title: The cell as a thermostat: how much does it know?
abstract: How does bacterial thermotaxis compare to a simple wall thermostat? Elements with similar function can be found in the two, including a temperature-sensing element, an output switch, and an external control. But they differ in their origins. A thermostat is designed and made by humans and embodies their understanding of seasonal fluctuations in temperature and how these affect room comfort. By contrast, the bacterial system is self-contained and assembles according to information in its genome acquired by evolution. This information is far richer than anything carried by a thermostat and closer to the 'knowledge' that higher animals have about the world.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. db10009@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bray
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016680:Genome, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000072236:Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Proteins; D011485:Protein Binding; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000072236:Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Proteins