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Biological physics is not merely applying physics to biology. It is realizing that the laws of thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and information theory are the laws of life. There is no vis vitalis (vital force) separate from physics. biological physics energy information life solutions manual
The quest to define "life" has shifted from purely descriptive biology to the rigorous framework of biological physics For those looking to excel in this demanding
RNA is the hero of origins. It can store information (like DNA) and catalyze reactions (like proteins). A physical model called the Hypercycle shows that short RNA strands, if they catalyze the formation of each other, reach a critical threshold. Below the threshold, decay wins. Above the threshold, a non-equilibrium steady state emerges—the first "metabolism." It is realizing that the laws of thermodynamics,