Kinetic Theory of Living Pattern [Paperback]

Discusses the development of the shapes of living organisms and their parts in a field of science in which there are no generally accepted theoretical principles.Explores the theories of the development of shape and size in living organisms and offers an exposition of the kinetic theory of shape.Explores the theories of the development of shape and size in living organisms and offers an exposition of the kinetic theory of shape.This book contains both an extensive philosophical commentary on this dichotomy in views and an exposition of the type of theory most favored by physical scientists. In this theory, living form is a manifestation of the dynamics of chemical change and physical transport or other physics of spatial communication. The Reaction-diffusion theory as initiated by Turing in 1952 and elaborated by Prigogine, Gierer, Meinhardt, and others is discussed in detail. In some respects the book takes up the theme that the things we see in the cell are less important than the actions we recognize in the cell , which was a major theme of D'Arcy W. Thompson's classic 1917 work On Growth and Form.Preface; Part I. Macroscopics without Mathematics: 1. Introduction; 2. Morphogen: one word for at least two concepts; 3. Pictorial reasoning in kinetic theory of pattern and form; 4. Structure, equilibrium, kinetics; Part II. Pattern-Forming Processes: 5. The making and breaking of symmetry; 6. Matters needing mathematics: an introduction; 7. Kinetic models for stable pattern: an introduction; Part III. Bringing Experiment and Theory Together: 8. Classifications; 9. Non-linear reaction-diffusion models; 10. Approaching agreement?; References; Index. A recurrent theme throughout the book is the need for communication across disciplines and Harrison draws analogy, wherever possible, with problems in physical chemistry, the area in which he started his scientific career....aimed at experimental biologists who wish to understand the basics of reaction-diffusion theory al3A