viii Foreword 



theories now widely accepted in various special areas of research 

 can be traced to this basic work. For example, the studies of 

 Gause and Witt on competitive action in biological systems con- 

 stitute experimental verification of several of the models described 

 by Lotka. 



The modern era of physical biology, or biological physics, 

 cannot be dated precisely, but great impetus was given to this 

 field of investigation by the publication of Shannon's work. The 

 Mathematical Theory of Communication, in 1948. The full impact of 

 this monumental contribution is only now beginning to be realized. 



The symposium from which these papers were compiled was 

 organized for the specific purpose of presenting to both basic 

 scientists and clinicians a spectrum of applications of information 

 theory in biology. The audience, as well as the contributors, 

 represented a diversity of disciplines including mathematics, 

 physics, chemistry, virology, ecology, physiology, and several 

 fields of clinical medicine, such as neurology, psychiatry, and 

 internal medicine. It is hoped that this volume will serve as a 

 source of reference for clinicians and basic scientists alike. 



We wish to acknowledge the continued support of Dr. Hampton 

 C. Robinson, whose financial aid has made possible the presen- 

 tations of these symposia. Assistance in underwriting publication 

 costs of the proceedings has been given to us by the M. B. and 

 Fannie Finkelstein Foundation. 



We also wish to express our appreciation to Dr. Wayne H. 

 Holtzman, Director of The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, 

 Austin, Texas, for his helpful suggestions in the formulation of 

 the program. 



We are grateful for the wonderful cooperation given us by the 

 contributors to this volume and for the editorial assistance of 

 Thelma Armstrong and Joan Chambers. 



W. S. F. 

 W. A. 



