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Keywords = abiogenisis

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30 pages, 1570 KB  
Article
The Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics of Natural Selection: From Molecules to the Biosphere
by Karo Michaelian
Entropy 2023, 25(7), 1059; https://doi.org/10.3390/e25071059 - 13 Jul 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4220
Abstract
Evolutionary theory suggests that the origin, persistence, and evolution of biology is driven by the “natural selection” of characteristics improving the differential reproductive success of the organism in the given environment. The theory, however, lacks physical foundation, and, therefore, at best, can only [...] Read more.
Evolutionary theory suggests that the origin, persistence, and evolution of biology is driven by the “natural selection” of characteristics improving the differential reproductive success of the organism in the given environment. The theory, however, lacks physical foundation, and, therefore, at best, can only be considered a heuristic narrative, of some utility for assimilating the biological and paleontological data at the level of the organism. On deeper analysis, it becomes apparent that this narrative is plagued with problems and paradoxes. Alternatively, non-equilibrium thermodynamic theory, derived from physical law, provides a physical foundation for describing material interaction with its environment at all scales. Here we describe a “natural thermodynamic selection” of characteristics of structures (or processes), based stochastically on increases in the global rate of dissipation of the prevailing solar spectrum. Different mechanisms of thermodynamic selection are delineated for the different biotic-abiotic levels, from the molecular level at the origin of life, up to the level of the present biosphere with non-linear coupling of biotic and abiotic processes. At the levels of the organism and the biosphere, the non-equilibrium thermodynamic description of evolution resembles, respectively, the Darwinian and Gaia descriptions, although the underlying mechanisms and the objective function of selection are fundamentally very different. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dissipative Structuring in Life)
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30 pages, 6230 KB  
Review
Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamic Foundations of the Origin of Life
by Karo Michaelian
Foundations 2022, 2(1), 308-337; https://doi.org/10.3390/foundations2010022 - 21 Mar 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 9332
Abstract
There is little doubt that life’s origin followed from the known physical and chemical laws of Nature. The most general scientific framework incorporating the laws of Nature and applicable to most known processes to good approximation, is that of thermodynamics and its extensions [...] Read more.
There is little doubt that life’s origin followed from the known physical and chemical laws of Nature. The most general scientific framework incorporating the laws of Nature and applicable to most known processes to good approximation, is that of thermodynamics and its extensions to treat out-of-equilibrium phenomena. The event of the origin of life should therefore also be amenable to such an analysis. In this review paper, I describe the non-equilibrium thermodynamic foundations of the origin of life for the non-expert from the perspective of the “Thermodynamic Dissipation Theory for the Origin of Life” which is founded on Classical Irreversible Thermodynamic theory developed by Lars Onsager, Ilya Prigogine, and coworkers. A Glossary of Thermodynamic Terms can be found at the end of the article to aid the reader. Full article
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