Which of the following is an example of an emergent property?
A) Functioning of a group of molecules as a bistable switch.
B) Identification of a novel mutation in a developmental pathway.
C) Binding of allolactose to the lac repressor.
D) Reverse transcription of a viral coat protein gene.
E) Binding of allolactose to the lac operator.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An emergent property is a property that arises from the interactions of individual components of a complex system, but is not present in the individual components themselves. The functioning of a group of molecules as a bistable switch is an emergent property because it relies on the complex interactions between the molecules to achieve the bistable behavior. The other answer choices represent specific molecular events, but do not represent emergent properties.

Which of the Following Is an Example of an Emergent