Can re-engineering techniques used in devising equivalents of black
boxes, integrated circuit chips or encapsulated products be used to better
understand the many functions of the human body? Re-engineering has to be
done without destroying the object and this is true of the human body. In
re-engineering, one applies a variety of inputs and then studies the outputs.
In the case of the body, we don't intend to replicate the object but rather
to understand all the responses to the inputs. The inputs are foods,
macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, trace elements and other consumables.
The outputs are simple measurements such as blood pressure, temperature and
pulse rate and more complex measurements such as levels of components of the
blood and urine and also information from techniques such as PET, MRI and CT
Scan. In the case of blood components, one could make graphs of levels of
output versus levels of inputs. One could assume, typically, that the output
level would start low, then ramp up, and then level off. In some cases, the
ouput might have an inverse relationship which might be considered good or
bad. If one assumed a mid-value of output to be desirable, a value well
within the capability of the body's system, one could see what level of input
produced that result.
This is a very preliminary and tentative introduction but, I hope my
few suggestions might stir some response and discussion.
Ralph L. Samson, MSEE
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