Thermodynamic Theory of the Evolution of Living Beings - Hardcover

This book is devoted to the physical theory of the biological evolution. The theory is based on macrothermodynamics, i.e., the hierarchic thermodynamics of complex systems. The results of the studies presented in the book allow one to state that the peculiarities of the evolution of living beings as well as the peculiarities of the chemical evolution, can be explained without the concepts of the dynamical self-organization and the dissipative structures.

According to the second law, the tendency of the evolution of biological systems on chemical and supramolecular levels can be determined by studying the effect of thermodynamical self-organization (self-assembly). The criterion for estimating the evolutionary development of supramolecular structures of biosystems (biotissues) is given by the variation of the specific Gibbs function of their formation. During the processes of ontogenesis, philogenisis, and biological evolution in general, the specific supramolecular component of the Gibbs function of a biosystem, that is quasi-closed thermodynamically and kinetically, tends to a relative minimum. The value of this minimum is a characteric of the given biosystem surrounded by the environment.

The non-stationary theoretical model presented in the monograph explains the reasons causing the variations in the chemical composition and structure of living beings in the course of ontogenesis, philogenesis, and the evolution in general. It also allows to find out the rules determining the variations in the composition and structure of a biosystem during its adaptation to the external conditions.