10: Social Systems
- Page ID
- 3890
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Interactions between organisms, ranging from mutual dependencies to host-pathogen and predator-prey interactions, underlie social and ecological systems. Interaction systems are complex. For example, interactions between cells will influence both lower (molecular level) and higher (organismic and social) systems. Moreover systems change over time and will respond to environmental perturbations in various, often unexpected ways. Systems thinking provides an analytical context to consider biological systems at all levels, from the gene to the ecosystem.
- 10.0: Introduction to Social Systems
- This page explores the dynamics of biological social systems, stressing the significance of a systems perspective. It examines interactions across levels from molecular to cellular, illustrating their impact on behavior in multicellular organisms and ecosystems. The complexity of these interactions is highlighted, showing how changes affect multiple levels.
- 10.1: Microbial Communities
- This page discusses the interdependence of organisms in a community, highlighting mechanisms like quorum sensing that enable bacterial communication and cooperation. It emphasizes behaviors such as altruism and the role of persister cells during stress. While social cooperation aids collective survival, challenges arise from selfish behaviors or "cheaters." The text concludes by mentioning strategies to manage these cheating behaviors to maintain community stability.
- 10.2: Making Metazoans
- This page explores the transition from quorum sensing in microbes to the formation of biofilms, highlighting the coexistence and genetic exchange among different organisms. It examines discrete colonial organisms, where cells retain individuality while cooperating, and discusses the evolution of multicellularity through examples like the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum and the behavior of Caulobacter crescentus, emphasizing various strategies for cooperation and environmental adaptation.
- 10.3: Steps to metazoans multicellular animals and plants
- This page examines the evolution of organismal complexity, emphasizing two strategies: increasing complexity in unicellular organisms and the emergence of multicellularity around 1 billion years ago. It explores specialized cell functions in multicellular organisms, highlighting sponges and hydrozoans as examples. Sponges represent basic multicellularity, while hydrozoans display greater complexity with coordinated movements.
- 10.4: Differentiation
- This page discusses embryonic development in complex multicellular organisms, starting from the fusion of sperm and egg into a diploid zygote. The zygote undergoes mitosis to form an embryo, where initially totipotent cells differentiate influenced by environmental factors and cytoplasmic determinants.
- 10.5: Stem Cells
- This page discusses stem cells, which can uniquely divide into a stem cell and a differentiated cell. Their function is influenced by their environment or niche, like hair follicle bulges in mammals. Migration from the bulge aids skin regeneration, while stationary cells maintain stem characteristics. A balance of cell birth and death is vital, with hyperplasia signaling excessive growth. Terminally differentiated cells stop dividing, and cellular senescence acts as a cancer defense mechanism.
- 10.6: Cellular differentiation and genomic information
- This page explores early studies on cellular differentiation, highlighting the debate over genetic loss versus regulation. Key experiments by Briggs and King showed that differentiated cells maintain essential genetic information, a concept reinforced by cloning breakthroughs like Dolly the sheep. However, cloning's inefficiency and ethical dilemmas, particularly regarding human embryos, are significant concerns.
Contributors and Attributions
Michael W. Klymkowsky (University of Colorado Boulder) and Melanie M. Cooper (Michigan State University) with significant contributions by Emina Begovic & some editorial assistance of Rebecca Klymkowsky.