Ebook: In Search of the Physical Basis of Life
Author: Gilbert N. Ling (auth.)
- Tags: Tree Biology
- Year: 1984
- Publisher: Springer US
- Edition: 1
- Language: English
- pdf
It is highly probable that the ability to distinguish between living and nonliving objects was already well developed in early prehuman animals. Cognizance of the difference between these two classes of objects, long a part of human knowledge, led naturally to the division of science into two categories: physics and chemistry on the one hand and biology on the other. So deep was this belief in the separateness of physics and biology that, as late as the early nineteenth century, many biologists still believed in vitalism, according to which living phenomena fall outside the confines of the laws of physics. It was not until the middle of the nineteenth century that Carl Ludwig, Hermann von Helmholz, Emil DuBois-Reymond, and Ernst von Briicke inaugurated a physicochem ical approach to physiology in which it was recognized clearly that one set of laws must govern the properties and behavior of all matter, living and nonliving . . The task of a biologist is like trying to solve a gigantic multidimensional crossword fill in the right physical concepts at the right places. The biologist depends on puzzle: to the maturation of the science of physics much as the crossword solver depends on a large and correct vocabulary. The solver of crossword puzzles needs not just a good vocabulary but a special vocabulary. Words like inee and oke are vitally useful to him but are not part of the vocabulary of an English professor.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxx
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
The Early History of Cell Physiology....Pages 3-14
Evolution of the Membrane and Bulk Phase Theories....Pages 15-51
The Emergence of the Steady-State Membrane Pump Concept....Pages 53-79
The Reemergence of the Bulk Phase Theories....Pages 81-111
Experimental Tests of the Alternative Theories....Pages 113-142
Front Matter....Pages 143-143
Association of Ions and Water with Macromolecules....Pages 145-181
The Inductive Effect and the Control of Physiological Activities....Pages 183-225
The Physical State of K+ and Na+ in Living Cells....Pages 227-269
The Physical State of Water in Living Cells....Pages 271-310
ATP and the Source of Energy for Biological Work Performance....Pages 311-315
Front Matter....Pages 317-317
Selective Distribution of Ions, Sugars, and Free Amino Acids....Pages 319-376
Permeability....Pages 377-436
Swelling, Shrinkage, and Volume Control of Living Cells....Pages 437-462
Electrical Potentials....Pages 463-500
Front Matter....Pages 501-501
Oxidative Phosphorylation, ATP Synthesis, and Other Aspects of Mitochondrial Physiology....Pages 503-538
Muscle Contraction and Related Phenomena....Pages 539-584
Active Transport across Intestinal Epithelia and Other Bifacial Cell Systems....Pages 585-599
Front Matter....Pages 601-601
The Control of Protein Synthesis....Pages 603-633
Growth and Differentiation....Pages 635-685
Cancer....Pages 687-711
Back Matter....Pages 723-791
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxx
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
The Early History of Cell Physiology....Pages 3-14
Evolution of the Membrane and Bulk Phase Theories....Pages 15-51
The Emergence of the Steady-State Membrane Pump Concept....Pages 53-79
The Reemergence of the Bulk Phase Theories....Pages 81-111
Experimental Tests of the Alternative Theories....Pages 113-142
Front Matter....Pages 143-143
Association of Ions and Water with Macromolecules....Pages 145-181
The Inductive Effect and the Control of Physiological Activities....Pages 183-225
The Physical State of K+ and Na+ in Living Cells....Pages 227-269
The Physical State of Water in Living Cells....Pages 271-310
ATP and the Source of Energy for Biological Work Performance....Pages 311-315
Front Matter....Pages 317-317
Selective Distribution of Ions, Sugars, and Free Amino Acids....Pages 319-376
Permeability....Pages 377-436
Swelling, Shrinkage, and Volume Control of Living Cells....Pages 437-462
Electrical Potentials....Pages 463-500
Front Matter....Pages 501-501
Oxidative Phosphorylation, ATP Synthesis, and Other Aspects of Mitochondrial Physiology....Pages 503-538
Muscle Contraction and Related Phenomena....Pages 539-584
Active Transport across Intestinal Epithelia and Other Bifacial Cell Systems....Pages 585-599
Front Matter....Pages 601-601
The Control of Protein Synthesis....Pages 603-633
Growth and Differentiation....Pages 635-685
Cancer....Pages 687-711
Back Matter....Pages 723-791
....