Symmetry Breaking in Biology

Symmetry Breaking in Biology
Author: Rong Li
Publisher:
Total Pages: 320
Release: 2010
Genre: Medical
ISBN:

Experts examine the mechanisms by which cells polarize, divide asymmetrically, and produce asymmetric structures, providing examples from bacteria, yeast, plants, invertebrates, and mammals. Discussion include the molecular basis of polarization, mechanisms, and more.

Symmetry in Science

Symmetry in Science
Author: Joseph Rosen
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 0
Release: 1996-10-25
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780387948362

Symmetry plays an essential role in science - not only in crystallography and quantum theory, where its role has long been explicitly recognized, but also in condensed-matter physics, thermodynamics, chemistry, biology, and others. This text discusses the concept of symmetry and its application to many areas of science. While it includes a detailed introduction to the theory of groups, which forms the mathematical apparatus for describing symmetries, it also includes a much more general discussion of the nature of symmetry and its role in science. Many problems serve to sharpen the reader's understanding, and an extensive bibliography concludes the book.

Symmetry, Broken Symmetry, and Topology in Modern Physics

Symmetry, Broken Symmetry, and Topology in Modern Physics
Author: Mike Guidry
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 665
Release: 2022-03-31
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1316518612

A pedagogical introduction to the modern applications of groups, algebras, and topology for undergraduate and graduate students in physics.

Perspectives on Organisms

Perspectives on Organisms
Author: Giuseppe Longo
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 293
Release: 2013-12-13
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3642359388

This authored monograph introduces a genuinely theoretical approach to biology. Starting point is the investigation of empirical biological scaling including their variability, which is found in the literature, e.g. allometric relationships, fractals, etc. The book then analyzes two different aspects of biological time: first, a supplementary temporal dimension to accommodate proper biological rhythms; secondly, the concepts of protension and retention as a means of local organization of time in living organisms. Moreover, the book investigates the role of symmetry in biology, in view of its ubiquitous importance in physics. In relation with the notion of extended critical transitions, the book proposes that organisms and their evolution can be characterized by continued symmetry changes, which accounts for the irreducibility of their historicity and variability. The authors also introduce the concept of anti-entropy as a measure for the potential of variability, being equally understood as alterations in symmetry. By this, the book provides a mathematical account of Gould's analysis of phenotypic complexity with respect to biological evolution. The target audience primarily comprises researchers interested in new theoretical approaches to biology, from physical, biological or philosophical backgrounds, but the book may also be beneficial for graduate students who want to enter this field.

Symmetry In Plants

Symmetry In Plants
Author: Denis Barabe
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 888
Release: 1998-03-26
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9814499153

The book deals with biological, mathematical, descriptive, causal and systemic phyllotaxis. It aims at reflecting the widest possible range of ideas and research closely related to phyllotaxis and contains 30 well illustrated chapters.The book has three parts of equal importance. The first two parts concern data collecting, pattern recognition and pattern generation to which students of phyllotaxis are well accustomed. The third part is devoted to the problem of origins of phyllotactic patterns, giving the field of phyllotaxis the universality it requires to be fully understood.Phyllotaxis-like patterns are found in places where genes are not necessarily present. Part III concerns general comparative morphology, homologies with phyllotactic patterns, and recent trends on evolution that can help to understand phyllotaxis.The distinguished researchers who accepted to participate in the production of this book, strongly contributed to the field of phyllotaxis in the past and have devoted a lot of their time to the fascinating subject coming up with most valuable findings, or are newcomers with original ideas that may be very relevant for the future of the field. The book summarizes and updates their contributions, and promotes new avenues in the treatment of phyllotaxis.This book on mathematical and biological phyllotaxis is the first collective book ever. A landmark in the history of phyllotaxis.

Making and Breaking Symmetry in Chemistry

Making and Breaking Symmetry in Chemistry
Author: Michael J McGlinchey
Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Company
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2023-11
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9789811286698

The elucidation of reaction mechanisms generally requires the carefully designed control of molecular symmetry to distinguish between the many possible reaction pathways. Making and Breaking Symmetry in Chemistry emphasises the crucial role played by symmetry in modern synthetic chemistry. After discussion of a number of famous classical experiments, the advances brought about by the introduction of new techniques, in particular NMR spectroscopy, are exemplified in numerous cases taken from the recent literature. Experimental verification of many of the predictions made in Woodward and Hoffmann's explication of the Conservation of Orbital Symmetry are described. Applications that involve the breaking of molecular symmetry to resolve these and other mechanistic problems in organic, inorganic and organometallic chemistry are presented in the first sections of the book, together with many examples of the detection of hitherto hidden rearrangement processes. Subsequently, under the aegis of making molecular symmetry, examples of the preparation of highly symmetrical molecules found in the organic, organometallic or inorganic domains are discussed. These include Platonic hydrocarbons or boranes, tetrahedranes, cubanes, prismanes, dodecahedrane, fullerene fragments such as corannulene, sumanene or semibuckminsterfullerene, and other systems of unusual geometries or bonding characteristics (Möbius strips, molecular brakes and gears, Chauvin's carbomers, Fitjer's rotanes, persubstituted rings, metal-metal multiple bonds, etc.). The text also contains vignettes of many of the scientists who made these major advances, as well as short sections that briefly summarise key features of important topics that underpin the more descriptive material. These include some aspects of chirality, NMR spectroscopy, and the use of isotopic substitution to break molecular symmetry. A brief appendix on point group symmetry and nomenclature is also helpfully provided.

Systematics and the Exploration of Life

Systematics and the Exploration of Life
Author: Philippe Grandcolas
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 242
Release: 2021-05-04
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1786302659

This book's aim is to obtain and organize knowledge about the diversity of living things. Their epistomological and methodological fundamentals are explained in the framework of the biology of evolution. The methods of construction and use of phylogenetic trees are presented as well as the classification and description of taxa with the nomenclature rules.

Symmetry Breaking and Symmetry Restoration

Symmetry Breaking and Symmetry Restoration
Author: Szymon J. Napierała
Publisher: Studies in Philosophy of Language and Linguistics
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2017
Genre: Generative grammar
ISBN: 9783631673874

This book treats the faculty of language as part of the Universe subject to physical laws. It presents phenomena from syntax and semantics in the interdisciplinary context. The author analyses the origin of syntax and semantics as autonomous modules (asymmetry), even though they display parallelisms (symmetry). He presents linguistic phenomena in the interdisciplinary context where spontaneous symmetry breaking has a central explanatory role, as it is the case in the physical world.

The Physics of the Mind and Brain Disorders

The Physics of the Mind and Brain Disorders
Author: Ioan Opris
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 782
Release: 2017-12-01
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 3319296744

This book covers recent advances in the understanding of brain structure, function and disorders based on the fundamental principles of physics. It covers a broad range of physical phenomena occurring in the brain circuits for perception, cognition, emotion and action, representing the building blocks of the mind. It provides novel insights into the devastating brain disorders of the mind such as schizophrenia, dementia, autism, aging or addictions, as well as into the new devices for brain repair. The book is aimed at basic researchers in the fields of neuroscience, physics, biophysics and clinicians in the fields of neurology, neurosurgery, psychology, psychiatry.

The Origin of Chirality in the Molecules of Life

The Origin of Chirality in the Molecules of Life
Author: Albert Guijarro
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
Total Pages: 163
Release: 2008-11-04
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1847558755

This book provides an interdisciplinary review of one of the great unsolved mysteries that has fascinated scientists for over 150 years: the origin of chirality in biomolecules. It was Pasteur who first initiated the search for a deterministic theory to explain the 'handedness' of biomolecules. His theory, that a 'dissimetric' force was involved, was correct in essence but he never saw the fruits of his labour. Current thinking tells us that asymmetry in the universe has its origins in the forces that unfolded after the Big Bang and, more specifically, the weak force. Being 'left handed', the weak force imprinted its signature on the evolving Universe. However, at the molecular level, the weak force does not provide a straightforward explanation of biomolecular homochirality. In fact, it is yet to be proved beyond doubt that a causal link exists at all. Many alternative theories have been put forward, some of them resting on solid ground, but all lacking definitive experimental evidence to back them up. Some postulate that the handedness of molecules in the biosphere arose by chance but this is hard to test. Others rely on discovering life on similar planets and making comparisons with Earth. Alternative theories have emerged from a range of backgrounds including geology, biology, chemistry, physics and astronomy. Current advances in fields as diverse as space exploration, prebiotic chemistry and high-energy physics may help to provide an answer. Important pieces of information will come from observations at the two frontiers of science: outer space and the subatomic world. Observation of distant planets, galaxies, and even actual sampling of celestial objects from beyond the solar system are projects currently underway. At the other end of the spectrum, there are experiments that study the elemental properties of matter, such as symmetry, and interactions with the fundamental forces. All these efforts will render their fruits soon. This volume unifies all the theories of the origin of biomolecular homochirality together in one source. The various chapters focus on chance mechanisms, physical forces such as the 'weakinteraction', fluid dynamics, amplification of chirality, the organic contents of meteorites and comets and, finally, the physical view of an intrinsically asymmetric universe. This complete, interdisciplinary review of an intriguing subject condenses a large and disparate range of contributions from journals in almost every scientific field. The various theories have been organized, interrelated and explained in a unified way. One of the book's strengths is its extensive use of graphic material to aid understanding the many subjects covered. It is fundamental, comprehensive and structured to be accessible for educational purposes.