Kinetic Theory of Living Pattern

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.

Lionel G. Harrison (Author)

9780521019910, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 15 September 2005

380 pages, 95 b/w illus. 4 tables
23 x 15.5 x 2.3 cm, 0.603 kg

"...[a] brave book." R.J.P. Williams, Journal of the American Chemical Society

Development of the shapes of living organisms and their parts is a field of science in which there are no generally accepted theoretical principles. What form these principles are likely to take, when they emerge, is a subject in which there is a wide gulf of disagreement between physical scientists and experimental biologists. This book contains both an extensive philosophical commentary on this dichotomy in views and an exposition of the type of theory most favoured 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 since elaborated by Prigogine and by Gierer and Meinhardt among others, is discussed in detail at a level that requires a good knowledge of a first course in calculus, but no more than that.

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.

Subject Areas: Cellular biology [cytology PSF], Developmental biology [PSC]