The purpose of the book is to give a survey of the physics that is relevant for biological applications, and also to discuss what kind of biology needs physics. The book gives a broad account of basic physics, relevant for the applications and various applications from properties of proteins to processes in the cell to wider themes such as the brain, the origin of life and evolution. It also considers general questions of common interest such as reductionism, determinism and randomness, where the physics view often is misunderstood. The subtle balance between order and disorder is a repeated theme appearing in many contexts. There are descriptive parts which shall be sufficient for the comprehension of general ideas, and more detailed, formalistic parts for those who want to go deeper, and see the ideas expressed in terms of mathematical formulas.

- Describes how physics is needed for understanding basic principles of biology

- Discusses the delicate balance between order and disorder in living systems

- Explores how physics play a role high biological functions, such as learning and thinking

Born 1936, Clas Blomberg has a PhD in theoretical physics at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm 1966. He has been a Professor there since 1986. He started studies in statistical mechanics, and since mid-70:s worked with theoretical physics problems with relevance to biology. He built up a successful research group at the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm.

<I. General Introduction

1. Introduction

2. Physics of Life. Physics of Two Levels

II. Basic Physics Concepts

3. Concepts and Numerical Reference

4. Basis of Classical (Newtonian) Dynamics

5. Electricity - The Core of Reductionism Basis

6. Quantum mechanics

7. Basic Thermodynamics; Introduction

8. Statistical Thermodynamics

III. The General Trends and the Objects

9. Some Trends in 20th Century Physics

10. From Simple to Complex Systems

11. Theoretical Physics Models; Important Analogies

12. The Biological Objects

13. What is Life?

IV. Going Further with Thermodynamics

14. Thermodynamic Formalism and Examples

15. Examples of Entropy and Order/Disorder

16. Statistical Thermodynamics Models

V. Stochastic Dynamics

17. Basic Probability Concepts

18. Stochastic Processes

19. Random Walk*

20. Stochastic Step Processes; Master Equations*

21. Brownian Motion, First Description*

22. Diffusion and Continuous Stochastic Processes*

23. Brownian Motion, Continuation*

VI. Basic Macromolecular Applications

24. Protein Folding and Structure Dynamics

25. Basis of Enzyme Kinetics

VII Non-linearity

26. General Introduction to Non-linearity

27. Oscillations and Space Variations*

28. Deterministic Chaos

29. Noise and Nonlinear Phenomena

VIII. Applications

30. Recognition and Selection in Biological Processes

31. Brownian Ratchet, Unidirectional Processes

32. Neural System

33. Origin of Life

IX Going Further

34. Physics Aspects on Evolution

35. Determinism and Randomness

36. Higher Functions of Life

37. About the Direction of Time

38. We are in the Best of Worlds; The Anthropic Principle