The math behind cell division (TMEB #4) 

Oh yeah and the mechanism behind the cell division too I guess

This isn't really first principles; it is modeling. True first principles would be F=ma, or quantum mechanics, and then deriving a cell and its behaviors just from that. Which is, needless to say, a task that seems impossible. Another example is predator-prey models; it is 'tertiary principle' in that we make assumptions, then derive differential equations, but it isn't 'first principle' in that we don't start at the most fundamental level; hence, it is a model. But these tertiary principles can be derived from lower levels, hence why they aren't 'first principles. First principles would be true axioms. True first principles would be using the axioms of mathematics combined with the most fundamental physical laws to derive all of biology

We aren't even close to that. I think you are confusing the model of our understanding for the actual thing itself. We really know next to nothing of how cells truly function; we've just mapped out a very small tidbit, and people start to think "I know how a cell works, truly." If anyone knew how a cell actually worked, we would be able to create them from scratch. There are things going on in the cell that we don't even know; they behave as perfect self replicating nano-machines, yet we cannot see the parts that do any of this on an internal level; we just postulate that they most fulfill their assigned function, and we leave it at that

Good question, I’m also interested.

Undergrad, 2nd year

@@Nanorooms wow that insane! Keep going, your gonna go really far!

What are you studying ?

I am in a program that allows me to design my own degree. I’m integrating math, chemistry, and biochemistry together in one degree