Natural Selection and Thermodynamics of Biological Evolution

The author of this article proposes that the representation of Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace’s theory on “variation and selection” in the living world is a reflection of the action of hierarchical thermodynamics. Hierarchical thermodynamics is based on the law of temporal hierarchies and on the principle of substance stability. This principle enables the transmission of thermodynamic information between lower and higher structural hierarchies, in both forward and reverse direction: from nucleic acids to higher structural hierarchies and back. The principle of substance stability, in fact, is the main dynamical and thermodynamic mechanism of natural selection. It is alleged that the natural selection of atoms, molecules, organisms, populations, and other hierarchical structures takes place under the action of a variety of internal factors within organisms and the external environmental factors that can be considered as tropisms. Forms (design) of living organisms are formed as a result of spontaneous and non-spontaneous processes that lead to the adaptation of living systems to the environment. The selection is carried out as a result of the impacts of different energy types and the principle of substance stability at all levels of hierarchical structures. Actions of tropisms are presented by various members of the generalized Gibbs equation.

Physicochemical Stages of Evolution: Ring-Like Structures in the Universe

This short digest is devoted to the mechanism of ring formation during the origination and evolution of planetary and satellite systems in the Universe. The appearance of these structures can be traced back to the phenomenon of spatially periodic condensation which can be observed on the Earth. The author actually posited the existence of exoplanetary systems and the cosmic scale of this phenomenon. It was accurately predicted that Uranus, Neptune and other heavenly bodies have rings. The suggested general mechanism rationalized the Titius-Bode law which, while not being a precise law, often accurately describes the tendency towards varying distances between planets (and their moons) and central bodies. The possibility of this law manifestation in exoplanetary systems had been predicted by the author long before their discovery. Many exoplanetary systems have been discovered by now and there is some evidence corroborating the mechanism of spatially periodic condensation involved in the formation of ring-like structures in these systems. The author’s hypothesis is now becoming a theory or a fact. It appears that we are now witnessing the dawn of a new extensive cosmology, taking into account general physicochemical mechanisms of space object formation.

Thermodynamics of Aging and Heredity

A brief review of the author’s works in the sphere of thermodynamic theory of aging is presented. Particular attention is given to justification of the methods of classical and near-equilibrium “dynamic” thermodynamics used to assess the direction and extent of ontogenesis. It is noted that discovery of the law of temporal hierarchies and the substance stability principle made it possible to use quasi-equilibrium thermodynamics to describe aging of organisms and evolution of the living world. The review contains certain examples confirming thermodynamic direction of the origin of life and its development. The author states that supramolecular thermodynamics is the foundation of modern epigenetics. The review shows that the environment affects the composition and structure of the genetic apparatus as well as gene expression through the mechanisms of hierarchical thermodynamics. The author discusses the influence of “nutritive molecules” and other biological substances on tissue composition. It is noted that “nutritive molecules” can have an epigenetic influence on DNA and genetic apparatus as a whole. The author gives recommendations regarding nutrition and use of medicines from the perspective of the thermodynamic theory of aging. Though the author used simplifications and approximations when developing the thermodynamic theory of living beings’ aging, the theory is in agreement with the detected correlation between changes in the specific Gibbs free energy of supramolecular structure formation and changes in the chemical composition of body tissues during aging. The author believes that hierarchical thermodynamics is the foundation of Darwinian natural selection.