Life-a complex polymer system

• Published in: Journal of polymer science. Part A, Polymer chemistry Polymer chemistry, 2004-02, Vol.42 (3), p.471-478
• Main Author: Schurz, Josef
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; macromolecules; Physicochemistry of polymers; polymer; system life; system theory
• ISSN: 0887-624X; 1099-0518
• DOI: 10.1002/pola.10875

After a discussion of the different levels of macromolecules, the phenomenon of life is regarded as a complex polymer system. The thermodynamic basis of general system theory is explained as well as the character of system laws. The important notion of emergent system properties is stressed, and life is explained as a system property of a sufficiently complex system. The general applicability of the systemic approach is pointed out, and some examples are provided. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 471–478, 2004 System theory is a new paradigm in epistemology for understanding and describing nature. It has been very successfully applied for the study of living organisms, which represent complex systems made up essentially of high polymer molecules. The concerted and synchronized interaction of their components creates the phenomenon of life as an emergent system property. Living systems are open to the environment and exchange matter, energy, and information. They operate according to system laws, which are based on but not identical with natural laws. Systems can be described by their conditions, states, properties, and behavior. System theory can be readily generalized and applied to different fields such as engineering, sociology, psychology, ecology, and economy.