Erwin Schroedinger, Francis Crick and epigenetic stability

Biol Direct. 2008 Apr 17:3:15. doi: 10.1186/1745-6150-3-15.

Abstract

Schroedinger's book 'What is Life?' is widely credited for having played a crucial role in development of molecular and cellular biology. My essay revisits the issues raised by this book from the modern perspective of epigenetics and systems biology. I contrast two classes of potential mechanisms of epigenetic stability: 'epigenetic templating' and 'systems biology' approaches, and consider them from the point of view expressed by Schroedinger. I also discuss how quantum entanglement, a nonclassical feature of quantum mechanics, can help to address the 'problem of small numbers' that led Schroedinger to promote the idea of a molecular code-script for explaining the stability of biological order.

Publication types

  • Biography
  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / physiology*
  • Genomic Instability / physiology*
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, 21st Century
  • Humans
  • Physics / history*
  • Systems Biology / history*

Personal name as subject

  • Erwin Schroedinger
  • Francis Crick