Book review of Prey by Michael Crichton

This book is like a combination of Frankenstein and War of the Worlds and is the best science fiction novel that I've ever read.  Like many other Crichton books, it criticizes negligent use of advanced technology.  The plot: scientists develop a camera made of distributed nano-components that capture images.  The nano-components use distributed algorithms to communicate and artificial life algorithms to adapt.  The components are assembled using "gamma assemblers" that are themselves created by modified E. coli bacteria. Eventually, the nano-camera-bots get out of control and start killing and infecting others, zombie-style.

The cool part of the book was that it described the programming algorithms and biological mechanisms behind the technology.  I don't understand the biology, chemistry, or mechanical aspects nearly enough to fully appreciate those parts of the book or the ideas that they present, but I still found the descriptions amazing.  The scientists modify the genes of the E. coli bacteria only slightly to cause them to create the gamma assemblers.  E. coli (and all cells and cellular organisms) are already capable of building complex protein structures based on genetic codes.  It is implied that the gamma assemblers themselves are organic, but it doesn't explain how they can create the inorganic nano-bots.  The part about the symbiosis between nano-bots and humans was very interesting too.  The most fascinating part of biology class was how a simple virus was intelligent enough to destroy its host cell at certain times and lay dormant at other times, causing the bacteria to remain healthy and replicate the virus with its own protein synthesis complex. 

The book indirectly raises the question: what is intelligence?  The nano-bots were made up of stupid particles with limited reasoning capabilities.  But together, they formed very intelligent and complex systems.  In the natural world, the sea sponge (possibly the world's most primitive animal) is a group of animal cells that work together to efficiently metabolize, and has no organized tissues or organs.  It doesn't have a brain, or even neurons, so it's doubtful that it has any sense of self-identify.  Here's a great article about recent finds on the sponge.  Humans and other mammals are also groups of animal cells, but unlike the sponge, we do have brains.  We also have self-identity, because we can identify ourselves in mirrors or photos, and describe our days and the actions that we took. Even without visual recognition and words to describe ourselves, we have some innate and primal concept of ourselves and of other individuals.   I wonder if that sense of self is only necessary in animals that can move and are cognisant of their movements. Probably all of our cells can move together in a direction based on simple stimuli and reactions, but in order to understand the world around us and rationalize about where to move based on that understanding, we need a sense of self?

Can an organism be intelligent if it doesn't have self-awareness?

Here's an online critique of the accuracy of the book: http://www.nanotech-now.com/Chris-Phoenix/prey-critique.htm