Thermodynamic Formulation of Living Systems and Their Evolution

Luis Felipe del Castillo, Paula Vera-Cruz
DOI: 10.4236/jmp.2011.25047                

Abstract

The purpose of this review article is to present some of the recent contributions that show the use of thermo-dynamics to describe biological systems and their evolution, illustrating the agreement that this theory pre-sents with the field of evolution. Organic systems are described as thermodynamic systems where entropy is produced by the irreversible processes, considering as an established fact that this entropy is eliminated through their frontiers to preserve life. The necessary and sufficient conditions to describe the evolution of life in the negentropy principle are established. Underlining the fact that the necessary condition requires formulation, which is founded on the principle of minimum entropy production for open systems operating near equilibrium. Other formulations are mentioned, particularly the information theory, the energy inten-siveness hypothesis and the theory of open systems far from equilibrium. Finally suggesting the possibility of considering the lineal formulation as a viable alternative; that is, given the internal constrictions under which a biological system operates, it is possible that the validity of its application is broader than it has been suggested.

Keywords

Entropy, Life, Evolution, Dissipative Structures, Negentropy Principle

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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