Thermodynamics 2.0 | 2022 Program: Sessions and Abstracts

Mon - Wed, July 18 - July 20 , 2022 , Boone, North Carolina

Session T01: Physical Basis of Evolution

13:00-14:00. Monday July 18, 2022

Chair: Ram Poudel

Title: The Harnessing of Stochasticity by Living Organisms

Presenter:

  • Denis Noble

(University of Oxford, United Kingdom)

Bio-sketch

Author(s):

  • Denis Noble

(University of Oxford, United Kingdom)

  • Raymond Noble

(University College London (UCL), United Kingdom)

images

Abstract:T01.171

Abstract

Standard biology represents organisms as experiencing random changes, but stops short of realising that chance variations can be used as well as experienced. The immune system does this all the time in generating new DNA sequences when it needs to find a new way to counter a novel virus or bacterium. Unicellular colonies of organisms also use this method to cope with environmental stress.

We have proposed in recent articles [1] that the harnessing of stochasticity has many implications in understanding how organisms behave and are creative.

Keywords: stochasticity, hypermutation, harnessing of chance, organisms as agents

 

Reference:

[1] R. Noble and D. Noble, “The Harnessing of Stochasticity: Physiological and philosophical consequences,” October 2020.

https://www.denisnoble.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Harnessing-Collection.pdf