TITLE:
Why Linear Thermodynamics Does Describe Change of Entropy Production in Living Systems?
AUTHORS:
Alexey A. Zotin
KEYWORDS:
Entropy Production, Living Systems, Linear Thermodynamics, Steady State
JOURNAL NAME:
Natural Science,
Vol.6 No.7,
April
25,
2014
ABSTRACT: We propose a hypothesis
according to which there is a hierarchy of included steady states in living systems.
Each steady state is not stable and exists only in a certain frame of time, named
characteristic time. Evolution of system to any steady state leads to a change
of boundary conditions for all steady states having lesser characteristic time.
It should not be very rapid. In the opposite case, the level of entropy production
could change so much that the system achieves a critical unstable point of any included
steady state. Passing through the critical point leads to reorganization of the
entire hierarchy of the steady states or to the complete collapse of the system
as a dissipative structure. Also one should take into account that living systems
are the result of long-term biological evolution. The species that are able to
maintain their integrity for the longest time interval have evolutionary advantage.
Therefore, it is quite likely that difference between current value of the entropy
production and value of the entropy production in nearest steady state is small
enough to satisfy the laws of linear thermodynamics. Experimental data confirm the
hypothesis. Limits of applicability of linear thermodynamics to biological systems
are discussed.