Entropy of Living versus Non-Living Systems

• 作者: Isaac C. Sanchez
• 来源期刊: 现代物理(英文)
• 学科: 医学
• 关键词: NEGATIVE ENTROPY DNA Genetic Code CODON Second Law of THERMODYNAMICS
• 年，卷（期）: xdwlyw_2011,（7）
• 页码范围: 654-657
• 页数: 4页
• 分类号: R73

摘要

Using a careful thermodynamic analysis of unfertilized and fertilized eggs as a paradigm, it is argued that neither classical nor statistical thermodynamics is able to adequately describe living systems. To rescue thermodynamics from this dilemma, the definition of entropy for a living system must expand to acknowedge the latent genetic information encoded in DNA and RNA.As a working supposition, it is proposed that gradual unfolding (expression) of genetic information contributes a negative entropy flow into a living organism that alleviates apparent thermodynamic inconsistencies. It is estimated that each coding codon in DNA intrinsically carries about -3k in negative entropy. Even prior to the discovery of DNA and the genetic code, negative entropy flow in living systems was first proposed by Erwin Schr?dinger in 1944.