Membrane Science: Defining an Individual

A bottle of water is just a puddle without the bottle. All of life is designed as a system of sacks withing sacks. A membrounosly enclosed spaced allows for the existence of and defines the individual.

An adventure of thought was inspired earlier today while breaking open a magot infested coconut. After fresh coconut after fresh coconut we ruptured a putred magot infested bowl. This was the coconut we had opened to drink only one day before. It is curious how vital an intact shell is for the survival of the nut and how immediately other organisms will invade once this barrior is disturbed. In this moment of invasion the space occupied by one organism become a space for many. Membranes appear to be the initial defining feature of individual and it's survival.

Cells are the units of life. They are individually packaged machines working for self alimentation, growth and reproduction. The defining barrior between the individual cell and the extracellular matrix it lives in, is the cellular membrane.

Cellular membranes are a mosaic bilayer of phospholipids. The combination of phosphate and lipid is significant for the dynamic function of the membrane. The lipid tales of these molecules are highly hydrophobic, or repellent to water. The phosphate heads are hydrophilic, attracting water. This dual action allows the membranes to monitor what is entering and exiting the cell.

This concept of semipermeability is a vital function of all good membranes. A country remains a country if it can control its boarders; an individual remains an individual if it can control its membrane.

I am a cell!
... and the forest is my extra-cellular matrix

Cells however are but units of life. By expanding the understanding of a cell we can interpret that full organisms are cells, made up of smaller cells. By this definition, we too must be defined by our outer most membranes. In humans the organ functioning as our outermost membrane is the skin.

Currently my outermost membrane has been disrupted. I seemed to have stumbled into the territory of a trained attacked dog. The experience I am now enduring is one of vulnerability. Having a ruptured membrane leaves me as vulnerable to infections as the punctured coconuts.

Membrane Invasion: Infection

Maskitos are membrane Invaders. They are on a constant hunt to snack on a bit of your life juices. This full facial penetration of you outermost membrane opens the possibility for another membrounosly enclosed individual, a Bacteria or virus, to invade the the ruptured space. This invasion uncomfortably renders this space a little less you and a bit more them. Nights in the jungle become a race to create artificial membrane with nets and clothing.

Did you give your membrane some love today. As your skin is one of the major dining features as you as an individual, the skin reflects so much your health. Have a membrane healthy day and leave a comment about a membrane inspired thought!