Last spring, I took a course in developmental psychobiology, and systems biology was interspersed throughout. Definitely an interesting way to conceptualize the interconnections between various levels of biological study. I recall a demonstration my professor used to explain what I believe he called "partially dependent systems." Here's the demonstration: According to the description of the video, the metronomes become able to influence each other into synchronization when they are sitting on the cans. This is because being on the cans makes the activity of each metronome - an independent system of sorts - partially dependent on the activity of the others. The on-cans configuration is supposed to be analogous to certain biological systems. For example, the endocrine system and the nervous system in the human body. In your opinion, am I understanding this correctly?