Answering Schrödinger's "What Is Life?"

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Thermodynamics
• Origin of Life

Background:

• Erwin Schrödinger's "What Is Life?" explored organismal order and thermodynamics.
• Schrödinger posed three fundamental questions regarding life's order and physics.
• He proposed "aperiodic solids" as the source of order but left other questions open.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate that Schrödinger's "aperiodic solid" concept also answers his second question.
• To explain how organisms maintain order against the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
• To address the diachronic evolution of life within existing physical laws.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Schrödinger's "aperiodic solid" concept.
• Application of thermodynamic principles to biological systems.
• Conceptual framework linking molecular structures to macroscopic order and evolution.

Main Results:

• Aperiodic solids, like protein enzymes, act as boundary conditions.
• Constrained energy release drives thermodynamic work, building cellular structures.
• Delayed entropy export allows cells to maintain order, answering Schrödinger's second question.
• No new physical laws are required to explain biological evolution.

Conclusions:

• Schrödinger's "aperiodic solid" provides a unified answer to the source and maintenance of organismal order.
• Biological order is achieved through constrained energy dissipation and work, not violation of thermodynamic laws.
• The evolution of life does not necessitate new physical laws, aligning with existing physics.