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General
--------Biology -----------------Online------------------ Chapter 1. Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life---- |
What is an emergent property?
Lets start with a simple exercise that provides an example. Clearly
diamonds and coal have different properties. However, both are made
of identical carbon atoms. Arrange these atoms one
way, and the properties of a diamond emerge; arranged another
way, the properties of coal emerge. Can you explain
why one arrangement is hard enough to scratch glass, and the other is soft
enough to be used in a pencil to leave a trace on your paper?
List three properties you associate with a diamond.
(Mentally list the properties; do not print out or turn in.)
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
Now list three properties you associate with coal.
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
The fact that different properties emerge from different arrangements of atoms may seem trivial and obvious, or you may find it perplexing and profound. Emergent properties are one way of explaining properties of things we see in nature. This interesting concept is introduced in Chapter 1 because it will be a reoccurring theme in coming chapters..
Life itself may be an emergent property of certain kinds of biochemical reactions; arrange the chemicals one way they are a living cell, another way they are lifeless.
Time appears to be an emergent property of certain states of matter. Emergent properties are also used to explain human consciousness and the mind.
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Copyright © 2000 by Bill Wilcox
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