Author: Alexei A. Sharov
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119865646
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 516
Book Description
Pathways to the Origin and Evolition of Meanings in the Universe The book explains why meaning is a part of the universe populated by life, and how organisms generate meanings and then use them for creative transformation of the environment and themselves. This book focuses on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of biology, semiotics, philosophy, ethology, information theory, and the theory of evolution. Such a broad approach provides a rich context for the study of organisms and other semiotic agents in their environments. This methodology can be applied to robotics and artificial intelligence for developing robust, adaptable learning devices. In this book, leading interdisciplinary scholars reveal their vision on how to integrate natural sciences with semiotics, a theory of meaning-making and signification. Developments in biology indicate that the capacity to create and understand signs is not limited to humans or vertebrate animals, but exists in all living organisms - the fact that inspired the integration of biology and semiotics into biosemiotics. The authors discuss the nature of semiotic agents (organisms and other autonomous goal-directed units), meaning, signs, information, memory, evolution, and consciousness. Also discussed are issues including the origin of life, potential meaning and its actualization, top-down causality in physics and biology, capacity of organisms to encode their functions, the strategy of organisms to combine homeostasis with direct adaptation to new life-cycle phases or new environments, multi-level memory systems, increase of freedom via enabling constraints, creative modeling in evolution and learning, communication in animals and humans, the origin and function of language, and the distribution and transfer of life in space. This is the first book on biosemiotics in its global conceptual and spatial scope. Biosemiotics is presented using the language of natural sciences, which supports the scientific grounding of semiotic terms. Finally, the cosmic dimension of life and meaning-making leads to a reconsideration of ethical principles and ecological mentality here on earth and in space exploration. Audience Theoretical biologists, ethologists, astrobiologists, ecologists, evolutionary biologists, philosophers, phenomenologists, semioticians, biosemioticians, molecular biologists, linguists, system scientists and engineers.
Pathways to the Origin and Evolution of Meanings in the Universe
Author: Alexei A. Sharov
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119865646
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 516
Book Description
Pathways to the Origin and Evolition of Meanings in the Universe The book explains why meaning is a part of the universe populated by life, and how organisms generate meanings and then use them for creative transformation of the environment and themselves. This book focuses on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of biology, semiotics, philosophy, ethology, information theory, and the theory of evolution. Such a broad approach provides a rich context for the study of organisms and other semiotic agents in their environments. This methodology can be applied to robotics and artificial intelligence for developing robust, adaptable learning devices. In this book, leading interdisciplinary scholars reveal their vision on how to integrate natural sciences with semiotics, a theory of meaning-making and signification. Developments in biology indicate that the capacity to create and understand signs is not limited to humans or vertebrate animals, but exists in all living organisms - the fact that inspired the integration of biology and semiotics into biosemiotics. The authors discuss the nature of semiotic agents (organisms and other autonomous goal-directed units), meaning, signs, information, memory, evolution, and consciousness. Also discussed are issues including the origin of life, potential meaning and its actualization, top-down causality in physics and biology, capacity of organisms to encode their functions, the strategy of organisms to combine homeostasis with direct adaptation to new life-cycle phases or new environments, multi-level memory systems, increase of freedom via enabling constraints, creative modeling in evolution and learning, communication in animals and humans, the origin and function of language, and the distribution and transfer of life in space. This is the first book on biosemiotics in its global conceptual and spatial scope. Biosemiotics is presented using the language of natural sciences, which supports the scientific grounding of semiotic terms. Finally, the cosmic dimension of life and meaning-making leads to a reconsideration of ethical principles and ecological mentality here on earth and in space exploration. Audience Theoretical biologists, ethologists, astrobiologists, ecologists, evolutionary biologists, philosophers, phenomenologists, semioticians, biosemioticians, molecular biologists, linguists, system scientists and engineers.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119865646
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 516
Book Description
Pathways to the Origin and Evolition of Meanings in the Universe The book explains why meaning is a part of the universe populated by life, and how organisms generate meanings and then use them for creative transformation of the environment and themselves. This book focuses on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of biology, semiotics, philosophy, ethology, information theory, and the theory of evolution. Such a broad approach provides a rich context for the study of organisms and other semiotic agents in their environments. This methodology can be applied to robotics and artificial intelligence for developing robust, adaptable learning devices. In this book, leading interdisciplinary scholars reveal their vision on how to integrate natural sciences with semiotics, a theory of meaning-making and signification. Developments in biology indicate that the capacity to create and understand signs is not limited to humans or vertebrate animals, but exists in all living organisms - the fact that inspired the integration of biology and semiotics into biosemiotics. The authors discuss the nature of semiotic agents (organisms and other autonomous goal-directed units), meaning, signs, information, memory, evolution, and consciousness. Also discussed are issues including the origin of life, potential meaning and its actualization, top-down causality in physics and biology, capacity of organisms to encode their functions, the strategy of organisms to combine homeostasis with direct adaptation to new life-cycle phases or new environments, multi-level memory systems, increase of freedom via enabling constraints, creative modeling in evolution and learning, communication in animals and humans, the origin and function of language, and the distribution and transfer of life in space. This is the first book on biosemiotics in its global conceptual and spatial scope. Biosemiotics is presented using the language of natural sciences, which supports the scientific grounding of semiotic terms. Finally, the cosmic dimension of life and meaning-making leads to a reconsideration of ethical principles and ecological mentality here on earth and in space exploration. Audience Theoretical biologists, ethologists, astrobiologists, ecologists, evolutionary biologists, philosophers, phenomenologists, semioticians, biosemioticians, molecular biologists, linguists, system scientists and engineers.
Science and Creationism
Author: National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 9780309064064
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 48
Book Description
This edition of Science and Creationism summarizes key aspects of several of the most important lines of evidence supporting evolution. It describes some of the positions taken by advocates of creation science and presents an analysis of these claims. This document lays out for a broader audience the case against presenting religious concepts in science classes. The document covers the origin of the universe, Earth, and life; evidence supporting biological evolution; and human evolution. (Contains 31 references.) (CCM)
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 9780309064064
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 48
Book Description
This edition of Science and Creationism summarizes key aspects of several of the most important lines of evidence supporting evolution. It describes some of the positions taken by advocates of creation science and presents an analysis of these claims. This document lays out for a broader audience the case against presenting religious concepts in science classes. The document covers the origin of the universe, Earth, and life; evidence supporting biological evolution; and human evolution. (Contains 31 references.) (CCM)
Evolution of Metabolic Pathways
Author: R. Ibrahim
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0080531326
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 481
Book Description
The past decade has seen major advances in the cloning of genes encoding enzymes of plant secondary metabolism. This has been further enhanced by the recent project on the sequencing of the Arabidopsis genome. These developments provide the molecular genetic basis to address the question of the Evolution of Metabolic Pathways. This volume provides in-depth reviews of our current knowledge on the evolutionary origin of plant secondary metabolites and the enzymes involved in their biosynthesis. The chapters cover five major topics: 1. Role of secondary metabolites in evolution; 2. Evolutionary origins of polyketides and terpenes; 3. Roles of oxidative reactions in the evolution of secondary metabolism; 4. Evolutionary origin of substitution reactions: acylation, glycosylation and methylation; and 5. Biochemistry and molecular biology of brassinosteroids.
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0080531326
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 481
Book Description
The past decade has seen major advances in the cloning of genes encoding enzymes of plant secondary metabolism. This has been further enhanced by the recent project on the sequencing of the Arabidopsis genome. These developments provide the molecular genetic basis to address the question of the Evolution of Metabolic Pathways. This volume provides in-depth reviews of our current knowledge on the evolutionary origin of plant secondary metabolites and the enzymes involved in their biosynthesis. The chapters cover five major topics: 1. Role of secondary metabolites in evolution; 2. Evolutionary origins of polyketides and terpenes; 3. Roles of oxidative reactions in the evolution of secondary metabolism; 4. Evolutionary origin of substitution reactions: acylation, glycosylation and methylation; and 5. Biochemistry and molecular biology of brassinosteroids.
Origin of Life via Archaea
Author: Richard Gordon
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119901200
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 1190
Book Description
This book surveys the models for the origin of life and presents a new model starting with shaped droplets and ending with life as polygonal Archaea; it collects the most published micrographs of Archaea (discovered only in 1977), which support this conclusion, and thus provides the first visual survey of Archaea. Origin of Life via Archaea’s purpose is to add a new hypothesis on what are called “shaped droplets”, as the starting point, for flat, polygonal Archaea, supporting the Vesicles First hypothesis. The book contains over 6000 distinct references and micrographs of 440 extant species of Archaea, 41% of which exhibit polygonal phenotypes. It surveys the intellectual battleground of the many ideas of the origin of life on earth, chemical equilibrium, autocatalysis, and biotic polymers. This book contains 17 chapters, some coauthored, on a wide range of topics on the origin of life, including Archaea’s origin, patterns, and species. It shows how various aspects of the origin of life may have occurred at chemical equilibrium, not requiring an energy source, contrary to the general assumption. For the reader’s value, its compendium of Archaea micrographs might also serve many other interesting questions about Archaea. One chapter presents a theory for the shape of flat, polygonal Archaea in terms of the energetics at the surface, edges and corners of the S-layer. Another shows how membrane peptides may have originated. The book also includes a large table of most extant Archaea, that is searchable in the electronic version. It ends with a chapter on problems needing further research. Audience This book will be used by astrobiologists, origin of life biologists, physicists of small systems, geologists, biochemists, theoretical and vesicle chemists.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119901200
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 1190
Book Description
This book surveys the models for the origin of life and presents a new model starting with shaped droplets and ending with life as polygonal Archaea; it collects the most published micrographs of Archaea (discovered only in 1977), which support this conclusion, and thus provides the first visual survey of Archaea. Origin of Life via Archaea’s purpose is to add a new hypothesis on what are called “shaped droplets”, as the starting point, for flat, polygonal Archaea, supporting the Vesicles First hypothesis. The book contains over 6000 distinct references and micrographs of 440 extant species of Archaea, 41% of which exhibit polygonal phenotypes. It surveys the intellectual battleground of the many ideas of the origin of life on earth, chemical equilibrium, autocatalysis, and biotic polymers. This book contains 17 chapters, some coauthored, on a wide range of topics on the origin of life, including Archaea’s origin, patterns, and species. It shows how various aspects of the origin of life may have occurred at chemical equilibrium, not requiring an energy source, contrary to the general assumption. For the reader’s value, its compendium of Archaea micrographs might also serve many other interesting questions about Archaea. One chapter presents a theory for the shape of flat, polygonal Archaea in terms of the energetics at the surface, edges and corners of the S-layer. Another shows how membrane peptides may have originated. The book also includes a large table of most extant Archaea, that is searchable in the electronic version. It ends with a chapter on problems needing further research. Audience This book will be used by astrobiologists, origin of life biologists, physicists of small systems, geologists, biochemists, theoretical and vesicle chemists.
The Origin of Life
Author: Aleksandr Ivanovich Oparin
Publisher: Courier Dover Publications
ISBN: 9780486495224
Category : Evolution (Biology)
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
This classic of biochemistry offered the first detailed exposition of the theory that living tissue was preceded upon Earth by a long and gradual evolution of nitrogen and carbon compounds. "Easily the most scholarly authority on the question...it will be a landmark for discussion for a long time to come." — New York Times.
Publisher: Courier Dover Publications
ISBN: 9780486495224
Category : Evolution (Biology)
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
This classic of biochemistry offered the first detailed exposition of the theory that living tissue was preceded upon Earth by a long and gradual evolution of nitrogen and carbon compounds. "Easily the most scholarly authority on the question...it will be a landmark for discussion for a long time to come." — New York Times.
The Sentient Cell
Author: Arthur S. Reber
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0198873255
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 289
Book Description
All species, extant and extinct, from the simplest unicellular prokaryotes to humans, have an existential consciousness. Without sentience, the first cells that emerged some 4 billion years ago would have been evolutionary dead-ends, unable to survive in the chaotic, dangerous environment in which life first appeared and evolved. In this book, Arthur Reber's theory, the Cellular Basis of Consciousness (CBC), is outlined and distinguished from those models that argue that minds could be instantiated on artificial entities and those that maintain consciousness requires a nervous system. The CBC framework takes a novel approach to classic topics such as the origin-of-life, philosophy of mind, the role of genes, the impact of cognition, and how biological information is processed by all species. It also calls for a rethinking of a variety of issues including the moral implications of the sentient capacities of all species, how welfare concerns need to be expanded beyond where they currently are, and critically, how all life is intertwined in a coordinated cognitive ecology. The Sentient Cell explores this revolutionary model, which updates the standard neo-Darwinian framework within which current approaches operate and examines the underlying biomolecular features that are the likely candidates for the "invention" of consciousness and outline their role in cellular life.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0198873255
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 289
Book Description
All species, extant and extinct, from the simplest unicellular prokaryotes to humans, have an existential consciousness. Without sentience, the first cells that emerged some 4 billion years ago would have been evolutionary dead-ends, unable to survive in the chaotic, dangerous environment in which life first appeared and evolved. In this book, Arthur Reber's theory, the Cellular Basis of Consciousness (CBC), is outlined and distinguished from those models that argue that minds could be instantiated on artificial entities and those that maintain consciousness requires a nervous system. The CBC framework takes a novel approach to classic topics such as the origin-of-life, philosophy of mind, the role of genes, the impact of cognition, and how biological information is processed by all species. It also calls for a rethinking of a variety of issues including the moral implications of the sentient capacities of all species, how welfare concerns need to be expanded beyond where they currently are, and critically, how all life is intertwined in a coordinated cognitive ecology. The Sentient Cell explores this revolutionary model, which updates the standard neo-Darwinian framework within which current approaches operate and examines the underlying biomolecular features that are the likely candidates for the "invention" of consciousness and outline their role in cellular life.
Technosignatures for Detecting Intelligent Life in Our Universe
Author: Anamaria Berea
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 111964089X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 131
Book Description
TECHNOSIGNATURES FOR DETECTING INTELLIGENT LIFE IN OUR UNIVERSE This book shows the current state of the research in the field of technosignatures, presenting novel ideas from economics, forecasting, and data sciences, making it an ideal research compendium for scientists. The book summarizes the multiple interdisciplinary efforts that have contributed to the field of technosignatures. The technosignatures represent any signals that can be collected from the Universe, such as radio wavelengths, optical signals, and many more, that can be potential candidates as signals emitted intentionally from another part of the Universe that is not Earth. It shows how current advances in science, technology, and social sciences can support this effort and can be used as both a resource for the scientists in the field and as a reference for the public at large interested in the topic. It includes novel research work from economics, forecasting, and data sciences fields, as well as a deeper understanding of the role mass media and popular fiction has played in the evolution of this field. Audience The book will interest both natural scientists (astronomers and astrophysicists) and social scientists (economists), as well as the new emerging data scientists. Amateur astronomers will be attracted to the book as well.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 111964089X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 131
Book Description
TECHNOSIGNATURES FOR DETECTING INTELLIGENT LIFE IN OUR UNIVERSE This book shows the current state of the research in the field of technosignatures, presenting novel ideas from economics, forecasting, and data sciences, making it an ideal research compendium for scientists. The book summarizes the multiple interdisciplinary efforts that have contributed to the field of technosignatures. The technosignatures represent any signals that can be collected from the Universe, such as radio wavelengths, optical signals, and many more, that can be potential candidates as signals emitted intentionally from another part of the Universe that is not Earth. It shows how current advances in science, technology, and social sciences can support this effort and can be used as both a resource for the scientists in the field and as a reference for the public at large interested in the topic. It includes novel research work from economics, forecasting, and data sciences fields, as well as a deeper understanding of the role mass media and popular fiction has played in the evolution of this field. Audience The book will interest both natural scientists (astronomers and astrophysicists) and social scientists (economists), as well as the new emerging data scientists. Amateur astronomers will be attracted to the book as well.
Journey of the Universe
Author: Brian Thomas Swimme
Publisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300171900
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 191
Book Description
The authors tell the epic story of the universe from an inspired new perspective, weaving the findings of modern science together with enduring wisdom found in the humanistic traditions of the West, China, India, and indigenous peoples. This book is part of a larger project that includes a documentary film, educational DVD series, and Web site.
Publisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300171900
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 191
Book Description
The authors tell the epic story of the universe from an inspired new perspective, weaving the findings of modern science together with enduring wisdom found in the humanistic traditions of the West, China, India, and indigenous peoples. This book is part of a larger project that includes a documentary film, educational DVD series, and Web site.
The Mathematical Biology of Diatoms
Author: Janice L. Pappas
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119751918
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 484
Book Description
THE MATHEMATICAL BIOLOGY OF DIATOMS This book contains unique, advanced applications using mathematics, algorithmic techniques, geometric analysis, and other computational methods in diatom research. Historically, diatom research has centered on taxonomy and systematics. While these topics are of the utmost importance, other aspects of this important group of unicells have been increasingly explored in the biological sciences. While mathematical applications are still rare, they are starting take hold and provide an extensive avenue of new diatom research, including applications in multidisciplinary fields. The work contained in this volume is an eclectic mix of analytical studies on diatoms. Mathematical treatment of the various biological disciplines covered in this book range from implicit, but succinct studies to more elaborate detailed computational studies. Topics include growth models, nanostructure, nanoengineering, cell growth, araphid diatoms, valve ontogeny, diatom metabolism, diatom motility, synchronization, diatom kinematics, photonics, biogenic sensors, photochemistry, diatom light response, colony growth, siliceous unicells, algal kinetics, diatom structure, diatom imaging, functional morphology, geometric structure, biomineralization, high-resolution imaging, non-destructive imaging, and 3D structure. This wide-ranging volume provides an introductory as well as an advanced treatment of recent interests in diatom research. The mathematical research in this volume may be applicable to studies of other unicells, biomechanics, biological processes, physio-chemical analyses, or nanoscience.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119751918
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 484
Book Description
THE MATHEMATICAL BIOLOGY OF DIATOMS This book contains unique, advanced applications using mathematics, algorithmic techniques, geometric analysis, and other computational methods in diatom research. Historically, diatom research has centered on taxonomy and systematics. While these topics are of the utmost importance, other aspects of this important group of unicells have been increasingly explored in the biological sciences. While mathematical applications are still rare, they are starting take hold and provide an extensive avenue of new diatom research, including applications in multidisciplinary fields. The work contained in this volume is an eclectic mix of analytical studies on diatoms. Mathematical treatment of the various biological disciplines covered in this book range from implicit, but succinct studies to more elaborate detailed computational studies. Topics include growth models, nanostructure, nanoengineering, cell growth, araphid diatoms, valve ontogeny, diatom metabolism, diatom motility, synchronization, diatom kinematics, photonics, biogenic sensors, photochemistry, diatom light response, colony growth, siliceous unicells, algal kinetics, diatom structure, diatom imaging, functional morphology, geometric structure, biomineralization, high-resolution imaging, non-destructive imaging, and 3D structure. This wide-ranging volume provides an introductory as well as an advanced treatment of recent interests in diatom research. The mathematical research in this volume may be applicable to studies of other unicells, biomechanics, biological processes, physio-chemical analyses, or nanoscience.
The Origin and Nature of Life on Earth
Author: Eric Smith
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107121884
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 703
Book Description
Uniting the foundations of physics and biology, this groundbreaking multidisciplinary and integrative book explores life as a planetary process.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107121884
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 703
Book Description
Uniting the foundations of physics and biology, this groundbreaking multidisciplinary and integrative book explores life as a planetary process.