TABLE 1:

Characteristic properties and examples of structures generated by self-assembly versus self-organization.

	Involves multiple, interacting components?	Displays increase in order in space/time?	Requires energy input for maintenance?	Distance from thermodynamic equilibrium	Example of structure or system
Self-assembly	Yes	Yes	No	Near	Liposome, ribosome, proteasome, bacteriophage
Self-organization	Yes	Yes	Yes	Far	Mitotic spindle, actin cytoskeleton, cell cycle

Note how the structures ensuing from self-organized systems tend to display higher rates of flux, or turnover of components, than structures derived via self-assembly.