Thermodynamics of Biological Processes (eBook)

Frontmatter -- List of authors -- Preface -- Contents -- I. General Problems of Biological Thermodynamics -- Introduction -- Application of the Concepts of Classical Thermodynamics in Biology -- The Second Law, Negentropy, Thermodynamics of Linear Irreversible Processes -- Formalism of Non-Equilibrium Phenomenolagical Thermodynamics -- II. Qualitative Phenomenological Theory of the Development of Organisms -- Introduction -- Experimental Basis for Qualitative Phenomenological Theory of Development -- Theoretical Basis for a Qualitative Phenomenological Theory of Development -- Stochastic Consideration of Constitutive Processes and of the Evolution Criterion -- Strengthened Evolution Criterion in Developmental Biology -- III. Quantitative Phenomenological Theory of Development of Organisms -- Introduction -- Non-Linear Phenomenological Equations -- Differential Equations of Developmental Biology -- Computer Analysis of Non-Linear Growth Equations -- Modern Theories Concerning the Growth Equations -- IV. Heat Production of Living Systems -- Introduction -- Heat Production in Life Processes -- The Change of ?? the Function During the Growth of Microbial Cultures -- Changes of ?? and ?? Functions During Oogenesis of Xenopus Laevis -- Heat Production and Respiration During Development and Growth of two Insects -- Heat Production and Respiration of Axolotle at the Early Stages of Growth -- Relationship Between Heat Production and Body Weight in Growing Organisms -- V. Some Problems of Energetics of Developmental Processes -- Introduction -- Changes in Mitochondria During Development and Growth of Animals -- The Role of Mitochondria in Regulation of Respiration During Oogenesis -- The Energetics of Regeneration Processes -- VI. Dissipative Structures -- Introduction -- Review of the Theory of Dissipative Structures -- Stationary Dissipative Structures -- Dynamic Dissipative Structures -- Dissipative Structures and ?? Function -- The Role of Cyclization of Free Energy in Bio-Physico-Chemical Processes -- VII. Probability State and Orderliness of Biological Systems -- Introduction -- Possible Mechanism of the Origin of Bacteria -- Direction of the Evolutionary Progress of Organisms -- Criterion of Orderliness and some Problems of Taxonomy -- The Questions of Non-Linearity for Using Criterion of Orderliness -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- Index -- Backmatter