The Relationship Between Biology and Physics

Abstract

If we look at individual molecules, the three-dimensional structure of DNA and proteins does not violate the laws of physics. However, if we look at the genome sequence from the elementary process of evolution, random mutations are occurring in each nucleotide. Therefore, the genome sequence is always changing toward randomization, which means that the genome sequence is the result of chance. Genome sequences are not considered to have any physical inevitability, and the laws of physics are rarely used when discussing genome sequences. However, in the evolution of organisms as a result of many mutations, it is often observed that they follow sophisticated physical laws. Through random mutations in the genome sequence, there may be some rules that allow organisms to discover the laws of physics. Furthermore, it is certain that organisms have maintained a low-entropy state throughout their evolutionary process of over 3 billion years. In other words, organisms have always defied the law of increasing entropy. In this regard, there should be an explanation of the mechanism that is understandable from the physicist’s point of view. Furthermore, mutations involved in evolution are generally considered neutral (Kimura 1983). It is also an interesting question whether the neutrality of mutations can also be explained by physics. In this chapter, we discuss these questions and make them the subject of this entire book.