Advances in Chemical Physics: Aspects of Chemical Evolution: XVIIth Solvay Conference on Chemistry Washington, D.C., April 23-April 24, 1980, Volume 55

292 Pages·1984·8.504 MB·English

ASPECTS OF CHEMICAL EVOLUTION
XVllth SOLVAY CONFERENCE ON CHEMISTRY
A D V A N C E S IN C H E M I C A L P H Y S I C S
VOLUME LV
EDITORIAL BOARD
C. J. BALLHAUSEKNo,b enhaven Universitets Fysisk-Kemiske Institut. Kemisk
Laboratorium IV, Kobenhaven, Denmark
J. J. M. BEENAKKERRij,k suniversiteit te Leiden, Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory,
Leiden, Netherlands
RICHARBD. BERNSTEINO,c cidental Research Corporation, Irvine, California,
U.S.A.
H. HAKENI,n stitut fur Theoretische und Angewandte Physik der Technischen
Hochschule, Stuttgart, Germany
Yu L. KLIMONTOVITMCoHs,c ow State University, Moscow, USSR
RYOGOK uso, Department of Physics, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
M. MANDELC, hemie-Complex der Rijks-Universiteit, Wassenaarseweg, Leiden,
Netherlands
PETERM AZURI,n stitute Lorentz voor Theoretische Natuurkunde, Nieuwsteeg,
Leiden, Netherlands
GREGOIRNEI COLISP, ool de Physique, Facult6 de Sciences, Universite Libre de
Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
S. ONO,I nstitute of Physics, University of Tokyo (College of General Education),
Tokyo, Japan
MICHAEPLH ILPOTTIB, M Research Center, San Jose, California, U.S.A.
J. C. POLANYDI,e partment of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, On-
tario, Canada
YVESP OMEAUC,o mmissariat a I’Energie Atomique, Centre d’Etudes nucleares
de Saclay, Division de la Physique, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
B. PULLMAINn,s titut de Biologie, Physico-Chimique, Universite de Paris, Paris,
France
C. C. J. ROOTHAADNe, partments of Physics and Chemistry, The University of
Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
IANR oss, Department of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra,
Australia
JOHNR oss, Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Cambridge, Massachusetts, U .S .A.
R. SCHECTEDRe, partment of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Aus-
tin, Austin, Texas, U.S.A.
I. SHAVITTD,e partment of Chemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio,
U.S.A.
JANS TECKIIn, stitute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences,
Warsaw, Poland
GEORGSEZ ASZG, eneral Electric Corporate R & D, Zurich, Switzerland
KAZUHITSAO MITAD,e partment of Physics, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University,
Kyoto, Japan
M. V. VOLKENSTEIInNs,t itute of Molecular Biology, Academy of Science, Mos-
cow, USSR
E. BRIGHWT ILSOND, epartment of Chemistry, Harvard University, Cambridge,
Massachusetts, U.S.A.
ASPECTS OF
CHEMICAL EVOLUTION
XVIIth SOLVAY CONFERENCE ON CHEMISTRY
WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 23-APRIL 24, 1980
Edited by
G. NICOLIS
University of Brussels . Brussels. Belgium
ADVANCES IN CHEMICAL PHYSICS
VOLUME LV
Series editors
Ilya Prigogine Stuart A. Rice
University sf Brussels Department of Chemistry
Brussels. Belgium and
and The James Franck Institute
University of Texas University of Chicago
Austin. Texas Chicago, Illinois
AN INTERSCIENCE@P UBLICATION
JOHN WILEY & SONS
New York . Chichester . Brisbane . Toronto . Singapore
An Interscience" Publication
Copyright 0 1984 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
All rights reserved. Published simultaneously in Canada.
Reproduction or translation of any part of this work
beyond that permitted by Section 107 or 108 of the
1976 United States Copyright Act without the permission
of the copyright owner is unlawful. Requests for
permission or further information should be addressed to
the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data:
Solvay Conference on Chemistry (17th : 1980 : Wash-
ington, D.C.)
Aspects of chemical evolution : XVlIth Solvay
Conference on Chemistry, Washington, D.C., April 23-
April 24, 1980.
(Advances in chemical physics ; v. 55)
"An Interscience publication."
Includes index.
I. Chemical evolution-Congresses. 2. Instituts
Solvay-History-Congresses. 1. Nicolis, G.,
1939- . 11. Title. 111. Series.
QD453.A27 VOI. 55 [QH325] 541s 15771 83-12386
ISBN 0-471-88405-7
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
INTRODUCTION
Few of us can any longer keep up with the flood of scientific literature,
even in specialized subfields. Any attempt to do more, and be broadly
educated with respect to a large domain of science, has the appearance
of tilting at windmills. Yet the synthesis of ideas drawn from different
subjects into new, powerful, general concepts is as valuable as ever, and
the desire to remain educated persists in all scientists. This series, Ad-
vunces in Chemical Physics, is devoted to helping the reader obtain gen-
eral information about a wide variety of topics in chemical physics, which
field we interpret very broadly. Our intent is to have experts present
comprehensive analyses of subjects of interest and to encourage the
expression of individual points of view. We hope that this approach to
the presentation of an overview of a subject will both stimulate new re-
search and serve as a personalized learning text for beginners in a field.
ILYAP RIGOGINE
STUARAT. RICE
V
PREFACE
The reports and discussions contained in this volume have been pre-
sented at the XVIIth Solvay conference on Chemistry. This was a special
Solvay Conference organized jointly by the Solvay Institutes and the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences of the United States, on the occasion of the
150th anniversary of the establishment of Belgium as an independent
state. It was held in Washington, D.C., on April 23-24, 1980.
The first part of the Conference was devoted to the historical role of
the Solvay Institutes, and in particular of the Solvay Conferences on
Physics and Chemistry, in promoting international scientific cooperation.
The second part was devoted to some aspects of chemical evolution. This
subject comprises an impressive number of different, yet complementary,
questions having an interest in their own right.
At the molecular level, it is believed that atmospheric conditions pre-
vailing on earth some 4 billion years ago triggered an evolution of simple
molecules to more complex forms. Eventually this led to biopolymer for-
mation, which is at the basis of the origin of life. Somewhere along this
path transition points such as chirality and self-replication arose, which
conferred on evolution a markedly irreversible character.
At the macroscopic level, evolution brought a drastic change in the
environment. For instance, the earth’s atmosphere after the appearance
of life is completely different than before. In addition, at this level, the
analysis of physical, chemical, and biological problems shows that the
evolution to complexity is accompanied by the successive breaking of
symmetries of various kinds induced by two elements that continuously
recur throughout the different stages: nonequilibrium constraints, nec-
essary to enable the system to pump the appropriate raw materials from
its environment; and nonlinearities in the form of feedbacks, necessary
to speed up what would be otherwise an exceedingly slow rate of evo-
lution. Finally, at the crucial moment of choice of a particular pathway
among the multitude available, fluctuations play a crucial role.
We hope that by bringing together presentations referring to all these
different facets of evolution, the present volume will contribute to the
development of an interdisciplinary approach to this fascinating field.
The late Philip Handler, president of the U.S. Academy of Sciences,
played a key role in the success of the Conference. Thanks are also due
to Professor Bryce Crawford, Home Secretary of the Academy, and his
vii
viii PREFACE
staff for the efficient handling of the various problems posed by the or-
ganization of the meeting.
ILY PRIGOG~NE
A
GREGOIRNE ICOLE
Brussels, Belgium
July 1983
Administrative Council
of the
Instituts Internationaux de Physique et de Chimie
founded by E. Solvay
President SOLVAPYre,s ident de la Commission Administrative des Instituts
Internationaux de Physique et de Chimie
Vice-president F. BINGENO,n dervoorzitter van de Raad van Beheer van de In-
ternationale Instituten voor Fysica en Chemie
Director I. PRIGOGINDEi,r ecteur des Instituts Internationaux de Physique
et de Chimie
Vice-Director J. PHILIPPOAT,d junct-Directeur van de Raad van Beheer van de
Internationale Instituten voor Fysica en Chemie
Treasurer J. REiGNIER, Penningmeester van de Raad van Beheer van de
Internationale Instituten voor Fysica en Chemie
Secretary G. NICOLISS,e cretaire du Conseil d’Administration des Instituts
Internationaux de Physique et de Chimie
Members R. DEBEVER
P. GLANSDORFF
A. JAUMOTTE
A. MOLITOR
G.V ANB INST
Scientific Committee in Chemistry
of the
Instituts Internationaux de Physique et de Chimie
founded by E. Solvay
A. R. UBBELOHDIEm, perial College, Department of Chemical Engineering and
Chemical Technology, London, England
S. CLAESSONU, ppsala Universitet, Fysikalisk-Kemiska Institutionen, Uppsala,
Sweden
M. EIGENM, ax-Planck-Institut fur Biophysikalische Chemie, Nikolausberg, Got-
tingen, Federal Republic of Germany
B. HESS,M ax-Planck-Institut fur Ernahrungsphysiologie, Dortmund, Federal Re-
public of Germany
E. KATCHALSKTYh,e Weizmann Institute of Science, Department of Biophysics,
Rehovot, Israel
H. NORMANUT,n iversitC de Paris VI, Laboratoire de Synthkse Organique, Paris,
France
ix
X SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE IN CHEMISTRY
W. LIPSCOMBH,a rvard University, Department of Chemistry, Cambridge, Mas-
sachusetts, U.S.A.
R. MARTINU, niversitt Libre de Bruxelles, Service de Chimie Organique, Brux-
elles, Belgium
J. E. MAYERU, niversity of California, San Diego, Department of Chemistry,
Revelle College, La Jolla, California, U.S.A.
Yu. OVCHINIKOSVhe, myakin Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry U.S.S.R. Acad-
emy of Sciences, Moscow, U.S.S.R.
L. PAULINGL,i nus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine, Menlo Park, Cal-
ifornia, U.S.A.
V. PRELOGE,i dgenossische Laboratorium fur Organische Chernie, Zurich, Switz-
erland
LORDT ODDC, hrist’s College, Cambridge, England
G. WITTIG,O rganisch-Chemisches Institiit der Universitat, Heidelberg, Federal
Republic of Germany
Participants
E. AMALDII,s tituto di Fisica “Guglielmo Marconi,” Universita degli Studi.
Piazzale delle Scienze, Rome, Italy
G. AUCHMUTIYnd, iana University, Department of Mathematics, Bloomington,
Indiana, U.S.A.
A. BABLOYANTUZni,v ersitC Libre de Bruxelles, Service de Chimie Physique 11,
Bruxelles, Belgium
J. BELEWV, ice-president, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, U.S.A.
A. BELLEMANUSn,i versitt Libre de Bruxelles, Campus Plaine, Bruxelles, Belgium
A. BERGER, Institut d’astronomie et de GCophysique, Universite Catholique de
Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium
J. BIGELEISEANs,s embly Chairman, National Research Council, Assembly of
Mathematical and Physical Sciences, State University of New York at Stony
Brook, Stony Brook, New York, U.S.A.
F. BINGENF,a culteit van Wetenschappen, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel,
Belgium
R. M. BOCK, The Graduate School, University of Wisconsin, Madison,
Wisconsin, U.S.A.
S. CLAESSONU,p psala Universitet, Fysikalisk-Kemiska Institutionen, Uppsala,
Sweden
M. DOLE,B aylor University, Department of Chemistry, Waco, Texas, U.S.A.
M. EIGEN,M ax-Planck-Institut fur Biophysikalische Chemie, Nikolausberg,
Gottingen, Federal Republic of Germany
T. Enwax, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Service de Chimie Physique 11,
PARTICIPANTS xi
Bruxelles, Belgium, and Northwestern University, Department of Applied
Mathematics, Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.
P. FIFE, University of Arizona, Department of Mathematics, Tucson, Arizona,
U.S.A.
G. FONKEVNi,c e-president for Research, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas,
U.S.A.
H. FRISCHS, tate University of New York, Department of Chemistry, Albany,
New York, U.S.A.
M. GHIL,N ew York University, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New
York, New York, U.S.A.
P. GLANSDORFFU, niversite Libre de Bruxelles, Campus Plaine, Bruxelles,
Belgium
A. GOLDBETERU,n iversite Libre de Bruxelles, Service de Chemie Physique 11,
Bruxelles, Belgium
T. A. GRIFFYT, he University of Texas, Department of Physics, Austin, Texas,
U.S.A.
T. Guo, I.I.T., Research Institute, Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.A.
W. Guo, I.I.T., Research Institute, Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.A.
B. L. HAO, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Theoretical Physics,
Beijing, People's Republic of China
H. HERS,U niversite Catholique de Louvain, Faculte de Medecine, Laboratoire
de Chimie Physiologique, Bruxelles, Belgium
B. HESS, Max-Planck-Institut fur Ernahrungsphysiologie, Dortmund, Federal
Republic of Germany
J. HIERNAUXU,n iversite Libre de Bruxelles. Service de Chimie Physique 11,
Bruxelles, Belgium
H. D. HOLLANDH,a rvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
E. IMMERGUSTc,i entific American, New York, New York, U.S.A.
K. KALTHOFFT,h e University of Texas at Austin, Department of Zoology, Austin,
Texas, U.S.A.
L. D. KAPLANN, ational Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space
Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, U.S.A.
E. KATCHALSKTYh,e Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
S. KAUFFMANU,n iversity of Pennsylvania, Department of Biology, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
D. KONDEPUDCI,e nter for Studies in Statistical Mechanics, The University of
Texas, Austin, Texas
P. LASZLOI,n stitut de Chimie, Universite de Liege, Liege, Belgium
R. LEFEVERU, niversite Libre de Bruxelles, Service de Chimie Physique 11,
Bruxelles, Belgium
E. MARGOLIASHN,o rthwestern University, Department of Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology, Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.