Erwin Schroedinger, Francis Crick and epigenetic stability
Abstract
Description
Schroedinger's book 'What is Life?' is widely credited for having played a crucial role in development of molecular and cellular biology. My essay revisits the issues raised by this book from the modern perspective of epigenetics and systems biology. I contrast two classes of potential mechanisms of epigenetic stability: 'epigenetic templating' and 'systems biology' approaches, and consider them from the point of view expressed by Schroedinger. I also discuss how quantum entanglement, a nonclassical feature of quantum mechanics, can help to address the 'problem of small numbers' that lead Schroedinger to promote the idea of molecular code-script for explanation of stability of biological order.
New and improved version of the essay, now published in the online journal 'Biology Direct'. Contains more expanded discussion on entanglement. 18 pages, 2 figures. The file includes open reviews by E.Koonin, V.Vedral and E.Karsenti
New and improved version of the essay, now published in the online journal 'Biology Direct'. Contains more expanded discussion on entanglement. 18 pages, 2 figures. The file includes open reviews by E.Koonin, V.Vedral and E.Karsenti