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Published on: December 18, 2013
[Thermodynamic theory of evolution and aging]
Advances in Gerontology = Uspekhi Gerontologii
|January 8, 2013
Summary
Life
Area of Science:
- Thermodynamics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Biochemistry
Context:
- Biological systems evolve and age, undergoing changes in chemical and supramolecular composition.
- These changes are rooted in the thermodynamic principles governing near-equilibrium, quasi-closed systems.
- Life can be viewed as a process driven by the consumption and accumulation of specific chemicals.
Purpose:
- To explain and predict evolutionary transformations using hierarchical thermodynamics.
- To elucidate the thermodynamic basis of biological evolution and aging.
- To explore the role of chemical substance accumulation in biological systems.
Summary:
- This review applies phenomenological hierarchical thermodynamics to understand life's emergence and evolution.
- It posits that life is a struggle for power-consuming chemicals, minimizing the Gibbs function of supramolecular structures.
- The study connects thermodynamic principles to biological processes like evolution and aging.
Impact:
- Provides a thermodynamic framework for understanding life's evolutionary trajectory.
- Offers insights into the fundamental drivers of biological organization and aging.
- Contributes to advancements in gerontology and geriatrics through a deeper understanding of biological processes.
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