2 Comments
User's avatar
Josh Mitteldorf's avatar

Footnote: Sometimes, a cell will commit suicide, destroy itself for the sake of the larger organism. In our bodies, cells are doing this all the time when internal signals detect that they have become cancerous or when they are infected with a virus. The process of cell suicide is called apoptosis, and to this day the destruction is carried out by the mitochondria, not on their own initiative but on cue from the cell nucleus. The mechanism involves high-energy redox chemistry (ROS), recalling the origin of mitochondria a billion years in the past.

Expand full comment
Gordie Lawrence's avatar

A wonderful summation. Should be taught in this form to all school kids. I’m praying too and miracles do happen, as per your previous posts.

Expand full comment