Bringing Chemistry to Life: From Matter to Man [Hardcover]

R. J. P. Williams (Author), J. J. R. Fraï¿1/2sto da Silva (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0198505469 | ISBN-13: 978-0198505464 | Publication Date: February 24, 2000 | Edition: 1

In this book, the authors describe the long journey from formless inanimate matter to man, explaining the nature and the logic of the physical-chemical processes involved. It stresses the limitations of reductionism analyses of these processes as complexity increases and novel properties emerge. And, in particular, the authors develop the idea that it was chemical change of the environment that allowed evolution of life to occur and that this evolution required successive addition of new message systems and information codes connected, compatible, and cooperative with previous extant systems. In doing so, the authors analyze the relationship between chemical element content and speciation both in inanimate and living systems in terms of fundamental units and variables or composite (derived) units and variables. Through such analysis, the authors conclude that chemical speciation is very much a matter of chemical cooperation (order versus disorder) while biological speciation requires cooperative flow of chemicals and energy (organization versus disorder). They argue that chance mutations of DNA are far too simple to provide a basis for evolution and biological diversity, though it is a representation of such diversity. It is the survival strength of systems of molecular machinery which separate and generate living species. In the final chapter, they analyze the effect of man's activities on the present global and local ecosystems and speculate on the possible nature of the emergent properties to be expected from an ever-increasing complexity of information based modern societies.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Each chapter is well documented and contains useful physical, chemical and biological data...This book represents a valuable tool for students..."--European Review

About the Author

R. J. P. Williams is at Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford. J. J. R. Frausto da Silva is at Centro Cultural de Belem, Lisbon.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1 edition (February 24, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198505469
• ISBN-13: 978-0198505464
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,985,846 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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