Why is there no mechwarrior type MMOG in development?
You could play for the various factions, or form a mercenary unit.
Fight on the ground, or fight in space.
Own land, own a ship, own a rank.
You could have skills for repair, salvage, tech, computers, hacking, spying, etc.
1. "Most of the DNA in the cell is wrapped in a fat and protein membrane."
Most of the DNA in "all" three kingdoms are wrapped up in proteins. In eukaryotes there is a membrane that surrounds the entire set of chromosomes (except during cell division) called the nuclear membrane. Chloroplasts and mitochondria are also surrounded by membranes. All membranes have proteins in them. In Prokaryotes, the entire cell is surrounded by at least one membrane, and the DNA is inside of this in the cytoplasm. It does not float freely. In prokaryotes, most chromosomes are circular (but not always) and most organisms have one chromosomes (but not always). In eukaryotes, most organisms have multiple linear chromosomes.
NB: Membranes are comprised of lipids and proteins and in some cases other molecules like cholesterol. Lipids are also known as "fat" and there are many different types.
2. Central dogma/transcription/translation.
In prokaryotes, transcription (copying DNA to mRNA) and translation (translating the RNA to create polypeptide (protein) chains, done by the ribosome) are coupled. In eukaryotes it is uncoupled as the RNA has to be transported out of the nucleus through the nuclear pore, where the mRNA is then translated by ribosomes in the cytoplasm, or by ribosomes attached to the ER and exported.
3. Prokaryote/Eukaryote introns
Introns are not eukaryotic-specific. All three branches of life have introns, however, they are far rarer in the archaea and bacteria (especially rare). Some introns can self-splice (remove themselves), while others do not. Lots of different "types" of DNA can move themselves around, insertion sequences, transposons, phages, viruses, conjugative DNA, etc. This movement of DNA is a driving force in evolution itself, not merely in a host organism protecting itself from invasive DNA, but in the evolution of novel protein functions.
4. Single/multicellular
There are single-celled eukaryotes (yeast cells) and there are prokaryotes that form developmentally specialized conglomerations of cells (biofilms, cyanobacterial chains, mycelial hyphae) where some cells are specialized as compared to others. Many prokaryotes can signal to, as well as receive signals from, other cells.
5. Mimivrius
Mimivirus is interesting, but it is an extreme outlier. More work on the full range of virus forms and genome ranges will help in this arena. Some of the metagenomic projects will definitely help in this area. It's like attempting to hypothesize the evolution of mulicellular organisms based on the blue whale.
6. Introns and domains.
Proteins fold into 3D structures to perform functions. The basic unit is a domain, which are units that can fold into a 3D structure themselves and perform some function (basically). Exons and domains are not a 1 to 1 relationship. IMO, intron evolution has a lot more to do with alternative splicing events and regulation in developmental pathways than it does in driving new functions for genes (you can duplicate genes and domains without introns/exons).
7. Membrane evolution.
Membrane compartmentalization is a key step in evolution. Interestingly the prokaryotes (archaea and bacteria) have two different types of lipids, suggesting that in the early stages of this evolutionary step that two pathways were chosen, and both have been maintained since that time. Again, another point in evolution is not that one system is always better than another, but that endpoints are achieved through multiple pathways.
8. Koonin et al., hypothesis.
Their hypothesis is interesting. I haven't read the paper, but I have seen Koonin's seminar from a few months ago. Unfortunately there is so much we don't know yet. His ideas may be skewed towards analyses based simply on comparative genomics and not enough on biochemistry.
They are not one and the same. The piece alluded to in the NYT has nothing to do with whether the game is worth buying or not. It is exposition of an event that takes place during a duel between two people on a Jedi Knight server.
Personally, I think we need more pieces like this that explore games beyond the obligatory eye candy descriptions. Who cares whether a new game will be taking advantage of shader 3.0? I've given up reading print gaming mags as they are merely mouthpieces for the companies that advertise between their covers. Almost none of them explore games beyond the preview-review cycle, which is part of what NGJ is trying to do.
By Avalon Hill (the game that inspired the PC game by Sid Meier) is still one my favorites. Fairly easy to understand, yet difficult to master, the endless permutations and political backstabbing make this a fun, although long game, to enjoy with friends (8 hrs. is a typical game).
Slashdot Mirror
Why is there no mechwarrior type MMOG in development? You could play for the various factions, or form a mercenary unit. Fight on the ground, or fight in space. Own land, own a ship, own a rank. You could have skills for repair, salvage, tech, computers, hacking, spying, etc.
http://news.com.com/2300-1044_3-5884639-1.html
http://laptop.org/
Or search Wikipedia, google, etc.
1. "Most of the DNA in the cell is wrapped in a fat and protein membrane."
Most of the DNA in "all" three kingdoms are wrapped up in proteins. In eukaryotes there is a membrane that surrounds the entire set of chromosomes (except during cell division) called the nuclear membrane. Chloroplasts and mitochondria are also surrounded by membranes. All membranes have proteins in them. In Prokaryotes, the entire cell is surrounded by at least one membrane, and the DNA is inside of this in the cytoplasm. It does not float freely. In prokaryotes, most chromosomes are circular (but not always) and most organisms have one chromosomes (but not always). In eukaryotes, most organisms have multiple linear chromosomes.
NB: Membranes are comprised of lipids and proteins and in some cases other molecules like cholesterol. Lipids are also known as "fat" and there are many different types.
2. Central dogma/transcription/translation.
In prokaryotes, transcription (copying DNA to mRNA) and translation (translating the RNA to create polypeptide (protein) chains, done by the ribosome) are coupled. In eukaryotes it is uncoupled as the RNA has to be transported out of the nucleus through the nuclear pore, where the mRNA is then translated by ribosomes in the cytoplasm, or by ribosomes attached to the ER and exported.
3. Prokaryote/Eukaryote introns
Introns are not eukaryotic-specific. All three branches of life have introns, however, they are far rarer in the archaea and bacteria (especially rare). Some introns can self-splice (remove themselves), while others do not. Lots of different "types" of DNA can move themselves around, insertion sequences, transposons, phages, viruses, conjugative DNA, etc. This movement of DNA is a driving force in evolution itself, not merely in a host organism protecting itself from invasive DNA, but in the evolution of novel protein functions.
4. Single/multicellular
There are single-celled eukaryotes (yeast cells) and there are prokaryotes that form developmentally specialized conglomerations of cells (biofilms, cyanobacterial chains, mycelial hyphae) where some cells are specialized as compared to others. Many prokaryotes can signal to, as well as receive signals from, other cells.
5. Mimivrius
Mimivirus is interesting, but it is an extreme outlier. More work on the full range of virus forms and genome ranges will help in this arena. Some of the metagenomic projects will definitely help in this area. It's like attempting to hypothesize the evolution of mulicellular organisms based on the blue whale.
6. Introns and domains.
Proteins fold into 3D structures to perform functions. The basic unit is a domain, which are units that can fold into a 3D structure themselves and perform some function (basically). Exons and domains are not a 1 to 1 relationship. IMO, intron evolution has a lot more to do with alternative splicing events and regulation in developmental pathways than it does in driving new functions for genes (you can duplicate genes and domains without introns/exons).
7. Membrane evolution.
Membrane compartmentalization is a key step in evolution. Interestingly the prokaryotes (archaea and bacteria) have two different types of lipids, suggesting that in the early stages of this evolutionary step that two pathways were chosen, and both have been maintained since that time. Again, another point in evolution is not that one system is always better than another, but that endpoints are achieved through multiple pathways.
8. Koonin et al., hypothesis.
Their hypothesis is interesting. I haven't read the paper, but I have seen Koonin's seminar from a few months ago. Unfortunately there is so much we don't know yet. His ideas may be skewed towards analyses based simply on comparative genomics and not enough on biochemistry.
Personally, I think we need more pieces like this that explore games beyond the obligatory eye candy descriptions. Who cares whether a new game will be taking advantage of shader 3.0? I've given up reading print gaming mags as they are merely mouthpieces for the companies that advertise between their covers. Almost none of them explore games beyond the preview-review cycle, which is part of what NGJ is trying to do.
By Avalon Hill (the game that inspired the PC game by Sid Meier) is still one my favorites. Fairly easy to understand, yet difficult to master, the endless permutations and political backstabbing make this a fun, although long game, to enjoy with friends (8 hrs. is a typical game).