Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

The Thermodynamic Machinery of Life

  • Book
  • © 2006

Overview

Authors:
  1. Michal Kurzynski

    1. Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland

    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • A must for all biophysicists and cell biologists as well as interdisciplinary interested physicists and chemists
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: The Frontiers Collection (FRONTCOLL)

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this book

Log in via an institution
eBook USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

Licence this eBook for your library

Institutional subscriptions

Table of contents (13 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages I-XIV
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Biophysics: An Experimental Tool of Biology or the Physics of Animate Matter?

    Pages 1-5

  3. Statistical Description of Matter

    Pages 7-34

  4. Thermodynamic State

    Pages 35-64

  5. Origins and Evolution of Life

    Pages 65-89

  6. Molecular Biology of the Eukaryotic Cell

    Pages 91-139

  7. Chemical Reactions

    Pages 141-171

  8. Enzymatic Catalysis

    Pages 173-196

  9. Biological Free Energy Transduction

    Pages 197-224

  10. Lack of Partial Thermodynamic Equilibrium

    Pages 225-262

  11. Thermodynamic Supplement

    Pages 263-284

  12. Stochastic Processes

    Pages 285-313

  13. Structure of Biomolecules

    Pages 315-348

  14. Dynamics of Biomolecules

    Pages 349-388

  15. Back Matter

    Pages 389-431
    Download chapter PDF
Back to top

Keywords

About this book

Thermodynamics was created in the ?rst half of the 19th century as a theory designed to explain the functioning of heat engines converting heat into mechanical work. In the course of time, while the scope of research in this ?eld was being extended to a wider and wider class of energy transformations, thermodynamics came to be considered as a general theory of machines identi?ed with energy transducers. Imp- tant progress in biochemistry in the ?rst half of the 20th century, and in molecular biology in the second half, made it possible to think of treating even living organisms as machines, at least on the subcellular level. However, success in applying thermodynamics to elucidate the phenomenon of life has been rather mitigated. Two reasons seem to be responsible for this unsatisfactory s- uation. Nineteenth century thermodynamics dealt only with simple (homogeneous) systems in complete equilibrium. Although during the 20th century a nonequilibrium thermodynamics was developed, sta- ing with the Onsager theory of linear response and ending with the Prigogine nonlinear theory of dissipative structures, these theories still concern the originally homogeneous systems. Because living organisms are complex systems with a historically frozen spatial and functional structure, a thermodynamics of both nonequilibrium and complex s- tems is needed for their description. The ?rst goal of the present book is to formulate the foundations of such a thermodynamics.

Reviews

From the reviews:

“The book seamlessly presents the historical and philosophical evolution of a fundamental principle … and develops the implications of the principle in a staggeringly wide range of contexts. … a work that is engaging, lucid and supremely approachable. … the warmth and sincerity of the writing make this book a joy … . Highly recommended.” (Philosophy, Religion and Science Book Reviews, bookinspections.wordpress.com, May, 2014)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland

    Michal Kurzynski

Bibliographic Information

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Back to top

Search

Navigation