Keep calm and trust your universe

Rating: 5/10 (5 November 2017)

Film makers are under pressure to invent. 'Life' definitely introduced a novel concept by Calvin, a complex life-form exclusively comprised of multi-functional (or omni-functional?) cells. I insist, though, that such beings – while making an interesting thought experiment – are highly unrealistic.
Throughout evolution, multi-cell earthlings have grown fit to various environments by developing some complexity. In turn, complexity seems to have always arisen from specialization at some level. That's how we have several kinds of cells in several kinds of tissues in several kinds of organs. Now, I am not suggesting each body part can only have a single function. For example, feathers facilitate motion, but also insulate and protect, not to mention impressing lady birds. But they do not really contribute to metabolism, nor to structural support, nor to the nervous or hormonal management of the body. That would be too much. Obviously, some mechanism honed to one purpose cannot excel in all the totally different functions required for survival. And that is a pattern going well beyond the realms of biology.
Based on comparative advantages, there is a division of labour and accompanying trade between computer parts, individuals, businesses, departments, nations, teammates in sports... you name it.
Or think of polyhistors, who could only thrive before sciences accumulated the vast knowledge of modern times. Nowadays, even mediocre dentists or linguists or plumbers will - in their own fields - probably beat them. Also, a team of such mediocre specialists will beat a polyhistor in every way.
It is only in relatively lukewarm, non-competing environments where aspiring polyhistors can succeed.
In fact, Calvin would have had to originate from such a lukewarm environment, and make a slow, dumb, sickly creature on teeming Earth. (Unless, perhaps, Calvin, too, was designed by some ancient civilization for military purposes...)