What is Life?
An exploration of living organisms through the lens of physics.
Summary of 6 Key Points
Key Points
- Defining Life from a Physicist’s View
- Physical Aspects of Cellular Function
- Quantum Mechanics in Biology
- Genetic Information and Stability
- The Role of Entropy in Life
- Living Matter’s Order and Disorder
key point 1 of 6
Defining Life from a Physicist’s View
From a physicist’s perspective, life is a complex and organized system, where various processes occur in a manner that defies entropy. Physics sees life as a pocket of ordered complexity in a universe that is governed by the principle of increasing disorder or entropy. This means that life, in a certain sense, goes against the grain of the broader physical universe, maintaining and increasing order and complexity as opposed to descending into chaos…Read&Listen More
key point 2 of 6
Physical Aspects of Cellular Function
In the physical aspects of cellular function, cells are regarded as complex biochemical machines. They are composed of various molecular components that interact in a specific, coordinated manner to perform the multitude of tasks required for life. Each cell has the ability to respond to changes in its environment, to reproduce, to grow, and to perform specialized tasks. These capabilities are all results of the physical attributes of the cell, including its size, shape, and internal organization…Read&Listen More
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Quantum Mechanics in Biology
Quantum mechanics in biology provides a new perspective on life, suggesting that it is not strictly a complex chemical reaction, but a well-orchestrated symphony of quantum phenomena. In particular, it highlights the role of the so-called ‘quantum tunneling’, a counter-intuitive phenomenon where particles can pass through a barrier without having the required energy. Quantum tunneling is critical in several biological processes, including DNA mutation and enzyme catalysis, which are fundamental to life…Read&Listen More
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Genetic Information and Stability
In the sphere of life, genetic information and stability play pivotal roles. Genetic information, stored in the DNA of living organisms, is a complex code that guides the development and functioning of all life processes. It is a roadmap, outlining the steps necessary for an organism’s growth, development, reproduction, and survival. Genetic information is unique to every organism, and it is the accumulation of this information over billions of years that has led to the vast diversity of life we see today…Read&Listen More
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The Role of Entropy in Life
Entropy is a central concept when considering the nature of life. It is essentially a measure of the amount of disorder in a system. In the context of living systems, it could be seen as a driving force for biological processes. An increase in entropy typically corresponds to an increase in the disorder or randomness of particles in a system. Living organisms, however, seem to defy this principle as they maintain their structure and organization over time, which suggests a low level of entropy…Read&Listen More
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Living Matter’s Order and Disorder
In the fundamental and complex phenomenon of life, there exist two contrasting principles, namely order and disorder. Order refers to the structured and systematic organization of living matter. This is most evident in the precise and intricate structures of biological molecules such as DNA and proteins, and in the highly coordinated processes of cellular functions and organismal development…Read&Listen More