What is Life? The Next Fifty Years: Speculations on the Future of Biology

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511623295

Erwin Schrödinger's book What is Life? had a tremendous influence on the development of molecular biology, stimulating scientists such as Watson and Crick to explore the physical basis of life. Much of the appeal of Schrödinger's book lay in its approach to the central problems in biology - heredity and how organisms use energy to maintain order - from a physicist's perspective. At Trinity College, Dublin a number of outstanding scientists from a range of disciplines gathered to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of What is Life? and following Schrödinger's example fifty years previously, presented their views on the current central problems in biology. The contributors to this volume include Stephen Jay Gould, Roger Penrose, Jared Diamond, Manfred Eigen, John Maynard Smith, Christien de Duve and Lewis Wolpert. This collection is essential reading for anyone interested in biology and its future.

‘… a thought provoking book…’.

Source: Science and Christian Belief

‘Given the galaxy of contributors it could hardly fail. It hasn’t… a stimulating book.’

A. G. Cairns-Smith Source: Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere

‘The authors are among the most illustrious and distinguished scientists of today ... an enjoyable ... journey through the outer reaches of biology.’

Robert Foley Source: Annals of Human Genetics

‘... if you want one slim book that contains as many stimulating ideas as a small library, this is it.’ Alan Anderson, New Scientist

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi
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Contents
pp vii-viii
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List of contributors
pp ix-x
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Preface
pp xi-xii
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1 - What is Life? The next fifty years. An introduction
pp 1-4
- By Michael P. Murphy, Department of Biochemistry, University ofOtago, Dunedin, Luke A. J. O'Neill, department of Biochemistry, Trinity College, Dublin
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2 - What will endure of 20th century biology?
pp 5-24
- By Manfred Eigen, Max Planck Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie, Göttingen
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3 - ‘What is life?’ as a problem in history
pp 25-40
- By Stephen Jay Gould, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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4 - The evolution of human inventiveness
pp 41-56
- By Jared Diamond, Department of Physiology, University of California Medical School, Los Angeles, California
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5 - Development: is the egg computable or could we generate an angel or a dinosaur?
pp 57-66
- By Lewis Wolpert, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London
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6 - Language and life
pp 67-78
- By John Maynard Smith, Department of Biology, University of Sussex, Fainter, Brighton, Eörs Szathmáry, Department of Plant Taxonomy and Ecology, Eötvos University, Budapest
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7 - RNA without protein or protein without RNA?
pp 79-82
- By Christian De Duve, International Institute of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Brussels, and The Rockefeller University, New York
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8 - ‘What is life?’: was Schrödinger right?
pp 83-114
- By Stuart A. Kauffman, Sante Fe Institute, New Mexico
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9 - Why new physics is needed to understand the mind
pp 115-130
- By Roger Penrose, Mathematical Institute, Oxford
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10 - Do the laws of Nature evolve?
pp 131-136
- By Walter Thirring, Institutfur Theoretische Physik, Universität Wien
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11 - New laws to be expected in the organism: synergetics of brain and behaviour
pp 137-160
- By J. A. Scott Kelso, Program in Complex Systems & Brain Sciences, Center for Complex Systems, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, Hermann Haken, Institute for Theoretical Physics & Synergetics, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart
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12 - Order from disorder: the thermodynamics of complexity in biology
pp 161-174
- By Eric D. Schneider, Hawkwood Institute, Livingston, Montana, James J. Kay, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario
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13 - Reminiscences
pp 175-180
- By Ruth Braunizer, Alpbach,|Tirol
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Index
pp 181-191
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What is Life? The Next Fifty Years

Speculations on the Future of Biology

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi

Contents
pp vii-viii

List of contributors
pp ix-x

Preface
pp xi-xii

1 - What is Life? The next fifty years. An introduction
pp 1-4

2 - What will endure of 20th century biology?
pp 5-24

3 - ‘What is life?’ as a problem in history
pp 25-40

4 - The evolution of human inventiveness
pp 41-56

5 - Development: is the egg computable or could we generate an angel or a dinosaur?
pp 57-66

6 - Language and life
pp 67-78

7 - RNA without protein or protein without RNA?
pp 79-82

8 - ‘What is life?’: was Schrödinger right?
pp 83-114

9 - Why new physics is needed to understand the mind
pp 115-130

10 - Do the laws of Nature evolve?
pp 131-136

11 - New laws to be expected in the organism: synergetics of brain and behaviour
pp 137-160

12 - Order from disorder: the thermodynamics of complexity in biology
pp 161-174

13 - Reminiscences
pp 175-180

Index
pp 181-191

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What is Life? The Next Fifty Years

Speculations on the Future of Biology

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