On the limits of complexity in living forms.

Autor: Barroso GV; Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Sao Paulo, Institute of Biosciences, 05508-900 Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: gvbarroso@gmail.com., Luz DR; Department of Zoology, Federal University of Parana, PB 19020, 81531-980 Curitiba, Parana, Brazil.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of theoretical biology [J Theor Biol] 2015 Aug 21; Vol. 379, pp. 89-90. Date of Electronic Publication: 2015 May 01.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.04.032
Abstrakt: In a recent book chapter, Morris, S.C., 2013. Life: the final frontier for complexity? In: Lineweaver, C.H., Davies, P.C.W., Ruse, M. (Eds.), Complexity and the Arrow of Time. pp. 135-161. argues that there are limits to the complexity of life forms and that with the exception of human beings these limits have already been reached. We recommend seeing human use of technology as a natural, evolutionary process. We then proceed to claim that biological engineering other species to increase their complexity can be an efficient way to delay the heat death locally. Whenever, wherever in the universe living things become intelligent enough to perform these kinds of operations, they will be able to increase complexity around them as long as a gradient of energy is available. This conclusion has deep impact on both science and philosophy.
(Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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