Add "The Machinery of Life" post

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+---
+title: "The Machinery of Life"
+date: 2023-12-13T23:25:43+01:00
+image: /images/the_machinery_of_life.png
+---
+
+For my 18th birthday, I asked my relatives for some books that I haven't gotten to yet in my read list. 
+One particularly stood out.. titled The Machinery of Life from David S. Goodsell. 
+I remember noting this title after watching a live stream from one of my most respected YouTubers, [@TheThoughtEmporium](https://www.youtube.com/@thethoughtemporium). 
+
+The live was about starting out in genetic engineering. How difficult it is, how expensive can it get, all the caveats that come along the way, etc.
+I don't know why I watched that live. Maybe just because the title seemed cool and interesting. But after finishing the live stream and noting a couple of 
+interesting resources Justin offered (books, websites, ...), I closed my text editor and never looked at that notes file again. 
+Re-seeing this title in my notes file right before my birthday made me want to explore it. And so this is what I got. 
+
+I must say that I have been really enjoying this book, even though I haven't devoted many hours of my life to biology - and my main focus is still in computer science.
+I particularly like the illustrations, most of which were (apparently) either hand drawn with watercolors (see the thumbnail) or rendered by a computer.
+
+As this is my first book that delves deep into biology, reading it is a real perspective shifter an a half!
+I never considered the level of complexity one has to fight when dealing with biology at such a minuscule level. 
+
+--- 
+
+Here's my favorite quote, taken directly from the book:
+
+```
+..................................Cells in our retina are filled with 
+arrays of opsin proteins for sensing light, light that is focused by 
+layers of eye lens cells packed full of clear crystalling proteins. Cells in 
+our skin spin enormously long strands of keratin proteins into hairs, 
+and other cells sense their slightest movement. These and other 
+sensory data are transmitted and processed by nerve cells that carry 
+electrical currents propagated by proteins and insulated by con-
+centric layers of lipid. Fine control of movement is accomplished by 
+an enormous skeleton of mineralized bone cells, moved by muscle 
+cells filled with proteins that do nothing but contract, all glued 
+together by connective tissue cells that built tough layers of sugar 
+and protein...........................................................
+```
+
+It's so beautiful how, with some imagination, you can picture the author 
+taking you to every part of your body. Imagine just how complex that system 
+has to be to work so well for such a long time and be able to sustain itself
+while running. It's also an amazing analogy I remember from the book.. 
+
+```
+...............................................Think about this
+feat for a moment-it is remarkable. You can't take your cells to a 
+shop for repairs, like you would with a broken clock. Cells must make 
+their repairs in place, without ever disturbing the ongoing processes of 
+living. Imagine replacing a worn fan belt on your car, but doing it while 
+driving down the road.................................................