BIOLOGICAL ORDER 



Equations 



In any chemical reaction, one has to distinguish between the total 

 heat of reactions ( — aH) and the free energy of reactions ( — aF). 

 The free energy F gives a measure of the maximum amount of work 

 obtainable. 



In the reaction: 



In most biological reactions, only a small fraction of the total 

 heat is available for work. The combustion of food necessarily 

 produces heat. 



Now, living beings exhibit a peculiar feature which is not found 

 in inanimate machines. Whereas a machine can maintain its struc- 

 ture even if it does not work, an organism is unable to do so, at 

 least at biological temperatures. In an organism, whether or not 

 extrinsic food is available, the enzymes responsible for oxidation 

 are working. These enzymes perform their task, which consists in 

 oxidizing something. If the organism is not provided with an 

 oxidizable reduced compound, then it first burns its reserves, fat 

 and sugar. Then it burns its proteins, that is, destroys its noble 

 substance; and then it ultimately dies. Thus the organism has to 

 be fed, even if does not perform syntheses. 



The equation of the resting organism may be written: 



Organism + food — > organism + waste + heat 



Energy is partly dissipated as heat. The other part corresponds 

 to protoplasmic movements, for all the constituent parts of a cell 

 are constantly moving. 



Thus the mere maintenance of biological order involves a 

 degradation of energy. But one essential feature of life is re- 

 production, and the general equation of life may be written: 



(Organism) 1 + food — > ( organism )o + waste 4- heat 



[88] 



