Computer Simulations of Self-Organization in Biological Systems

About the author

The Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies (BIHS) is a center for the research and dissemination of a non-mechanistic scientific view of reality. The main purpose of the Institute is to explore the implications of Bhagavat Vedanta philosophy as it bears upon human culture, and to present its findings in courses, lectures, conferences, monographs, digital media, and books. Our work contributes a non-mechanistic view of matter and consciousness to scientific discourse with a goal of exploring consciousness as an irreducible aspect of reality.

The Bhaktivedanta Institute (BI) was formed in 1976 to build intellectual bridges and create joint research paths between the empirical knowledge of modern scholasticism and the metaphysical, cosmological, and cultural descriptions of India’s Bhagavata Vedanta tradition. Over the last four decades, our work has produced numerous significant publications, research partnerships, and conference proceedings. Past conferences sponsored by the Bhaktivedanta Institute have brought together scientists and philosophers, including a number of Nobel Laureates, to explore areas of mutual interest.

We disseminate research outcomes through articles, monographs, and books and hold open discussion and presentation forums through an ongoing series of courses, lectures, and conferences. We welcome networking with researchers from all disciplines and philosophical persuasions.

For more information about the author visit his website at: https://bihstudies.org/about-us/.

Synopsis

Self-organization in biological systems is ubiquitous. Examples include the folding of globular proteins, formation of protein quaternary structures, bacteriophage assembly, the aggregation of cells into tissues and embryos, and protein biosynthesis. It is now possible to carry out computer simulations for many of these systems, with the aim of achieving greater understanding of such systems and prediction their behavior.

This is the background to this book which shows what can be achieved today with simulation of such systems on microcomputers. The first five chapters describe the essence of computer modeling and general principles of organization of biological systems. A new class of models, the movable finite automata (MFA) models, are introduced. Part II gives detailed examples of biological systems, the models for many of which have been developed by the authors. Many are concerned with aspects of molecular or developmental biology. Because of limitation of space, detailed computer programs are not provided. The book should interest a wide range of biologists, biophysicists, biochemists, computer scientists, and physicists, more and more of whom are using computer modeling.

  • Authors:by Narendra S. Goel and Richard L. Thompson
  • Published:June 1, 1988
  • Formats:Hardcover