Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Thermal noise and biological information.

H A Johnson

    The Quarterly Review of Biology
    |June 1, 1987
    PubMed
    Summary

    Thermal noise, a fundamental limit in electronics, also impacts biological systems. Organisms expend significant energy to counteract information loss from this noise, explaining high cellular and protein turnover rates.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Oxalate of Lime, and Its Relations to Certain Forms of Neuralgia.

    Medical examiner (Philadelphia, Pa.)·2023
    Same author

    Thyrotomy.

    The Chicago medical journal and examiner·2023
    Same author

    Consumption in the Northwestern States.

    The Chicago medical journal and examiner·2023
    Same author

    Pneumatic Differentiation and Medication.

    The Chicago medical journal and examiner·2023
    Same author

    Chronic Pseudo-Membranous Bronchitis.

    The Chicago medical journal and examiner·2023
    Same author

    The Influence of the Work of the Illinois Medical-Practice Act upon Medical Education.

    The Chicago medical journal and examiner·2023

    Area of Science:

    • Biophysics
    • Information Theory
    • Cell Biology

    Background:

    • Thermal noise is a fundamental physical limitation affecting information processing systems.
    • While well-understood in electronics, its impact on biological information handling is often overlooked.
    • Biological systems must maintain information integrity despite inherent noise.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To explore the fundamental role of thermal noise in biological information processing.
    • To explain previously unexplained high energy expenditures in living organisms.
    • To link cellular and molecular turnover rates to the necessity of combating thermal noise.

    Main Methods:

    • Theoretical analysis of information loss due to thermal noise in biological contexts.
    • Modeling cellular and molecular processes in relation to information preservation.
    • Evaluating energy consumption in regulatory organs and cellular turnover.

    Main Results:

    • Thermal noise significantly degrades information in biological systems.
    • High rates of cellular and intracellular protein turnover are a direct consequence of combating information loss from thermal noise.
    • Elevated energy consumption in regulatory organs is necessary for maintaining information fidelity.

    Conclusions:

    • Thermal noise is a critical factor limiting the efficiency of biological information handling.
    • The energetic costs of biological processes are largely driven by the need to overcome thermal noise.
    • Understanding thermal noise provides a new framework for explaining fundamental aspects of cellular and organismal energetics.

    Related Experiment Videos