I would like to start this thread with a quotation from an article entitled "The Hierarchical Equilibrium Thermodynamics of Living Systems in Action" and then proceed with replies and comments that are related to the title of this new thread. Thanks for your relevant contributions! "Why is it that so many researchers paid no attention to existing, constructive, scientifically based approaches toward understanding the origin of life and evolution of living beings from the standpoint of physical chemistry and, in particular, supramolecular thermodynamics?.....It is generally understood that living systems consist of molecules, particles capable of independent existence, formed from two or more atoms. Atoms in molecules interact by means of chemical bonds, the energy of which varies within broad limits. For example, within the nitrogen molecule, the energy of the bond between atoms approaches approximately 1000 kJ/mole, whereas the bond between atoms of carbon in different biopolymers and biomolecules would generally vary between 150-300 kJ/mole. In the conditions in which living organisms exist, these bonds are quite stable insofar as their energy (energy essential for their decomposition) is high in comparison with the energy of molecule movement, characterized by the value , where – Boltzmann's constant, – absolute temperature. An organism, consisting of different organs and tissues, is a “complex living polycrystal”, formed from a diversity of molecules. Molecules unite in supramolecular formations, examples of which are the double helixes of DNA, the structures of proteids, and also chromatin and others. Intermolecular interaction between separate atoms belonging to different molecules is comparatively weak. As a rule, the energy of their interaction does not exceed around 20 kJ/mole, although in individual cases, it does reach a magnitude in the order of 40 kJ/mole. Such bonds within biological systems, which always contain water, may be relatively easily decomposed as a result of changes in a number of parameters of the system, such as temperature, environmental PH, ionic strength of the solution, and also upon changes in the composition of the surrounding environment. Thus, in tissues and bio-structures of living beings (as in many inanimate systems), chemical and intermolecular connections differ substantially. This allows the independent study of processes not only connected with the decomposition and appearance of new chemical bonds in systems, but also of the processes of transformation of supramolecular structures, formed by intermolecular interactions. The first type of transformation should be ascribed to chemical processes, and the second to supramolecular processes. Therefore, it is essential to differentiate between the change (the variation) in functions of states of systems, connected with both chemical and supramolecular transformations. Such a division of functions of states of systems in respect to the components is generally accepted and agrees with our experience in the natural sciences. It permits the study of the thermodynamic behavior of supramolecular structures independent of chemical transformations within the system." from "The Hierarchical Equilibrium Thermodynamics of Living Systems in Action," by Georgi P. Gladyshev, Institute of Physico-Chemical Problems of Evolution of the International Academy of Creative Endeavors and N.N. Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences Russia. Moscow, 117977 Kosygina ul.,4. www.library.utoronto.ca/see/SEED/Vol2-3/2-3 resolved/Gladyshev.htm
