Quantitative Biology of Metabolism

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XVI

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2. Models of Metabolism

   1. Models in General

      1. The Epistemological Significance of Models in Science

         • A. Locker

         Pages 1-10

      2. Causality, Complexity and Computers

         • H. Kacser, J. A. Burns

         Pages 11-23

   2. Discrete and Continuous Models

      1. Discrete and Continuous Representations of Metabolic Models

         • R. Rosen

         Pages 24-32

      2. Interaction of a Digital (Genetic) System with a Continuous (Enzymatic) One in the Cell

         • M. Sugita

         Pages 33-37

      3. A Model for Sustained Rhythmic Binary Logic in Biochemical Systems

         • Ch. Walter

         Pages 38-44

   3. Stochastic and Deterministic Models

      1. Some General Ideas on Deterministic and Stochastic Models of Biological Systems

         • A. F. Bartholomay

         Pages 45-65

      2. Turnover Compartmentalization. An Approach to Analysis of Whole-Body Retention Data

         • P.-E. E. Bergner

         Pages 66-70

   4. Computer Models of Cell Metabolism

      1. Functioning of a Cell Model

         • Z. Simon, D. Farcaş, A. Cristea

         Pages 71-74

      2. A Digital Computer System for the Construction and Analysis of Steady State Models of Enzyme Catalysed Networks

         • J. A. Burns

         Pages 75-80

      3. Computation of Equilibria and Kinetics of Chemical Systems with Many Species

         • H. J. Bremermann

         Pages 81-85

3. Metabolic Parameters

   1. Temperature — Season — Adaptation

      1. The Relation between Heat Production, Oxygen Consumption and Temperature in Some Poikilotherms

         • J. N. R. Grainger

         Pages 86-90

      2. On Structure and Metabolic Rate of the Skeletal Muscle of the Eel (<i>Anguilla vulgaris</i> L.)

         • H.-D. Jankowsky

         Pages 91-94

      3. Analysis of Heart Rate Adaptation to Temperature

         • E. Zerbst

         Pages 95-101

      4. The Heat Production of Goldfinches and Canaries in Summer and Winter

         • S. Gelineo

         Pages 102-105

      5. Quantitative Thermogenesis of Brown Fat in Hibernation and Cold Adaptation

         • R. E. Smith, Barbara A. Horwitz, Y. Imai

         Pages 106-112

   2. Growth — Age

      1. Contributions to the Energetics of Animal Growth

         • F. Krüger

         Pages 113-126

      2. Models of the Growth of Organisms under Nutrient Limiting Conditions

         • P. R. Payne, Erica F. Wheeler

         Pages 127-132

      3. Biomathematical Interpretation of Organismic Growth

         • F. Collot

         Pages 133-135

      4. Relationships Between Respiration During Imbibition and Subsequent Growth Rates in Germinating Seeds

         • L. W. Woodstock

         Pages 136-146

The development of the life sciences may be said to have effected a gradual transition from a more or less intuitive prescientific approach based on crude observation, via a more refined type of observation to experimentation and hence to the level of formal theories. Quantitative methods are introduced at the second level; they comprise: (a) quantitative design of experiments; (b) regrouping of experimental results; (c) evalua­ tion of results by means of mathematical or special statistical techniques. The last step implies the introduction of theoretical concepts, but we are not justified in speaking of theoretical science unless true theoretical con­ siderations-models or hypotheses-precede experiment, and this is then followed by an attempt to link results with theory so as to verify the theory. Biology at present seems to lie somewhere between the second and third level mentioned above, not yet having achieved the status of a theoretical science in all its branches. Thus, though the need for quantification and mathematical formulation is widely recognized, many biologists still believe that e.g. general systems theory is too abstract to be of use in handling concrete problems. Those, however, who look critically at the present state of affairs cannot adopt this attitude.

• CNS
• adaptation
• biology
• cell
• development
• enzyme
• enzymes
• evolution
• influence
• life sciences
• metabolism
• mitochondria
• perception
• system
• Metabolomics
• Systems Biology

• Institut für Strahlenschutz, Reaktorzentrum Seibersdorf (Österr. Studiengesellschaft für Atomenergie GmbH), Wien, Österreich

  A. Locker

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