Dresden 2017 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 20: Posters - Physics of the Genesis of Life (Focus Session)

BP 20.15: Poster

Tuesday, March 21, 2017, 14:00–16:00, P1A

On the Physical Origin of Biological Communication — •Matthias F. Schneider — Medical and Biological Physics, Otto Hahn Str. 4, Dortmund, Germany

Life is full of hydrated interface that all have to obey the 2nd Law. The enormous power of this approach was first pointed out by K. Kaufmann starting in the late 80ties when following Einstein's approach to thermodynamics. This work is strongly inspired by his theory.

From a thermodynamic state to (biological) function. With Einstein's approach one finds, that state and state changes regulate morphological transitions, interface conductivity, catalytic rates etc..

On communication. Pulses that propagate in interfaces can modulate the state and hence the aformentioned functions, especially the activity of enzymes. This is in striking contrast to all known biological communication models where diffusion is the key element for transport.

The waves observed can be driven into a non-linear regime, where excitation only occurs over a critical threshold. The striking similarity with the nervous impulse is in support of Kaufmann and Heimburg's work.

Specificity. Finally I present a model where specificity arises naturally from physics and does NOT need to be introduced by structural compatibilities (lock & key).

In conclusion: Excitation, Propagation and Fluctuations arising from physics and lead to phenomnena we ultimately name "function". Importantly, this mind set is in strong contrast to the molecular/structural approach.