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Life is physics and chemistry and communication
1Telos-Philosophische Praxis, Salzburg, Austria.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|January 6, 2015
Summary
Manfred Eigen
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Virology
- Information Theory
- Systems Theory
Background:
- Erwin Schrodinger's concept of life as physics and chemistry.
- Manfred Eigen's extension incorporating information and cybernetic systems theory.
- Eigen's development of quasispecies and hypercycles, influential in molecular biology and virology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze Manfred Eigen's contributions to understanding life.
- To examine Eigen's assertion of the genetic code as a natural language.
- To integrate insights from the philosophy of science regarding natural language emergence.
Main Methods:
- Historical analysis of scientific developments in the 20th century.
- Review of Eigen's theoretical frameworks (quasispecies, hypercycles).
- Examination of the philosophy of science discourse on codes and communication.
Main Results:
- Eigen's theories of quasispecies and hypercycles significantly impacted molecular biology and virology.
- Eigen viewed the genetic code as a natural language, not merely a metaphor.
- The study highlights a divergence between Eigen's views and the philosophy of science on language emergence from communicating agents.
Conclusions:
- Eigen's work provided a foundational, albeit incomplete, information-theoretic perspective on life.
- A more comprehensive understanding of life requires integrating Eigen's concepts with the philosophy of science on emergent communication.
- Re-evaluating the genetic code through the lens of emergent natural language offers new avenues for biological theories.
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