I like the wheel in the photograph on my home page for several reasons. The wheel, directly or indirectly, has become an integral part of my current research.
Motility is the hallmark of life. Movement in a living cell is also the topic of my research. Although the wheel is one of the most powerful symbols of movement in human civilization [1-2], it is not utilized for movement of living systems (barring a few exceptions). The reason behind this has been a subject of debates[3-6] and will not be addressed here.
The wheel has also been exploited for centuries to transduce energy (i.e., converting some form of input energy into mechanical energy required for performing work)- the wind-mill being one of the most familiar examples. Understanding the mechanisms of energy transduction by molecular machines is one of the primary aims of my research. Interestingly, most of these molecular machines are "cyclic" machines which work by repeatedly executing a cycle of operations.
The life of a cell itself goes through different phases (interphase, metaphase, anaphase, etc.) before the cell divides into two daughter cells which then begin their own life cycle. The cell cycle is also reminiscent of a wheel. Finally, according to some ancient Indian philosophy, which postulates re-birth, life of all multi-cellular organisms is viewed as a cyclic process- each cycle beginning with the birth of the organism and ending in death!
[1] M. Gambino, "A Salute to the Wheel", Smithsonian.com, June 18, (2009).
[2] V. Radhakrishnan, "Locomotion: dealing with friction", PNAS 95, 5448 (1998).
[3] S. J. Gould, "Kingdoms without wheels", Natural History, 90, 42 (1983).
[4] M. LaBarbera, "Why the wheels won't go", American Naturalist, 121, 395 (1983).
[5] J. Diamond, "The biology of the wheel", Nature 302, 572 (1983).
[6] R. Dawkins, "Why don't animals have wheels?", Sunday Times, Nov. 24th (1996).