learn. The emphasis here is to be focused on observer’s
skill to reach to the said conclusion.
The famous physicist E. Winger
observes: The present laws of physics are at least incomplete without
translation into terms of mental phenomenon. More likely they are
inaccurate. The inaccuracy increasing the role which life plays in the
phenomenon considered.
Noble prize winner chemist Szebt
Cyorgyi reiterates: In many search for the secret of life, I ended up with
atoms and electrons which have no life at all. Somewhere along the line LIFE
HAS RUN OUT THROUGH MY FINGERS. So in my old age, I am now retracing (to
withdraw a statement) my steps.
9.8 Louis
Pasteur: Life existed during eternity and not matter.
I have been looking for
spontaneous generation for twenty years without discovering it. No, I don’t
judge it impossible, but what allows you to make it the origin of life?
You place matter before life and
decide that matter has existed for all eternity.
How do you know the incessant
(non-stop, continuous) progress of science will not compel scientists…… to
consider that……. Life exerted during eternity and not matter?
You pass from matter to life
because your intelligence of today can not conceive things otherwise. HOW DO
YOU KNOW THAT IN TEN THOUSAND YEARS ONE WILL NOT CONSIDER IT MORE LIKELY THAT
MATTER HAS EMERGED FROM LIFE?
In 1955, Contrat reported
separation and reunion of TM virus. Dr. Asimov’s comments were as follows. - If
the two fractions of the original virus (after separation) were then mixed,
(Only) about one percent of the original (virus) was restored. Apparently, the
nucleic acid rejoins the protein in the mixture but usually in an incorrect and
useless manner. One out of hundred re-unions however clicks into place
correctly and the intact virus molecule is restored.
By no means has
this amounted to “creating of life.”
C.G.Taylor Ex. Advisor BBC, --
Scientists cannot create life. The scientists do not really aim to create life,
he simply aims to provide the conditions in which life can create itself.
The book MIND POWER says: Let
science remain at its honorable place without transgressing (going beyond
moral/legal limits) its legitimate frontiers unless it chooses to expand the frontiers
to the limits of life. In other words, let science open door to non-matter with
a well-come or leave it out to others to consider.
Summary:
-
Here we see the broad outline of the
cell composition as well as division. If mere mechanical view of the cell
working is taken as a basis, appropriate explanation of cell functioning would
not be possible.
-
In order to provide logical
explanation of the cell working either science has to accept ‘mind’ as
scientific entity or leave the explanation of ‘life’ out of its scope.
(Note: This is an attempt to make reader
friendly interpretation of the book “MIND POWER” based on my perception.
Inquisitive readers are requested to refer to the original book to cross check
their understanding.)
Vijay R. Joshi.
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