chemical 'messenger' molecules are the biological equivalent of the postal system

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An example of analogy and simile used in popular science writing:

"Cells achieve such chemical communication in various ways, but the most vital way is by releasing chemical 'messenger' molecules (the biological equivalent of the postal system, if you like analogies)…A biological messenger molecular is more like a legal summons than a friendly note or some junk mail advertisement – it commands the target cell to react in a precise way to the arrival of the message."

Andrew Scott

Scott, A. (1988). Vital Principles. The molecular mechanisms of life. Basil Blackwell. (Read about this book: Making molecular mechanisms familiar –
A reflection on the pedagogy in Andrew Scott's 'Vital Principles').

Read about analogy in science

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[Please be aware that a word may have different nuances, or even a different meaning, according to context.]« Back to Index