What Is Life? The Next Fifty Years: Speculations on the Future of Biology

by Michael P. Murphy (Editor), Luke A.J. O'Neill (Editor)

The Nobel prize-winning physicist Erwin Schrodinger wrote a celebrated book What is Life? He speculated on the central problems in biology, from the perspective of a physicist. The unique viewpoint outlined in his book stimulated many other scientists to explore biological problems. The investigations of these scientists led to the discovery of the structure of DNA and an understanding of how our genes work. To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of What is Life?, a number of eminent scientists have outlined their viewpoints on the central problems currently facing biology. The book is essential reading for all biological scientists, but is also of considerable interest to non-specialists with an interest in science. The list of contributors includes some of the best known popular science writers such as Stephen Jay Gould, Roger Penrose, Jared Diamond, John Maynard Smith and Lewis Wolpert.

'...if you want one slim book that contains as many stimulating ideas as a small library, this is it.'
- Alun Anderson, New Scientist

Genres: Science, Biology, Nonfiction

204 pages, Paperback

First published September 21, 1995

Reviews

[André Prado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livro bem interessante em que cada capítulo é de autoria de diferentes e proeminentes cientistas versando sobre a obra "O que é vida?" (1944) de Schrodinger, e trazendo novas discussões sobre essa questão emblemática. Embora haja uma preocupação com o didatismo em todos os capítulos, uns mais, outros menos, em geral o livro possui uma linguagem bem técnica. Pra quem, assim como eu, não está muito familiarizado com física quântica e diversos termos técnicos de termodinâmica sugiro ler o capítulo 12 ("Ordem a partir da desordem: a termodinâmica da complexidade biológica") logo após os capítulos introdutórios, pois ele consegue apresentar de forma bem clara as interpretações da física sobre os sistemas biológicos no âmbito que se propõe e ajuda na compreensão dos demais.

[Antonio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book, with a lot of main stream ideas in evolutionary biology, but also with some very new ideas.