Questions of Indentity: Solved by IPP?

Yo guys,

I don't think I almost ever tell you guys about my classes. haha. Why would you want to know about complex biochemistry things?

Today in my Applied and Environmental Microbiology class our professor was giving us an example of what our seminars later in the semester would look like. He was giving some background information on Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) and methods to determine them and what that means. Proteins are chains of amino acids which often perform a function in a complex of proteins (such as polymerase complexes (for making DNA or RNA) which have numerous subunits (individual proteins)). This is an example of multiple proteins interacting and together performing a function. Part of the reason we look at these PPIs is to better understand the protein itself and its functions.

He gave an example which, for me, took this class about proteins and turned it into a Philosophical question about the meaning of self and personality.

He said: there is a new face in your class. You've never communicated with them, however, you've observed them talking to a lot of 3rd year biology students, to a biology TA, to some biology professors, and to biology admin people. Based on these interactions with other people, although you've never talked to them, you can assume that they are a 3rd year biology student.

In another situation, for example, a soccer field, interacting with coaches, referees, other players, and fans, that person is now functioning as a soccer player. And again, at their house, interacting with wife, and children, he is functioning as a father.

Just like people who change functions based on their environments and factors, so proteins can have multiple functions given their interactions with other proteins.

Forget proteins. You just said people act differently given environment and other people. 1 person, many functions. For a second this made me think of dissociative identity disorder (where multiple personalities (or 'alters') actually reside in a single body although highly different in character). But I think it is something more simple.

People are complex.

You act differently with different people and do function differently in different situations. It doesn't however, change who you are at the core. In highschool I often acted more reserved with my academic friends, while much more outgoing and ridiculous with friends from drama. Simply the depth of personality and the many different facets of who you are come out depending on the situation.

I once also read a quote by C.S. Lewis on the loss of a friend (I think it was in 'The Four Loves' in the section on friendship, talking about how friendship isn't jealous, having more friends is better). Not only had his friend passed away, but the way that friend brought out different parts of his other friends was also now gone. Clearly showing how people affect how we act.

Additionally, the idea of Paul becoming all things to all people so that by all means he might save some. I don't think this is to be fake, but to honestly bring out those different parts of who you are or could be for the sake of the good news going to all peoples. (1 Cor9:19-23)

This morning I read Genesis 12 and in the first couple verses God speaks to Abram and makes his promise that through him and as he is blessed all nations will be blessed. I see this also in Eph1:3 where it says that i Christ we are blessed with every spiritual blessing.

As we have been blessed, let us be all things to all people, that the blessing of God may fall on those around us (instead of the wrath originally designated to each of us as we were separate from Christ's redemption)!




Overall, I guess, this is to say, people are complex. haha. We have numerous gifts and talents. As we find and place our identity in Christ (as it rightly belongs since were were made in His image) let us use them in numerous situations to make friends and share Christ, for God's glory and the salvation of the nations.

D.Fa