In Search of the Physical Basis of Life

Customer Reviews:

A Revolution in Cell Physiology.......2001-10-15

First things first: this book is not light reading. It is thick with equations and chemistry. It is written for those with advanced knowledge of cell physiology, or at least biology and biochemistry.

That said, Ling will some day be one of the icons of modern science. Given the way orthodoxy holds onto its reign, it may be another several decades before it happens, but it will inevitably happen. The hypothesis he puts for in this book regarding the physical structure of human cells is nothing less than a complete overhaul of the presently reigning model.

The conventional model of the cell is one of a saline bag with ion pumps embedded in its membrane to control ion concentrations and, therefore, the charge gradient across the membrane. Ling review *all* the literature upon which this model is based, and in the process, shows how the model can't possibly be a reality.

Next, building upon experiments in colloidal chemistry dating back almost a century, Ling establishes a different model of the cell. This model, called the Association-Induction Hypothesis, has makes some bold assertions about the physical state of the cell, though none that aren't backed with mountains of experimental evidence:

1) Water within the cell exists in polarized multilayers. Unlike dissociated water we see around us in the world, water in the cell is held in layers by the polarizing effect of long proteins that stretch throug the cell.

2) Ions are not pumped in and out of the cell. Rather, it is primarily the movement of potassium ions, which are pulled into the cell based upon their size and charge in relation to the position and electron density of the proteins within the cell.

3) ATP does not supply energy to the cell via any high-energy phosphate bond. Ling reviews all the evidence showing why this cannot be an accurate picture of ATP. Rather, ATP is the primary cellular "cardinal adsorbent," molecules which attach to the ends of proteins, ends that extend lightly beyond the boundary of the cell. By attaching, ATP induces shifts in electron density through the protein chain to which it is bound, altering ionic movement/gradients across the cell boundary, in addition to a host of other cellular repercussions resulting from the density change.

There are far more revelations about the cellular environment in Ling's book. Further, he has published a few books since this one, one of which has just been published. I'm reading it now, and I am hoping it will distill his very extensive thesis down to the most salient points. It is a hypothesis that deserves a very wide audience, but the technical nature of his writing makes it accessible to a very limited audience.

Book Description

The Physical Basis of Biochemistry is a rigorous, imaginative textbook that applies physical and chemical principles to understanding the biology of cells. The book features problem sets and examples, clear illustrations, and extensive appendices that provide additional information on related topics in mathematics, physics and chemistry. Based on years of teaching the subject, The Physical Basis of Biochemistry is suitable for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses in physical biochemistry, biophysical chemistry, and physical chemistry with application in the life sciences. Mixing practical applications with a consistent theoretical paradigm of modeling biological systems, the book will be welcomed by instructors seeking a text that combines a quantitative approach with a uniform biological perspective.

Customer Reviews:

Messy Failure .......2005-12-20

Concept-wise, the physics in the book is superficial, often fuzzy, sometimes plain wrong. (As a simultaneous example of the latter two, just read a paragraph allegedly explaining why atomic orbitals of the wrong symmetry do not contribute to a given molecular orbital. The author hardly knows simple group-theoretical explanation, so he provides nebulous metaphysical fertilizer instead). IMHO, the author merely does not understand physics well enough to help reader's understanding.

References to nonexisting equations (e.g. Eq. 6.104 in Chapter 6), numerous numerical errors (e.g. to convert answer from Joules to calories, the author multiplies (rather than divides) by 4.2, "typos" like C(n,n)=0 instead of C(n,n)=1,and other types of sloppiness do not help either.

I had much better luck with Nelson's
"Biological Physics : Energy, Information, Life" - much more instructive and insightful exposition, which reads like a strenuous hike over a beatiful terrain

A bad book with good intentions.......2000-03-26

The author attempted to write the Feynman's Lectures of biophysical chemistry, but he failed miserably. The book has a messy structure, unclear discussions, poorly drawn diagrams, and is infested with errors, even in equations that belong to high-school level physics courses. The first third of the book is basically a review of freshman physics and hardly touches biological systems, while the rest is a combination of dry formal exposition of thermodynamics and kinetics, and overly philosophical abstract and qualitative discussion of biological systems. The three parts of the text fail to communicate as they should.

Although I doubt that anyone will benefit much from this book, I am sure that many biochemistry students would benefit greatly from a book that Dr. Bergethon actually WANTED to create. Until such a book appears, for physical basis of biochemistry buy "Physical Chemistry: Principles and Applications in Biological Sciences" by T inoco, Sauer and Wang and supplelent it with any of the better introductroy physics texts.

One professor's opinion.......2000-03-01

I bought this book just before teaching Physical Chemistry. It started with a strong development of model use which laid a strong foundation for the remainder of the book. I found it a pleasure to read, if one can imagine that in a p-chem book. A true physical chemist would find their treatment an oversimplification. I thought it was a great single step up from undergraduate biochemistry courses towards physical chemistry.

High Dilution Effects: Physical and Biochemical Basis (Handbooks of Behavioral Neurobiology)

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High Dilution Effects: Physical and Biochemical Basis (Handbooks of Behavioral Neurobiology)
Nirmal C. Sukul , and Anirban Sukul
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1402021550

Book Description

Since the subject of high dilution effects is still a subject for debate, this volume provides evidence in support of effects from control clinical studies, clinical records from veteran physicians, controlled experiments on animals and plants, and in vitro tests without any organisms (Chapter II). An overview of the methods for preparing drugs at ultra high dilution is also provided as well as the basic principles of homeopathy, which has been alleviating human suffering through the use of these drugs for several hundred years (Chapter I). Chapter III provides physical basis of high dilutions as evidence from the NMR, IR, UV and fluorescence spectra of those drugs. Since water is used as the diluents media, the structure and dynamics of water polymers in relation to high dilution are discussed in order to facilitate easy comprehension of this physical aspect, the basic principles of spectroscopy are also described. Chapter IV focuses on the mechanism of action of potentized drugs in the living system, discussing the structure of the cell, the plasma membrane, the integral proteins on the membrane, the interaction between these proteins and high dilutions and the manifestations of the therapeutic effects of high dilutions. Some aspects, peculiar to homeopathy, such as the chief miasm psora, and the literalities and time modalities of symptoms and drug action are interpreted from a scientific perspective. Chapter IV ends with a brief discussion on water structures and the origin of life to show the natural evolution of high dilution effects. The book not only helps in understanding the physical basis of high dilutions and their mechanism of action in organisms but provides many new avenues of investigation into this interdisciplinary field of science.

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Psychological Basis of Perfumery

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Accessories:

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

ASIN: 0751403687

Book Description

During the many years of its publication and subsequent revisions, Paul Jellinek's book has been the standard work on its subject. This new edition, translated into English for the first time, was conceived in response to the increased interest in recent years in perfumes and the sense of smell. This interest has come not only from within the highly competitive perfumery industry, but also from psychologists and market researchers. The original text has impressively withstood the test of time and the approach of this new book has been to supplement it with chapters that are now of critical importance, but which were only touched upon in the original book. A market researcher looks at why people use perfumes; a psychologist examines the motivation of perfume choice; another psychologist discusses odours and a perfumer looks at the effects of odours on human experience and behaviour. In the final chapter the editor compares the original author's views with those of today's experts and suggests which aspects are still valid and in what areas divergent views now prevail. This book is written principally to provide a scientific basis to the craft of perfumery and to enable formulators and marketeers to understand why the smells they create and sell have the effect they do. It allows a systematic approach to the development of these products. Others outside the industry, including psychologists in academia, will find the book an essential reference source.

Bio-Fear Not Good Basis For Investing.(fear of bioterrorism)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included): An article from: San Diego Business Journal

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Bio-Fear Not Good Basis For Investing.(fear of bioterrorism)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included): An article from: San Diego Business Journal
Marion Webb
Manufacturer: CBJ, L.P.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from San Diego Business Journal, published by CBJ, L.P. on October 29, 2001. The length of the article is 868 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Bio-Fear Not Good Basis For Investing.(fear of bioterrorism)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Author: Marion Webb
Publication: San Diego Business Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 29, 2001
Publisher: CBJ, L.P.
Volume: 22 Issue: 44 Page: 1

Article Type: Brief Article, Statistical Data Included

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The Physical Basis of Biochemistry
P. R. Bergethon
Manufacturer: Springer Verlag 1/5/1998
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MBZZ5C

Book Description

The late Abraham Pais wrote the definitive biography of Albert Einstein, "Subtle is the Lord," which won an American Book Award. As a distinguished physicist and Einstein's colleague, Pais combined a sophisticated understanding of physics with first-hand knowledge of this notoriously private individual, offering rare insights into both. It is his unique double perspective that makes his work so valuable. Now Abraham Pais offers an illuminating portrait of another eminent colleague, J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the most charismatic and enigmatic figures of modern physics. Pais introduces us to a precocious youth who sped through Harvard in three years, made signal contributions to quantum mechanics while in his twenties, and was instrumental in the growth of American physics in the decade before the Second World War, almost single-handedly putting American physics on the map. Pais paints a revealing portrait of Oppenheimer's life in Los Alamos, where in twenty remarkable, feverish months, under his inspired leadership, the first atomic bomb was designed and built, a success that made Oppenheimer America's most famous scientist. Pais, who was his next-door neighbor for many years, describes Oppenheimer's long tenure as Director of the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton, but also shows how Oppenheimer's intensity and arrogance won him powerful enemies, who would ultimately make him one of the principal victims of the Red Scare of the 1950s. Told with compassion and deep insight, J. Robert Oppenheimer is the most comprehensive biography of the great physicist available. It is Abraham Pais's final work, completed after his death by Robert P. Crease, an acclaimed historian of science in his own right.

Customer Reviews:

Not For The Non-Professional.......2006-07-16

While I generally agree with the authors of the reviews below that this book provides insight into Oppenheimer's character, the development of IAS, and the inner workings of the Manhattan Project, I did not find this biography helpful in understanding either Oppenheimer's scientific work or the wider scientific research in quantum theory in which he played a role. I took to reading the "science" chapters with my laptop, set to Wikipedia, at my side, because -- perhaps because he died before revising or expanding the chapters that he had completed -- Pais does not define, let alone explain, any of the concepts and theories underlying Oppenheimer's research, but merely summarizes those ideas as though he were addressing an audience of science professionals. While no scientist, I'm not a science illiterate. Yet I understood very few of the descriptions in this book of Oppenheimer's actual scientific work. Therefore, I'd recommend this bio to readers interested in learning more about Oppenheimer's life, the history of IAS and the birth of the atomic age, but not to those nonscientists who want to learn more about Oppenheimer's research.

Gripping True Story.......2006-07-06

A gripping review of the man who really created the atomic bomb and fought to stop the hydrogen bomb. Read this book and find out why

The best book on Oppie at IAS.......2006-04-19

There have been several good biographies of Oppenheimer in the past few years. As biographies the others are probably better. This book though has two real advantages over the others:

First, Abraham Pais was a physicist himself. He worked with Oppenheimer and knew all or most of the significant physicists involved with atomic energy during and after the war. His insights on the physics being done at the time is very insightful.

Second, Oppenheimer is most known for Los Alamos and the Manhattan Project. But after that, after he lost his security clearance Oppenheimer was head of the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton. This is where Pais knew him and it is in this part of his life that this book excells.

Oppenheimer was an enigmatic person. He was certainly an accomplished physicist. Not perhaps the equal of the very best, but clearly on the first string. Oppenheimer's work in physics earned him what might be called an honorable mention in the history books. Oppenheimer's work as a manager of the project and as director of the institute required not brilliance in physics but managerial capabilities far beyond those exhibited by other physicists of the time (with the possible exception of Edward Teller).

Oppenheimer's expulsion from Government service over security issues was one of the travesties of the McCarthy era. It seems though that his subsequent work at the IAS gave him enough pleasure that he was not unhappy. He continued to work at the forefront of physics.

If you want to know more about Oppenheimer's life before and during the war, look to other books. If you want some insight into his later life and into the depth of his character, this is the best book I have found.

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Drawing from Life
Joel Oppenheimer
Manufacturer: Moyer Bell Ltd.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1559211970

J. Robert Oppenheimer, a life. With supplemental material by Robert P. Chase.

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J. Robert Oppenheimer, a life. With supplemental material by Robert P. Chase.
J. Robert] PAIS, Abraham. [OPPENHEIMER
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000M4N2GI

J. Robert Oppenheimer: A Life Â… With Supplemental Material by Robert P. Crease.

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J. Robert Oppenheimer: A Life Â… With Supplemental Material by Robert P. Crease.
J. Robert] PAIS, Abraham. [OPPENHEIMER
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000TOVSAI

Larger than life: who was J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientific head of the World War II bomb project? His reputation remains nearly mythic; the man himself, ... from: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

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Larger than life: who was J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientific head of the World War II bomb project? His reputation remains nearly mythic; the man himself, ... from: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Jeremy Bernstein
Manufacturer: Educational Foundation for Nuclear Science, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, published by Educational Foundation for Nuclear Science, Inc. on March 1, 2004. The length of the article is 4777 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Larger than life: who was J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientific head of the World War II bomb project? His reputation remains nearly mythic; the man himself, a mystery.
Author: Jeremy Bernstein
Publication: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (Refereed)
Date: March 1, 2004
Publisher: Educational Foundation for Nuclear Science, Inc.
Volume: 60 Issue: 2 Page: 35(7)

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Life in a force field.("The Ruin of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Birth of the Modern Arms Race")("American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert ... : An article from: American Scientist

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Life in a force field.("The Ruin of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Birth of the Modern Arms Race")("American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert ... : An article from: American Scientist

Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Shatterer Of Worlds : A Life Of J. Robert Oppenheimer

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Shatterer Of Worlds : A Life Of J. Robert Oppenheimer
Abraham/ Crease, Robert P./ Nicolaisen, Ida Pais
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKNS6Y

Customer Reviews:

Highly recommended contribution to Penology Studies.......2002-09-14

Hard Time: Voices From A State Prison, 1849-1914 is the story of the state penitentiary at Stillwater, Minnesota -- a dangerous, sometimes lethal, stone fortress erected for the purpose of exacting punishment and penance from it's inmate population. Enhanced throughout with period photography, Hard Times is a documentary history of the facility where those men deemed incorrigible were send to do "hard time" and which, over the sixty-five years of its existed, evolved to become one of the most respected penal institutions in the nation. Hard Times offers up such memorable events as the imprisonment of the Younger gang in 1876; the prison fire of 1884; the escape of Frank P. Landers and Oscar J. Carlon in 1887; the "twine shop insurrection" of 1899; the manhunt for escaped convicts Peter Juhl and Jerrfy McCarty in 1911; and a great deal more. Very highly recommended contribution to Penology Studies; Minnesota History; and American History supplemental reading lists and academic reference collections...

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