Biogenesis Evolution Homeostasis: A Symposium by Correspondence

183 Pages·1973·5.76 MB·English

by  A. Locker (eds.)

Biogenesis
Evolution
Homeostasis
A Symposium by Correspondence
Editor
A. Locker
With 13 Figures
Springer-Verlag
Berlin Heidelberg New York 1973
ISBN-13: 978-3-540-06134-2 e-ISBN-13: 978-3-642-95235-7
DOl: 10.1007/978-3-642-95235-7
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Preface
In 1963, 1965 and 1967 "Symposia on Quantitative Biology of Metabolism" were
organized on the pretty island of Helgoland (Biologische Anstalt) by me in col-
laboration with O. KINNE and F. KROGER. Unfortunately this worthy approach
towards bringing together interested scholars in a regular way ceased, mainly
for financial reasons, although the need for and interest in conferences like these
for the exchange of ideas on special topics unchangeably persists. So I had to
look for other possibilities and one of them was to try to arrange a similar con-
ference under the auspices of NASA. This institution, however, eventually re-.
treated, although during my discussion with its representatives a new special
theme gained shape. This is the topic to which this volume is devoted: Bio-
genesis. It is also treated in a new way that probably could be a model for.
similar undertakings: a symposium by correspondence. In this new approach
to scientific information exchange, manuscripts were collected by the editor and
sent to every contributor for his comments. The author could then reply by means
of a concluding remark. So, in many instances very valuable ideas concerning
the topics of the several papers could be gathered and it is to be hoped that
this procedure has conferred upon this volume a certain uniqueness. Of course,
I had to observe the agreement with Springer-Verlag not to exceed the extent
of the volume allotted to us. I was, therefore, sometimes placed in the pre-
dicament of having to shorten the submitted paper and in other cases I was
forced to accept only the abstract of the paper. In these instances I must ask
the authors for their understanding and patience, since many of these papers
will presumably be published in a forthcoming journal.
I take the opportunity to thank all the contributors to this volume for their
valuable cooperation which made it possible to complete a work which deals
indeed with a theme of outstanding topicality. The Austrian Society for Atomic
Energy, Ltd, assumed the cost for distributing the many copies of the papers by
air mail, thus enabling the exchange of the comments. I have especially to thank
Dr. K. F. SPRINGER of Springer-Verlag for agreeing to publish this volume. My
particular gratitude is directed to my friend, N. A. COULTER JR., who kindly
enabled the completion of the editorial work during my stay with him under an
NSF Senior Fellowship. My former secretary, Mrs. H. SONNECK, assisted me at the
beginning of the editorial work.
It is hoped that this volume will arouse interest among that scientific community
which is convinced that Theoretical Biology has now achieved the stage of
VI
scientific development characterized not only by the appl ication of formal models
but also by the use of epistemology in penetrating into the depth of the pro-
blems.
Vienna and Chapel Hill, March 1973 A. LOCKER
Contents
I. General Formal and Relational Aspects
A. LOCKER: Systemogenesis as a Paradigm for Biogenesis 1
H. P. YOCKEY: Information Theory with Applications to Biogenesis and
Evolution . 9
P. DECKER, A. SPEIDEL, and W. NICOLAI: On the Origin of Information in
Biological Systems and in Bioids (A). 25
J. R. HAMANN and L. M. BIANCHI: On the Evolutionary Origin of Life and
the Definition and Nature of Organism: Relational Redundancies
(A) . 27
II. Optimization and Evolution
H. J. BREMERMANN: On the Dynamics and Trajectories of Evolution Pro-
cesses . 29
D. COHEN: The Limits on Optimization in Evolution 39
III. Control and Homeostasis
H. H. PATTEE: Physical Problems of the Origin of Natural Controls 41
CH. WALTER: The Significance of Cooperative Interactions in Bio-
chemical Control Systems (A) . 51
B. HESS: Organization of Glycolysis (A) . 53
Z. SIMON: Cell Models and the Homeostasis Problem (A) 55
N. A. COULTER, JR.: Contribution to a Mathematical Theory of Synergic
Systems . 51'
IV. Oscillation, Excitability and Evolution
B. GROSS and Y. G. KIM: The Role of Precursors in Stimulating Oscil-
lations in Autocatalytic Diffusion Coupled Systems . 63
S. COMOROSAN: Oscillatory Behavior o'f Enzymic Activities: A New Type
of Metabolic Control System (A) . 71
TH. PAVLlDIS: The Existence of Synchronous States in Populations of
Oscillators 73
R. WEVER: Reactions of Model-Oscillations to External Stimuli De-
pending on the Type of Oscillation (A) . 81
N. W. GABEL: Abiogenic Aspects of Biological Excitability. A General
Theory for Evolution 85
VIII
V. Statistics and Thermodynamics
P. FONG: Thermodynamic and Statistical Theory of Life: An Outline 93
H. C. MEL and D. A. EWALD: Thermodynamic Potentials and Evolution
towards the Stationary State in Open Systems of Far-from-Equili-
brium Chemical Reactions: The Affinity Squared Minimum Function
(A) . 107
G. NICOllS: Thermodynamic Stability and Spatio-Temporal Structures
in Chemical Systems (A) . 109
D. DETCHEV and S. TEODOROVA: Optimal Adaptation of the Metabolic
Processes in the Cell (A). 111
VI. Metabolic Evolution
R. ROSEN: On the Generation of Metabolic Novelties in Evolution 113
D. C. REANNEY: Circular Nucleic Acids in Evolution (A) . 125
VII. Time and Evolution
B. GONTHER: Physiological Time and Its Evolution 127
E. W. BASTIN: Timeless Order . 137
VIII. Learning, Memory and Evolution
A. M. ANDREW: The Ontogenesis of Purposive Activity 147
J. S. GRIFFITH: Some General Problems of Memory . 159
E. G. BRUNNGRABER: Role of Glycoproteins in Neural Ontogenesis,
Membrane Phenomena, and Memory (A) . 165
D. L. SZEKELY: On Controlled and Totally Neural-Replies Generated
Concepts for Biology and Functional Brain Theory . 169
R. E. KALMAN: Remarks on Mathematical Brain Models 173
IX. Conclusion
A. LOCKER: How to Conceive of Biogenesis (A Reflection Instead of a
Summary). 181
Subject Index . . 185
(A): Abstract
List of Participants
ANDREW, A. M., Department of Applied Physical Sciences, The University of Read-
ing, Building 3, Early Gate, Whiteknights, Reading/Great Britain
BASTIN, E. W., Language Research Unit, 20 Millington Road, Cambridge/Great
Britain
BREMERMANN, H. J., Department of Mathematics, University of California, Berkeley,
CA 94720/USA
BRUNNGRABER, E. G., Research Department, Illinois State Psychiatric Institute,
1601 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612/USA
COHEN, D., Department of Botany, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem/Israel
COMOROSAN, S., Department of Biochemistry, University Postgraduate Medical
School, Fundeni Hospital, Bucharest/Romania
COULTER, N. A., JR., Curriculum in Biomedical Engineering and Mathematics"
UNC Medical School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27514/
USA
DECKER, P., Chemisches Institut, Tierarztliche Hochschule, 3 Hannover, Bischofs-
holer Damm 15/W. Germany
DETCHEV, G., Central Biophysical Laboratory, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,
Sofia/Bulgaria
FONG, P., Physics Department, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322/USA
GABEL, N. W" Illinois State Psychiatric Institute, 1601 West Taylor Street, Chicago,
IL 60612/USA
GRIFFITH, J. S. (deceased; formerly): Department of Chemistry, Indiana University,
Bloomington, IN 47401/USA
GROSS, B., Research Department, Mobil Research and Development Corp., Pauls-
boro, NJ 08066/USA .
GONTHER, B., Departamento de Medicina Experimental, Universidade de Chile,
Casilla 16038, Santiago/Chile
HAMANN, J. R., Center for Theoretical Biology, SUNY at Buffalo, 4248 Ridge Lea
Road, Amherst, NY 14226/USA
HESS, B., Max-Planck-Institut fUr Ernahrungsphysiologie, 46 Dortmund, Rhein-
landdamm 201/W. Germany
KALMAN, R. E., Department of Mathematics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
94305/USA
LOCKER, A" Osterreichische Studiengesellschaft fUr Atomenergie GmbH., Lenau-
gasse 10, 1082 Wien/Osterreich (jointly 1972-1974; Curriculum in Bio-
medical Engineering and Mathematics, UNC Medical School, University of
North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27514/USA)
x
MEL, H. C., Donner Laboratory of Medical Physics, University of California, Ber-
keley, CA 94720/USA
NICOllS, G., Faculte des Sciences, Universite Libre, Bruxelles/Belgique
PATIEE, H. H., Center for Theoretical Biology, SUNY at Buffalo, 4248 Ridge Lea
Road, Amherst, NY 14226/USA
PAVLlDIS, T., Department of Electrical Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton
NJ 08540/USA
REANNEY, D. C., Lincoln College, Canterbury/New Zealand
ROSEN, R., Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, Santa Barbara, CA
93102/USA
SIMON, Z., Catedra Chimie Organica, Universitatea Timisoara, Bd. Parvean 4,
Timisoara/Romania
SZEKELY, D. L., Association of Unification and Automation in Science, P.O.B.
1364, Jerusalem/Israel
WALTER, CH., Department of Biomathematics, M. D. Anderson Hospital, Univer-
sity of Texas, Houston, TX 77025/USA
WEVER, R., Max-Planck-Institut fUr Verhaltensphysiologie, 8131 Erling-Andechs/
W. Germany
YOCKEY, H., Atomic Pulse Radiation Facility, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
21002/USA
Systemogenesis as a Paradigm for Biogenesis
A Locker
Abstract
Starting with a description of the features of a system as a given entity it is shown that an
adapting or self-organizing system undergoes transformations that can be extended to formally
explain self-generation. This process depends on the interplay between structurally determined
constraints and relationally enabled decisions which a "self"-like representation of the system
can use to realize itself and thus to constructively build up transitions of states with ever in-
creasing complexities. The need of a certain a priori framework for those considerations is out-
lined.
I. The Problem
It seems to be easier to grasp and understand the being as such than to find a reasonable explanation
for its origin. The difficulties in assigning an origin to ordered phenomena, called systems, are
widely accepted. In tackling the problem it may possibly be wise to look at these properties of
systems which could offer a hint at the commencement of their existence. A further step in
approaching the problem could be furnished by cogitating about the means systems hawe in re-
organizing themselves following perturbing influences or in adapting against new situations.
However, for the proper understad:ling of the genesis of a system, i.e. an organized q>mplex
emerging out of unorganized entities, a certain reorientation of thinking is required. In this
reorientation the problem of measurement (or of the observer) is of paramount importance. It
intimately relates to the problem of how to appropriately apply a conceptual framework (or a
mode of consideration) to a description.
Based upon the recognition of these epistemological aspects an attempt is undertaken to
comprehend biogenesis as a specification of the more formally accentuated problem of systemo-
genesis. The reference to the conscious subject possibly enables one to outl ine systemogenesis in
a constructive (or pragmatic) way.
II. System as Given Entity
All the definitions of systems proposed up to now have in common that they implicitly contain
certain definitions of structure, order, complexity or the like. These implicit definitions pre-
suppose, therefore, the existence of interrelated parts or system variables. Parts (elements)
can be defined qual itatively, variabl es quantitatively. Since, however, a system is characterized
also by its activity or function, it is possible to ascribe activity to the parts (elements) as well
as the relations connecting them. The elements exert their effects onto their proper environment,
e.g. other parts (elements) in the system. Activity is thus channeled and guided by the relations.
It is the relations which allow to distinguish the system from a pure collection of individual
elements isolated from each other. In dependence upon the kind of relations, e. g. whether they
are permanent or temporary, strong or weak, etc., certain alternatives of activity are given. By
means of these alternatives certain possibilities of activity can be delineated. Consider (2) a