Complexity, Chaos, and Biological Evolution

1991
ISBN: 978-0-306-44026-7
Verlag: Springer US

Buch, Englisch, Band 270, 446 Seiten, Book, Gewicht: 970 g

Reihe: NATO Science Series: B

From time to time, perhaps a few times each century, a revolution occurs that questions some of our basic beliefs and sweeps across otherwise well guarded disciplinary boundaries. These are the periods when science is fun, when new paradigms have to be formulated, and when young scientists can do serious work without first having to acquire all the knowledge of their teachers. The emergence of nonlinear science appears to be one such revolution. In a surprising manner, this new science has disclosed a number of misconceptions in our traditional understanding of determinism. In particular, it has been shown that the notion of predictability, according to which the trajectory of a system can be precisely determined if one knows the equations of motion and the initial conditions, is related to textbook examples of simple; integrable systems. This predictability does not extend to nonlinear, conservative systems in general. Dissipative systems can also show unpredictability, provided that the motion is sustained by externally supplied energy and/or resources. These discoveries, and the associated discovery that even relatively simple nonlinear systems can show extremely complex behavior, have brought about an unprecedented feeling of common interest among scientists from many different disciplines. During the last decade or two we have come to understand that there are universal routes to chaos, we have learned about stretching and folding, and we have discovered the beautiful fractal geometry underlying chaotic attractors.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Mosekilde, Erik

Mosekilde, Lis

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface. An Introductory Overview: Structure, Complexity and Chaos in Living Systems; E. Mosekilde, et al. Probing Dynamics of the Cerebral Cortex; A. Babloyantz. Chaos and Bi-furcations during Voiced Speech; H. Herzel, et al. Complex Dynamics in Physiological Control Systems: Complex Dynamics in the Kidney Microcirculation; D.J. Marsh, et al. Aspects of Oscillatory Insulin Secretion; J. Sturis, et al. The Dynamic Code: Information Transfer in Hormonal Systems; K. Prank, et al. Membrane Activity and Cell to Cell Signalling: Periodicity and Chaos in cAMP, Hormonal and Ca2+ Signalling; A. Goldbeter, et al. Fractal, Chaotic, and SelfOrganizing Critical System. Descriptions of the Kinetics of Cell Membrane Ion Channels; L.S. Liebowitx, et al. A Discontinuous Model for Membrane Activity; H.Ø. Madsen, et al. Evolutionary Dynamics and Artificial Life: Mutations and Selection in Evolutionary Processes; W. Ebeling. Considerations of Stability in Models of Primative Life. Effect of Errors and Error Propagation; C. Blomberg. Information Dynamics of Self-Programmable Matter; C. Knudsen, et al. Biological Structures and Morphogenesis. Chaos and Hyperchaos. 18 additional articles. Index.