It was Science’s turn to be upset. With a long pout of dissatisfaction, Science looked at the Lord’s face and gave a theatrical sigh. Smiling at the obvious drama, the Lord asked ‘What is it my child?’ With yet another long sigh Science pointed out to the musical show in progress on Earth. Chennai’s December season was considered to be the cultural window of India. With several artistes performing and several thousand rasikas enjoying their display of talent, practically every street in Chennai was filled with head nodding, feet tapping crowd that seemed to easily transcend their daily woes and live in peace and harmony for those few hours. With yet another dramatic sigh Science looked at the Lord and asked:
Science: Why am I not able to move the masses to this kind of euphoria? Why am I restricted to intoxicate just a few knowledgeable Scientists and not kindle the imagination of the common man?
God: (gathering Science into his hands) Have you ever wondered what makes a dancer like Balasaraswathi keep repeating Krishna nee begane bharo… a few thousand times in her lifetime? What makes a singer like M.S.Subbulakshmi sing Kurai ondrum illai… to move millions year after year?
Science: (in deep contemplation) it is always done like the first time by them!
God: Exactly! They keep the ‘wonder’ element intact. Krishna is every time invited with newness… gratitude just pours out every time one hears Kurai ondrum illai… My dear child! Can you make that child in school wonder at the magic of creation every time they see a plant germinate? Can you make that man smile every time he sees the bird fly? Can you make that woman realise the miracle of existence every time she combs her hair? Can you make humanity perceive the Art in Science?
Silence reigned for a few minutes. How do I make people see the art in me? wondered Science. Smiling at his child’s confusion the Father began to clarify.
God: What does humanity know about mitosis?
Science: (Back to work, sighed Science). A sperm fertilizes an egg and creates a single cell that has the potential to form an entire organism. In the first hours after fertilization, this cell divides into identical cells. Cell division or mitosis is an elegant process that enables organisms to grow and reproduce. Through a sequence of steps, genetic material in a parent cell is replicated and equally distributed to two daughter cells. While there are some subtle differences, mitosis is remarkably similar across organisms.
God: Hmmm… So, all living things have come from one parent cell that has replicated to form several daughter cells… Then how does the human being develop such varying body parts? Why have some cells become the skin, some carry blood while yet others have the reproductive capacity? Why is every cell not a mere duplicate of the original? Why are they different?
Science: Lord! In humans, approximately four days after fertilization and after several cycles of cell division, the cells begin to specialize. Cells differentiate to specialize for different functions. Cell differentiation is a process in which a generic cell develops into a specific type of cell in response to specific triggers from the body or the cell itself. This process allows a single celled zygote to develop into a multi-cellular adult organism which can contain hundreds of different types of cells.
God: How important does man think this cell differentiation is?
Science: Of course humanity understands that cell differentiation is crucial! It allows the developing organism to create numerous different needed cell types, from neurons which will make up the brain to epidermal cells which will create the upper layers of skin. It is cell differentiation that allows the organisms to have germ cells which are used in reproduction and somatic cells which make up most of the cells in the body.
God: Does humanity also know that this is not just in the foetal stage but all their life?
Science: Yes Lord! Man realises that this happens not just in the beginning of life for the foetus, but continues all his life. Adult stem cells in the bone marrow have the capability of developing into several different types of blood cell to meet the body’s demand for new blood.
God: Don’t you think it would have been easier to make one prototype for each cell type and not complicate the human system with this cell differentiation? I mean why give the cells the ability to not just divide but also differentiate and become different types of cells?
Science: For one, if we had a prototype for each cell type stem cells would not have been there. Without the miraculous stem cells that are capable of differentiating and becoming all the necessary cells, humanity would never have developed any kind of regenerative medicine and procedures! Today Microchimerism or the presence of two genetically distinct and separately derived populations of cells in the same organism has given hope for correcting certain diseases in adults. Microchimerism such as in the transfer of cells between mother and foetus proves that the bonds between a mother and her child are not merely psychological or even genetic. During pregnancy, the mother and the foetus literally exchange cells, leaving identifiable bits and pieces of the child inside the mother – and vice versa – for decades after birth. Recent research suggests that some of the foetal cells stored in the spleen may serve as a reserve army of stem cells that can rush in and repair the mother’s organs.
God: Do you know that cells and tissues can vary in their competence and their ability to respond to external signals?
Science: Yes Father. The ability of cells to perceive and correctly respond to their microenvironment is the basis of development, tissue repair, and immunity as well as normal tissue homeostasis. Errors in cellular information processing are responsible for diseases such as cancer, autoimmunity, and diabetes. Cell signalling is part of a complex system of communication that governs basic cellular activities and coordinates cell actions. Only by understanding cell signalling, diseases can be treated effectively.
God: I suppose then you also know that during signalling events, a cell or tissue signals to another cell or tissue to influence its developmental fate.
Science: Yes my Lord! Those influences caused by cell signalling can even contribute during Morphogenesis – the process which causes an organism to develop its shape. This may be induced in organisms by hormones, by environmental chemicals or by mechanical stresses induced by spatial patterning of the cells.
God: Do you realise that all this is a lot of work? I could easily restrict it to cell division and remove cell differentiation to make things easier.
Science: I guess from the perspective of order that may seem easy. But it would remove the thrill of creation! I mean, it would be like an assembly line factory without any innovation or newness to it!
God: Exactly! When something is done mechanically without any thought, it becomes just a habit. A habit however desirable it may seem is still just repetition of something incapable of creating ‘wonder’ in man. Habit can never become an art! If any performing artiste ever performed out of ‘habit’ it can never help people or the performer transcend to a higher consciousness.
Science: So the only way I can reach out to all and enthral them with your existential grace is if I am able to imbibe the quality of art in me and bring in the element of wonder in all my revelations.
God: Yes my child! Those who have seen you with the eyes of wonder are already intoxicated with the miracle of existence. If you could teach those children with the marvel of experiment rather than the habit of concluded evidence, they will discover the art in science. You, Science, should not become a mere jargon but should be recognised by all as a message from the very core of existence. Only when the common man sees you as the message and not merely the lingo for communication, will humanity begin to see the art in you. The habit of mere scientific jargon must be replaced with the consciousness of experience. Mere habit must be replaced in every activity with consciousness. Humanity will discover the Art in Science by simply revelling in the miracle you unfold! Spread your joy, Science, you are here to elevate mankind!
Written by Gita Krishna Raj | Published in infinithoughts in December 2009
When Science met God… | Segment Seven: Formula to Life | Chapter Four: Art in Science
