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  • Book
  • © 2015

The Calculus of Life

Towards a Theory of Life

Authors:

  1. Andrés Moya

    1. Cavanilles Institute for Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

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  • Logic and Computation are appropriate formal languages for Biology
  • We have a theory of evolution, but a theory of life is still lacking
  • Evolution is predictable if it is progressive
  • Throwing light on the living being as a whole
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Biology (BRIEFSBIOL)

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
    PDF

  2. Biology

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
      PDF

    3. Chance and Necessity

      • Andrés Moya
      Pages 9-12

    4. Tinkering and Evolution

      • Andrés Moya
      Pages 13-15

    5. Concepts for a Theoretical Biology

      • Andrés Moya
      Pages 17-23

  3. Logic and Computing

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 31-31
      PDF

    2. Logic, Computing and Biology

      • Andrés Moya
      Pages 33-38

    3. Life

      • Andrés Moya
      Pages 39-48

    4. Algorithmic Chemistry

      • Andrés Moya
      Pages 49-56

  4. The Cell and Evolution

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 57-57
      PDF

    2. The Spaces of Evolution

      • Andrés Moya
      Pages 59-65

    3. Computing the Cell

      • Andrés Moya
      Pages 67-71

    4. Gödel and the Blind Watchmaker

      • Andrés Moya
      Pages 73-81

    5. In Conclusion: Goethe’s Dream

      • Andrés Moya
      Pages 83-89

  5. Back Matter

    Pages 91-95
    PDF
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About this book

This book explores the exciting world of theoretical biology and is divided into three sections. The first section examines the roles played by renowned scientists such as Jacob, Monod, Rosen, Turing, von Bertalanffy, Waddington and Woodger in developing the field of theoretical biology. The second section, aided with numerous examples, supports the idea that logic and computing are suitable formal languages to describe and understand biological phenomena. The third and final section is, without doubt, the most intellectually challenging and endeavors to show the possible paths we could take to compute a cell - the basic unit of life - or the conditions required for a predictive theory of biological evolution; ultimately, a theory of life in the light of modern Systems Biology. The work aims to show that modern biology is closer than ever to making Goethe's dream come true and that we have reached a point where synthetic and analytical traditions converge to shed light on the living being as a whole.
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Keywords

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Authors and Affiliations

  • Cavanilles Institute for Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

    Andrés Moya

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Bibliographic Information

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Buy it now

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

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