Cover for Physics of Life

Physics of Life

The Physicist's Road to Biology

Book2007

Author:

Clas Blomberg

Physics of Life

The Physicist's Road to Biology

Book2007

 

Cover for Physics of Life

Author:

Clas Blomberg

About the book

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Book description

The purpose of the book is to give a survey of the physics that is relevant for biological applications, and also to discuss what kind of biology needs physics. The book gives a br ... read full description

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  2. Book chapterNo access

    References

    Pages 411-419

  3. Book chapterNo access

    Index

    Pages 421-426

About the book

Description

The purpose of the book is to give a survey of the physics that is relevant for biological applications, and also to discuss what kind of biology needs physics. The book gives a broad account of basic physics, relevant for the applications and various applications from properties of proteins to processes in the cell to wider themes such as the brain, the origin of life and evolution. It also considers general questions of common interest such as reductionism, determinism and randomness, where the physics view often is misunderstood. The subtle balance between order and disorder is a repeated theme appearing in many contexts. There are descriptive parts which shall be sufficient for the comprehension of general ideas, and more detailed, formalistic parts for those who want to go deeper, and see the ideas expressed in terms of mathematical formulas.

The purpose of the book is to give a survey of the physics that is relevant for biological applications, and also to discuss what kind of biology needs physics. The book gives a broad account of basic physics, relevant for the applications and various applications from properties of proteins to processes in the cell to wider themes such as the brain, the origin of life and evolution. It also considers general questions of common interest such as reductionism, determinism and randomness, where the physics view often is misunderstood. The subtle balance between order and disorder is a repeated theme appearing in many contexts. There are descriptive parts which shall be sufficient for the comprehension of general ideas, and more detailed, formalistic parts for those who want to go deeper, and see the ideas expressed in terms of mathematical formulas.

Key Features

- Describes how physics is needed for understanding basic principles of biology
- Discusses the delicate balance between order and disorder in living systems
- Explores how physics play a role high biological functions, such as learning and thinking

- Describes how physics is needed for understanding basic principles of biology
- Discusses the delicate balance between order and disorder in living systems
- Explores how physics play a role high biological functions, such as learning and thinking

Details

ISBN

978-0-444-52798-1

Language

English

Published

2007

Copyright

Copyright © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Imprint

Elsevier Science

Authors

Clas Blomberg

Theoretical Biological Physics Group (KTH) Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm, Sweden