[grey_whiskers]

Physics can set limits to the component behavior of matter, but it cannot predict the behavior of matter at biological levels of organization.

To stir the pot (two ways):

Recently, Right Wing Professor has confidently predicted the ability to model (say on a large cluster of PC's) an entire cell from the governing physical and/or chemical equations. Do you agree?

Or (to put it another way), do you feel the inability to predict behaviour at biological levels of organization is due to
a) 'emergent' properties at sufficent complexity
b) "we just don't have enough horsepower"
c) grey_whiskers hasn't been following the thread closely enough and "I just answered this d*mn point, *ssshole!" /rueful grin

[js1138]

Recently, Right Wing Professor has confidently predicted the ability to model (say on a large cluster of PC's) an entire cell from the governing physical and/or chemical equations. Do you agree?

The law of biology cannot contradict the laws of physics, but they can include emergent properties. RWP is in a position to know the current state of research and its prospects for the near future.

[js1138]

The ability to predict is somewhat different than the ability to model. I can model the deal of a poker hand perfectly on my PC, but I cannot predict an actual poker hand.