we are like a well homogenized emulsion, compared to animals with lower rates of metabolism. An unstimulated cell is practically in equilibrium with its environment. This is the “high energy resting state.” Activity generates structure, but when a cell is inactive, it is stable and doesn’t have to expend energy. This is exactly contrary to the doctrine in which a “cell membrane” maintains the cell’s organization by a constant expenditure of energy, running “pumps” to maintain differences in the ions and dissolved substances on the opposite sides of the membrane. In that doctrine, each cell, even at rest, is far from equilibrium; life is a struggle, and the cell must spend energy even to stay as it is. Gilbert Ling showed that the concept of membrane pumps to preserve the cell’s order is both unnecessary and impossible. In the real organism, energy is spent to grow, to adapt, and to evolve, but not to merely persist.”
