Variations in Variation and Selection: The Ubiquity of the Variation-and-Selective-Retention Ratchet in Emergent Organizational Complexity, Part II: Quantum Field Theory

If the general arguments concerning theinvolvement of variation and selection inexplanations of ``fit'' are valid, then variationand selection explanations should beappropriate, or at least potentiallyappropriate, outside the paradigm historisticdomains of biology and knowledge. In thisdiscussion, I wish to indicate some potentialroles for variation and selection infoundational physics – specifically inquantum field theory. I will not be attemptingany full coherent ontology for quantum fieldtheory – none currently exists, and none islikely for at least the short term future. Instead, I wish to engage in some partiallyspeculative interpretations of some interestingresults in this area with the aim ofdemonstrating that variation and selectionnotions might play a role even here. Ifvariation and selection can survive in even asinhospitable and non-paradigmatic a terrain asfoundational physics, then it can surviveanywhere.     

The influence of chronic nicotine treatment on stress-induced gastric ulceration and emptying rate in rats.

Ten-day treatment with nicotine (5, 25 or 50 micrograms/ml drinking water) dose-dependently intensified gastric ulceration induced by cold-restraint, and emptying rate. Stomach contractions produced by graded doses of bethanechol i.v. were elevated further by nicotine treatment. It is suggested that chronic nicotine administration produces hypersensitivity of the gastric muscarinic receptors; stomach hypermotility contributes to the ulcer-worsening action of the alkaloid.     

《科学》杂志主编唐纳德·肯尼丹论述2001年度的重大科技进展

每一年 ,《Ｓｃｉｅｎｃｅ》杂志的编辑们都要聚在一起讨论该年度重大科技进展的提名问题。面对众多的新发现 ,往往是很具有挑战性的。今年我们遇到了一个尤为困难的任务 :找到一个能够和果蝇以及其他生命体的基因组测序相当的科技成就。果蝇以及其他生命体的基因组测序这项成果不仅仅席卷了去年的重大科技进展奖 ,而且它还导致了众多的后续项目 ,这决不亚于人类基因组草图的发表。这些后续的成功成了本年度科学中无人认领的珍宝中的一部分 ,而且就像去年一样完好的保存着。本年度重大科技进展的提名像去年的一样使人难忘 ,它涉及了从纳米技…     

A propos d'antibiotiques insolubles

Summary The authors show the antibiotic activity of water-insoluble salts of hydrosoluble antibiotics in the case of penicillin G (salts of iron, copper, silver, gold, and uranium) and streptomycin (oleate).