Maximum Entropy Production Principle of Thermodynamics for the Birth and Evolution of Life

Abstract

Research on the birth and evolution of life are reviewed with reference to the maximum entropy production principle (MEPP). It has been shown that this principle is essential for consistent understanding of the birth and evolution of life. First, a recent work for the birth of a self-replicative system as pre-RNA life is reviewed in relation to the MEPP. A critical condition of polymer concentration in a local system is reported by a dynamical system approach, above which, an exponential increase of entropy production is guaranteed. Secondly, research works of early stage of evolutions are reviewed; experimental research for the numbers of cells necessary for forming a multi-cellular organization, and numerical research of differentiation of a model system and its relation with MEPP. It is suggested by this review article that the late stage of evolution is characterized by formation of society and external entropy production. A hypothesis on the general route of evolution is discussed from the birth to the present life which follows the MEPP. Some examples of life which happened to face poor thermodynamic condition are presented with thermodynamic discussion. It is observed through this review that MEPP is consistently useful for thermodynamic understanding of birth and evolution of life, subject to a thermodynamic condition far from equilibrium.

Keywords: birth and evolution of life; maximum entropy production principle; multi-cellular life; non-equilibrium thermodynamics; self-replication.

Figure 1

Diagram of a pn-molecule and double strand with other pn-molecules and mn-molecules in the beginning pre-RNA world just after the transition from material world. The pn-molecules, mn-molecules and double strand are shown by the blue, red and yellow colors, respectively. The pn-molecule $X(n,i)$ and $X(n,i^{\ast })$ under consideration are shown by the vertical molecules and the other interacting molecules $X(n^{\prime },i^{\prime })$ and $X(n^{″},i^{″})$ are shown by the slanted molecules. The arrows indicate the directions of reactions and the flows of interacting pn-molecules [54].

Figure 2

(a) A closed-loop network of three kinds of self-replication units, each of which has two kinds of catalytic interactions for doubling and separating shown by the red and blue arrows, respectively. (b) Example of simulation of Equations (7) and (8). Flow lines of the dynamics of the network of three kinds of self-replicator units shown in (a) are projected on the plane of $(X_1,Z_1)$. The numbers for the lines correspond to the different initial values $X_u\left(0\right)$ and $Z_u\left(0\right)$ [54].

Figure 3

Time lapse of morphologic changes during regeneration from a tissue decapitated from a normal hydra. New tentacles start appearing already 30 h and regeneration is completed within 48 h after decapitation [77].

Figure 4

(a) An example of steady structure, obtained by simulation of Equations (13) and (14) [82]. The numerical values used for the simulation are $A=10.0,B=70.0,D_x=1.052\times {10}^{-3},$ and $D_y=2.56\times {10}^{-2}$. The system length $L=0.5$. (b) An example of the dependence of entropy production on the wavelength of the structure, obtained by a simulation of Equations (2), (13) and (14). The graph shows that the five peaks state with the wavelength 0.1 shows a highest entropy production. And this state is shown in the paper to be most stable in the presence of noise [82].