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The biological Maxwell's demons: exploring ideas about the information processing in biological systems
1Group of Cognitive Systems Modeling, Biophysics and Systems Biology Section, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay. emizraji@gmail.com.
Theory in Biosciences = Theorie in Den Biowissenschaften
|August 27, 2021
Summary
Biological Maxwell's demons (BMD) are information-processing systems that create biological order by selecting inputs and directing outputs. These biological Maxwell's demons act as information catalysts with significant thermodynamic consequences.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Molecular Biology
- Thermodynamics
Background:
- Foundational biological discoveries in the 20th century suggested physical implementations of Maxwell's demons.
- Biologists like JBS Haldane, J. Monod, A. Lwoff, and F. Jacob proposed enzymes and molecular receptors as biological Maxwell's demons.
- These biological systems operate far from thermodynamic equilibrium, creating biological order.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose that biological Maxwell's demons (BMD) are information-processing systems.
- To conceptualize BMD as information catalysts with thermodynamic implications.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of existing biological theories.
- Extension of the Maxwell's demon concept to biological systems.
Main Results:
- Biological Maxwell's demons (BMD) possess information processing capabilities.
- BMD can select inputs and direct outputs towards specific targets.
- BMD function as information catalysts, influencing thermodynamics.
Conclusions:
- Biological Maxwell's demons are key to understanding biological order and information processing.
- The concept of information catalysis by BMD offers new thermodynamic insights.
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