Cell Phenomena Are Reminiscent of Electric Circuits

Traditionally, biologists and engineers are placed at the two ends of the spectrum of knowledge. An engineer is concerned with the designing and building of systems that enhance living conditions, whereas a biologist concentrates on systems that are already in existence around us, evolved from primordial forms. The former is a synthesizer and the latter, an analyst. Engineered systems of modern times such as very large scale integration, mobile phones, and satellite communications are indeed complex. However, natural systems, even the so-called simplest of them—bacteria—are considered by many to be much more complex than the best engineered system. So the complexity of our cell structure and functions can be considered a classic case of comparison between engineered and biological systems.