Degrees Of Freedom: Living In Dynamic BoundariesDrawing especially on insights emerging from studies of the cellular networks formed by fungi, this book describes the fundamental indeterminacy that enables life forms to thrive in and create inconstant circumstances. It explains how indeterminacy arises from counteraction between associative and dissociative processes at the reactive interfaces between living systems and their surroundings. It stresses the relevance of these processes to understanding the dynamic contexts within which living systems of all kinds — including human societies-explore for, use up, conserve and recycle sources of energy.By focusing on dynamic boundaries, the book counterbalances the discretist view that living systems are assembled entirely from building-block-like units — individuals and genes — that can be freely sifted, as opposed to channeled, by natural selection. It also shows how the versatility that enables life forms to proliferate in rich environments, whilst minimizing losses in restrictive environments, depends on capacities for error and co-operation within a fluid, non-hierarchical power structure. Understanding this point yields a more compassionate, less competitive and less self-centred outlook on life's successes and failures. |
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Contents
| 1 | |
INDIVIDUALS AND COLLECTIVES FROM MOLECULES TO COMMUNITIES | 25 |
CHAPTER 3 DETERMINACY AND INDETERMINACY | 67 |
CHAPTER 4 DIFFERENTIATION AND INTEGRATION | 93 |
CHAPTER 5 VERSATILITY AND DEGENERACY | 155 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
ability acids action potential allow animals army ants assimilative associated bacteria basidiomycete become behaviour branching cellular channels Chapter chromosomes coenocytic colonies communities competition complex components consequence containing context contextual boundaries cycle degeneration depends determinate developmental differentiation diploid dissociation distribution dynamic ectomycorrhizas embryo emerge energy entities environment enzymes eukaryotic evolutionary example external Figure fruit bodies fundamental fungal fungi fungus genes genetic information give rise haploid homokaryons host human societies hyphae incompatibility indeterminacy indeterminate systems individual infected infrastructures input integration interactions interconnected interplay involves kinds known living systems mating means mechanisms meiosis membrane molecules multicellular mycelia mycelial cords mycelium mycorrhizal neighbours networks niche nuclei nutrient occur organisms organizational oxygen parasitic patterns plants populations potential processes produced proliferation proteins protoplasm R-selected redistribution rejection relatively reproduction resistance result roots scale sequence sexual slime moulds social species spores stage structure tissues trees versatility whilst
Bibliographic information
| Title | Degrees Of Freedom: Living In Dynamic Boundaries |
| Author | Alan D M Rayner |
| Publisher | World Scientific, 1997 |
| ISBN | 1783263245, 9781783263240 |
| Length | 328 pages |
| Subjects | › › Science / Life Sciences / General Science / Life Sciences / Genetics & Genomics |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |