Biology S First Law

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Biology's First Law

Author : Daniel W. McShea,Robert N. Brandon
Publisher : University of Chicago Press
Page : 186 pages
File Size : 48,5 Mb
Release : 2010-07-15
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780226562278

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Biology's First Law by Daniel W. McShea,Robert N. Brandon Pdf

Life on earth is characterized by three striking phenomena that demand explanation: adaptation—the marvelous fit between organism and environment; diversity—the great variety of organisms; and complexity—the enormous intricacy of their internal structure. Natural selection explains adaptation. But what explains diversity and complexity? Daniel W. McShea and Robert N. Brandon argue that there exists in evolution a spontaneous tendency toward increased diversity and complexity, one that acts whether natural selection is present or not. They call this tendency a biological law—the Zero-Force Evolutionary Law, or ZFEL. This law unifies the principles and data of biology under a single framework and invites a reconceptualization of the field of the same sort that Newton’s First Law brought to physics. Biology’s First Law shows how the ZFEL can be applied to the study of diversity and complexity and examines its wider implications for biology. Intended for evolutionary biologists, paleontologists, and other scientists studying complex systems, and written in a concise and engaging format that speaks to students and interdisciplinary practitioners alike, this book will also find an appreciative audience in the philosophy of science.

Cells: Molecules and Mechanisms

Author : Eric Wong
Publisher : Axolotl Academic Publishing
Page : 283 pages
File Size : 42,5 Mb
Release : 2009
Category : Biology
ISBN : 9780985226114

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Cells: Molecules and Mechanisms by Eric Wong Pdf

"Yet another cell and molecular biology book? At the very least, you would think that if I was going to write a textbook, I should write one in an area that really needs one instead of a subject that already has multiple excellent and definitive books. So, why write this book, then? First, it's a course that I have enjoyed teaching for many years, so I am very familiar with what a student really needs to take away from this class within the time constraints of a semester. Second, because it is a course that many students take, there is a greater opportunity to make an impact on more students' pocketbooks than if I were to start off writing a book for a highly specialized upper- level course. And finally, it was fun to research and write, and can be revised easily for inclusion as part of our next textbook, High School Biology."--Open Textbook Library.

Philosophy of Biology

Author : Alex Rosenberg,Robert Arp
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Page : 465 pages
File Size : 41,9 Mb
Release : 2009-04-27
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781405183178

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Philosophy of Biology by Alex Rosenberg,Robert Arp Pdf

By combining excerpts from key historical writings with editors’ introductions and further reading material, Philosophy of Biology: An Anthology offers a comprehensive, accessible, and up-to-date collection of the field’s most significant works. Addresses central questions such as ‘What is life?’ and ‘How did it begin?’, and the most current research and arguments on evolution and developmental biology Editorial notes throughout the text define, clarify, and qualify ideas, concepts and arguments Includes material on evolutionary psychology and evolutionary developmental biology not found in other standard philosophy of biology anthologies Further reading material assists novices in delving deeper into research in philosophy of biology

Design in Nature

Author : Adrian Bejan,J. Peder Zane
Publisher : Anchor
Page : 306 pages
File Size : 52,6 Mb
Release : 2013-01-08
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780307744340

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Design in Nature by Adrian Bejan,J. Peder Zane Pdf

In this groundbreaking book, Adrian Bejan takes the recurring patterns in nature—trees, tributaries, air passages, neural networks, and lightning bolts—and reveals how a single principle of physics, the constructal law, accounts for the evolution of these and many other designs in our world. Everything—from biological life to inanimate systems—generates shape and structure and evolves in a sequence of ever-improving designs in order to facilitate flow. River basins, cardiovascular systems, and bolts of lightning are very efficient flow systems to move a current—of water, blood, or electricity. Likewise, the more complex architecture of animals evolve to cover greater distance per unit of useful energy, or increase their flow across the land. Such designs also appear in human organizations, like the hierarchical “flowcharts” or reporting structures in corporations and political bodies. All are governed by the same principle, known as the constructal law, and configure and reconfigure themselves over time to flow more efficiently. Written in an easy style that achieves clarity without sacrificing complexity, Design in Nature is a paradigm-shifting book that will fundamentally transform our understanding of the world around us.

Contingency and Convergence

Author : Russell Powell
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 329 pages
File Size : 43,6 Mb
Release : 2020-02-25
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780262043397

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Contingency and Convergence by Russell Powell Pdf

Can we can use the patterns and processes of convergent evolution to make inferences about universal laws of life, on Earth and elsewhere? In this book, Russell Powell investigates whether we can use the patterns and processes of convergent evolution to make inferences about universal laws of life, on Earth and elsewhere. Weaving together disparate philosophical and empirical threads, Powell offers the first detailed analysis of the interplay between contingency and convergence in macroevolution, as it relates to both complex life in general and cognitively complex life in particular. If the evolution of mind is not a historical accident, the product of convergence rather than contingency, then, Powell asks, is mind likely to be an evolutionarily important feature of any living world? Stephen Jay Gould argued for the primacy of contingency in evolution. Gould's “radical contingency thesis” (RCT) has been challenged, but critics have largely failed to engage with its core claims and theoretical commitments. Powell fills this gap. He first examines convergent regularities at both temporal and phylogenetic depths, finding evidence that both vindicates and rebuffs Gould's argument for contingency. Powell follows this partial defense of the RCT with a substantive critique. Among the evolutionary outcomes that might defy the RCT, he argues, cognition is particularly important—not only for human-specific issues of the evolution of intelligence and consciousness but also for the large-scale ecological organization of macroscopic living worlds. Turning his attention to complex cognitive life, Powell considers what patterns of cognitive convergence tell us about the nature of mind, its evolution, and its place in the universe. If complex bodies are common in the universe, might complex minds be common as well?

Concepts of Biology

Author : Samantha Fowler,Rebecca Roush,James Wise
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 618 pages
File Size : 41,6 Mb
Release : 2018-01-07
Category : Science
ISBN : 9888407457

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Concepts of Biology by Samantha Fowler,Rebecca Roush,James Wise Pdf

Concepts of Biology is designed for the single-semester introduction to biology course for non-science majors, which for many students is their only college-level science course. As such, this course represents an important opportunity for students to develop the necessary knowledge, tools, and skills to make informed decisions as they continue with their lives. Rather than being mired down with facts and vocabulary, the typical non-science major student needs information presented in a way that is easy to read and understand. Even more importantly, the content should be meaningful. Students do much better when they understand why biology is relevant to their everyday lives. For these reasons, Concepts of Biology is grounded on an evolutionary basis and includes exciting features that highlight careers in the biological sciences and everyday applications of the concepts at hand.We also strive to show the interconnectedness of topics within this extremely broad discipline. In order to meet the needs of today's instructors and students, we maintain the overall organization and coverage found in most syllabi for this course. A strength of Concepts of Biology is that instructors can customize the book, adapting it to the approach that works best in their classroom. Concepts of Biology also includes an innovative art program that incorporates critical thinking and clicker questions to help students understand--and apply--key concepts.

Synthetic Biology Analysed

Author : Margret Engelhard
Publisher : Springer
Page : 211 pages
File Size : 40,5 Mb
Release : 2016-04-15
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9783319251455

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Synthetic Biology Analysed by Margret Engelhard Pdf

Synthetic biology is a dynamic, young, ambitious, attractive, and heterogeneous scientific discipline. It is constantly developing and changing, which makes societal evaluation of this emerging new science a challenging task, prone to misunderstandings. Synthetic biology is difficult to capture, and confusion arises not only regarding which part of synthetic biology the discussion is about, but also with respect to the underlying concepts in use. This book offers a useful toolbox to approach this complex and fragmented field. It provides a biological access to the discussion using a 'layer' model that describes the connectivity of synthetic or semisynthetic organisms and cells to the realm of natural organisms derived by evolution.Instead of directly reviewing the field as a whole, firstly our book addresses the characteristic features of synthetic biology that are relevant to the societal discussion. Some of these features apply only to parts of synthetic biology, whereas others are relevant to synthetic biology as a whole. In the next step, these new features are evaluated with respect to the different areas of synthetic biology. Do we have the right words and categories to talk about these new features? In the third step, traditional concepts like “life” and “artificiality” are scrutinized with regard to their discriminatory power. This approach may help to differentiate the discussion on synthetic biology. Lastly our refined view is utilized for societal evaluation. We have investigated the public views and attitudes to synthetic biology. It also includes the analysis of ethical, risk and legal questions, posed by present and future practices of synthetic biology.This book contains the results of an interdisciplinary research project and presents the authors’ main findings and recommendations. They are addressed to science, industry, politics and the general public interested in this upcoming field of biotechnology.

Philosophy of Biology

Author : Peter Godfrey-Smith
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 200 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 2016-09-06
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780691174679

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Philosophy of Biology by Peter Godfrey-Smith Pdf

An essential introduction to the philosophy of biology This is a concise, comprehensive, and accessible introduction to the philosophy of biology written by a leading authority on the subject. Geared to philosophers, biologists, and students of both, the book provides sophisticated and innovative coverage of the central topics and many of the latest developments in the field. Emphasizing connections between biological theories and other areas of philosophy, and carefully explaining both philosophical and biological terms, Peter Godfrey-Smith discusses the relation between philosophy and science; examines the role of laws, mechanistic explanation, and idealized models in biological theories; describes evolution by natural selection; and assesses attempts to extend Darwin's mechanism to explain changes in ideas, culture, and other phenomena. Further topics include functions and teleology, individuality and organisms, species, the tree of life, and human nature. The book closes with detailed, cutting-edge treatments of the evolution of cooperation, of information in biology, and of the role of communication in living systems at all scales. Authoritative and up-to-date, this is an essential guide for anyone interested in the important philosophical issues raised by the biological sciences.

International Handbook of Research in History, Philosophy and Science Teaching

Author : Michael R. Matthews
Publisher : Springer
Page : 2532 pages
File Size : 53,7 Mb
Release : 2014-07-03
Category : Education
ISBN : 9789400776548

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International Handbook of Research in History, Philosophy and Science Teaching by Michael R. Matthews Pdf

This inaugural handbook documents the distinctive research field that utilizes history and philosophy in investigation of theoretical, curricular and pedagogical issues in the teaching of science and mathematics. It is contributed to by 130 researchers from 30 countries; it provides a logically structured, fully referenced guide to the ways in which science and mathematics education is, informed by the history and philosophy of these disciplines, as well as by the philosophy of education more generally. The first handbook to cover the field, it lays down a much-needed marker of progress to date and provides a platform for informed and coherent future analysis and research of the subject. The publication comes at a time of heightened worldwide concern over the standard of science and mathematics education, attended by fierce debate over how best to reform curricula and enliven student engagement in the subjects. There is a growing recognition among educators and policy makers that the learning of science must dovetail with learning about science; this handbook is uniquely positioned as a locus for the discussion. The handbook features sections on pedagogical, theoretical, national, and biographical research, setting the literature of each tradition in its historical context. It reminds readers at a crucial juncture that there has been a long and rich tradition of historical and philosophical engagements with science and mathematics teaching, and that lessons can be learnt from these engagements for the resolution of current theoretical, curricular and pedagogical questions that face teachers and administrators. Science educators will be grateful for this unique, encyclopaedic handbook, Gerald Holton, Physics Department, Harvard University This handbook gathers the fruits of over thirty years’ research by a growing international and cosmopolitan community Fabio Bevilacqua, Physics Department, University of Pavia

Systems Biology in Practice

Author : Edda Klipp,Ralf Herwig,Axel Kowald,Christoph Wierling,Hans Lehrach
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Page : 496 pages
File Size : 41,6 Mb
Release : 2005-05-06
Category : Medical
ISBN : 3527310789

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Systems Biology in Practice by Edda Klipp,Ralf Herwig,Axel Kowald,Christoph Wierling,Hans Lehrach Pdf

Presenting the main concepts, this book leads students as well as advanced researchers from different disciplines to an understanding of current ideas in the complex field of comprehensive experimental investigation of biological objects, analysis of data, development of models, simulation, and hypothesis generation. It provides readers with guidance on how a specific complex biological question may be tackled: How to formulate questions that can be answered Which experiments to perform Where to find information in databases and on the Internet What kinds of models are appropriate How to use simulation tools What can be learned from the comparison of experimental data and modeling results How to make testable predictions The authors demonstrate how mathematical concepts can illuminate the principles underlying biology at a genetic, molecular, cellular and even organism level, and how to use mathematical tools for analysis and prediction.

Beyond Mechanism

Author : Brian G. Henning,Adam Scarfe
Publisher : Lexington Books
Page : 488 pages
File Size : 55,6 Mb
Release : 2013-02-01
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780739174371

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Beyond Mechanism by Brian G. Henning,Adam Scarfe Pdf

It has been said that new discoveries and developments in the human, social, and natural sciences hang “in the air” (Bowler, 1983; 2008) prior to their consummation. While neo-Darwinist biology has been powerfully served by its mechanistic metaphysic and a reductionist methodology in which living organisms are considered machines, many of the chapters in this volume place this paradigm into question. Pairing scientists and philosophers together, this volume explores what might be termed “the New Frontiers” of biology, namely contemporary areas of research that appear to call an updating, a supplementation, or a relaxation of some of the main tenets of the Modern Synthesis. Such areas of investigation include: Emergence Theory, Systems Biology, Biosemiotics, Homeostasis, Symbiogenesis, Niche Construction, the Theory of Organic Selection (also known as “the Baldwin Effect”), Self-Organization and Teleodynamics, as well as Epigenetics. Most of the chapters in this book offer critical reflections on the neo-Darwinist outlook and work to promote a novel synthesis that is open to a greater degree of inclusivity as well as to a more holistic orientation in the biological sciences.

Biology for AP ® Courses

Author : Julianne Zedalis,John Eggebrecht
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 1923 pages
File Size : 48,9 Mb
Release : 2017-10-16
Category : Biology
ISBN : 1947172409

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Biology for AP ® Courses by Julianne Zedalis,John Eggebrecht Pdf

Biology for AP® courses covers the scope and sequence requirements of a typical two-semester Advanced Placement® biology course. The text provides comprehensive coverage of foundational research and core biology concepts through an evolutionary lens. Biology for AP® Courses was designed to meet and exceed the requirements of the College Board’s AP® Biology framework while allowing significant flexibility for instructors. Each section of the book includes an introduction based on the AP® curriculum and includes rich features that engage students in scientific practice and AP® test preparation; it also highlights careers and research opportunities in biological sciences.

Nano and Bio Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow

Author : Majid Ghassemi,Azadeh Shahidian
Publisher : Academic Press
Page : 160 pages
File Size : 46,5 Mb
Release : 2017-03-15
Category : Medical
ISBN : 9780128038529

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Nano and Bio Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow by Majid Ghassemi,Azadeh Shahidian Pdf

Nano and Bio Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow focuses on the use of nanoparticles for bio application and bio-fluidics from an engineering perspective. It introduces the mechanisms underlying thermal and fluid interaction of nanoparticles with biological systems. This book will help readers translate theory into real world applications, such as drug delivery and lab-on-a-chip. The content covers how transport at the nano-scale differs from the macro-scale, also discussing what complications can arise in a biologic system at the nano-scale. It is ideal for students and early career researchers, engineers conducting experimental work on relevant applications, or those who develop computer models to investigate/design these systems. Content coverage includes biofluid mechanics, transport phenomena, micro/nano fluid flows, and heat transfer. Discusses nanoparticle applications in drug delivery Covers the engineering fundamentals of bio heat transfer and fluid flow Explains how to simulate, analyze, and evaluate the transportation of heat and mass problems in bio-systems

Nature's Destiny

Author : Michael Denton
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
Page : 482 pages
File Size : 44,9 Mb
Release : 2002-02
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780743237628

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Nature's Destiny by Michael Denton Pdf

A leading evolutionary thinker, biologist, and medical researcher asks the question: "Could life elsewhere be substantially different from life on Earth?"--and builds a step-by-step argument for human inevitability. 65 illustrations and photos.

Biology for Nonbiologists

Author : Frank R. Spellman
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
Page : 292 pages
File Size : 43,8 Mb
Release : 2007
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780865874213

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Biology for Nonbiologists by Frank R. Spellman Pdf

The list keeps growing! The latest in Government Institutes' "non-specialist" series, Biology for Nonbiologists continues the tradition established by Toxicology for Non-Toxicologists and Chemistry for Nonchemists, by providing environmental and occupational-safety-and-health practitioners and students with a comprehensive overview of the principles and concepts of modern biology. Covering everything from basic chemistry principles and the consequences of biology's interaction with the environment to basic biological principles and applications, this convenient handbook provides a quick course on the science of biology. You'll gain an understanding of and skill in biological principles and learn key biology concepts, concerns, and practices without spending weeks in a classroom. Biology for Nonbiologists focuses on three areas: environmental biology and ecology as they apply to environmental regulatory compliance programs, human biology, and community and ecosystem dynamics. However, it also covers all major biological themes, including the cellular basis for life, the interactions of organisms, and the evolutionary process of all beings. The author explains scientific concepts with little reference to mathematics and physical science and little technical language, making the text easier to understand and more engaging for non-science readers. To further demystify the science, Spellman also lists and defines essential biology terms and terms not often used in the environmental and safety fields. Special study aids, including end-of-chapter reviews and checkmarks that highlight important points, enhance learning and allow readers to evaluate their understanding of the concepts presented.