Bernd-Olaf Küppers

Molecular Theory of Evolution (eBook, PDF)

Outline of a Physico-Chemical Theory of the Origin of Life
Übersetzer: Wooley, P.

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

The subject of this book is the physico-chemical theory of the origin of life. Although this theory is still in statu nascendi, it has been developed in recent years to the point where a coherent presentation is possible. The book is intended as an introductory text for students of physics, chemistry or biology. This interdisciplinary aim has necessitated a choice of material based on the lowest common denominator of physicists and biologists. In particular, the predominantly mathematical and biological sections have been presented at the most elementary l.evel possible. The less mathematically inclined reader can omit Sections (5.3)-(5.5), (5.7)-(5.10), (6.2), (6.3), (9.1)-(9.3), (12.1) and (13.3) without losing the overall view. For critical reading of the manuscript, for discussions and for many useful suggestions I wish to thank M. Eigen (Gottingen), w.e. Gardiner (Austin), D. Porschke (Gottingen), P. Schuster (Vienna), P.R. Wills (Auckland) and P. Woolley (Berlin). The translation of the original, German manuscript into English was kindly undertaken by Paul Woolley. During this and subsequent stages of revision he introduced a great many improvements in the text and the presentation of material. My particular thanks are due to him for his decisive contribution to this book. Last of all I wish to thank Ingeborg Lechten for typing the text in its various stages of evolution. The completion of this book is largely to be attributed to her patience and efficiency.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
• Seitenzahl: 324
• Erscheinungstermin: 6. Dezember 2012
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9783642705441
• Artikelnr.: 53118905

Autorenporträt

Bernd-Olaf Küppers - geb. 1944, ist Physiker und Philosoph. Er war lange Jahre einer der profiliertesten Köpfe des Göttinger Max-Planck-Instituts für Biophysikalische Chemie und ist seit 1994 Professor an der Naturphilosophie in Jena.

Inhaltsangabe

I. The Molecular Basis of Biological Information.- 1. Definition of Living Systems.- 2. Structure and Function of Biological Macromolecules.- 3. The Information Problem.- II. Principles of Molecular Selection and Evolution.- 4. A Model System for Molecular Self-Organization.- 5. Deterministic Theory of Selection.- 6. Stochastic Theory of Selection.- III. The Transition from the Non-Living to the Living.- 7. The Information Threshold.- 8. Self-Organization in Macromolecular Networks.- 9. Information-Integrating Mechanisms.- 10. The Origin of the Genetic Code.- 11. The Evolution of Hypercycles.- IV. Model and Reality.- 12. Systems Under Idealized Boundary Conditions.- 13. Evolution in the Test-Tube.- 14. Conclusions: The Logic of the Origin of Life.- Mathematical Appendices.- A.1. The Eigenvalue Problem.- A.2. Linear Stability Analysis.- A.3. The Method of Lagrange Multipliers.- A.4. Stochastic Processes.