- #1
techmologist
- 306
- 12
With all a biological organism has to do in the way of allocating limited resources among lots of different parts that need them in a timely manner, I'm wondering if there are biological chemicals that are closely analogous to money.
I've heard ATP referred to as the common currency of metabolism. I can sort of see that. It has the role of an intermediary, which is sort of like a medium of exchange. But doesn't it continuously get consumed and regenerated? That makes me associate it more with a staple food. Like in a primitive economy where agricultural workers are paid in grain so that they can have energy to produce more grain.
Then there are enzymes. Money functions much like a catalyst for exchanges where both sides profit (these are energetically favorable reactions). Without money, these favorable exchanges would take much longer to happen. You have to find someone to barter with. But money lowers the informational barriers to exchange.
The difference is, enzymes don't seem to be possessed by any particular reactant (or is this wrong?), whereas money actually changes hands for exchanges to happen. It is a medium of exchange.
Are there more, or perhaps better, analogies between biological organization and the price system? Or are they more different than similar?
Thanks
I've heard ATP referred to as the common currency of metabolism. I can sort of see that. It has the role of an intermediary, which is sort of like a medium of exchange. But doesn't it continuously get consumed and regenerated? That makes me associate it more with a staple food. Like in a primitive economy where agricultural workers are paid in grain so that they can have energy to produce more grain.
Then there are enzymes. Money functions much like a catalyst for exchanges where both sides profit (these are energetically favorable reactions). Without money, these favorable exchanges would take much longer to happen. You have to find someone to barter with. But money lowers the informational barriers to exchange.
The difference is, enzymes don't seem to be possessed by any particular reactant (or is this wrong?), whereas money actually changes hands for exchanges to happen. It is a medium of exchange.
Are there more, or perhaps better, analogies between biological organization and the price system? Or are they more different than similar?
Thanks