Molecular Altruism

M-Cdk is a protein complex that both produces a fantastic number of events that lead to cell division. APC/C is a protein complex that takes over from M-Cdk as the mitotic organizer in order to separate the chromatids and move the cell into anaphase. APC/C necessarily inactivates M-Cdk by the degradation of M-cyclin; APC/C is activated by an increased level of gene transcription of Cdc20 during metaphase, under the directive of M-Cdk. M-Cdk, such a powerful protein, orchestrates its own demise at the peak of its functioning.

When people talk about altruism, how does this fit in? This protein complex sacrifices its ability to accomplish more of its directive in order for, perhaps, a greater goal (i.e., cell proliferation) to take place; what, however, is this greater goal? The only greater molecule at work here is DNA, and DNA holds no more sentience than M-Cdk. In fact, DNA works only through form dictating function - how, then, could something that is bound entirely by how it's structured be able to be called "altruistic"? Isn't the replication of DNA - what we routinely call the "greater drive" behind life - nothing more than form dictating function?

So if we apply this to macro-existence, organisms laying down their lives for the survival of the colony, when the colony (or, DNA) is no more "whatever" than the organism, how can you ascribe some sentient motive to it? If we're all DNA and bound by our elementary form...don't we lose the definition behind altruism, if not all motivations?