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THE PHYSICO‐MATHEMATICAL SUBSTRATA OF BIOLOGIC RELATIVITY: Cybernetics of Biologic Systems

JOSEP G. LLAURADO (Biomedical Engineering Group, Marquette University and Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and Nuclear Medicine Service of Veterans Administration Center, Wood, Wisconsin 53193, U.S.A.)

Kybernetes

ISSN: 0368-492X

Article publication date: 1 March 1972

321

Abstract

Primordial pattern is the name given by Grigg to the curve representing the response of many biologic systems to a single stimulus. This curve consists of a fast ascent and a lingering descent. The equation had been chosen empirically to describe the primordial pattern. This equation taken in isolation does not reveal its close interconnection with the physical world. In this paper it is seen as one of the solutions of a second‐order damped system representable by the differential equation with zero initial displacement but some initial velocity. Such a system involves contributing responses by components of threekinds: inertial, restoring and resistive. This observation should stimulate scientists to extract these different components from any biologic response. The resistive component is a term proportional to the first derivative of the response with respect to time. Evidence for the necessity of this frictional component to obtain a primordial pattern is presented. Such frictional component imparts to a process an irreversible character in agreement with Poincarés thermodynamic formulation and provides the physico‐mathematical substrata to the concept of biologic relativity, namely: as the primordial pattern runs its course, there occurs an incessant change, not only in the recorded response, but also in the respondent's reactivity. This paper offers a unifying view of biology and physics. It should be the task of biologists henceforth to try to find the pertinent analogies with inertial, restoring and resistive components of biologic entities and responses. As an example, consider the fact that the primordial pattern requires of necessity the existence of frictional elements within the system. It will be of great interest to look into these elements and try to identify them. Then, perhaps, they could be manipulated from outside the system to increase or diminish them for mankind's advantage.

Citation

LLAURADO, J.G. (1972), "THE PHYSICO‐MATHEMATICAL SUBSTRATA OF BIOLOGIC RELATIVITY: Cybernetics of Biologic Systems", Kybernetes, Vol. 1 No. 3, pp. 175-190. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb005308

Publisher

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MCB UP Ltd

Copyright © 1972, MCB UP Limited

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