The Geometry of Biological Time

Dealing with dynamics of processes that repeat themselves regularly, this revised and updated edition extends the thread from 1980 to the present day, concentrating on areas of interest where there will be much activity in the future. This involves going through spatial biochemical, electrophysiological, and organismic dynamical systems and patterns that were discovered by pursuing the theme of phase singularities introduced in the original book. In particular the work on excitability in cell membranes will be thoroughly updated as will the references throughout the book.

Contenu

1980 Preface 1999 Preface 1999 Acknowledgements Introduction 1 Circular Logic 2 Phase Singularities (Screwy Results of Circular Logic) 3 The Rules of the Ring 4 Ring Populations 5 Getting Off the Ring 6 Attracting Cycles and Isochrons 7 Measuring the Trajectories of a Circadian Clock 8 Populations of Attractor Cycle Oscillators 9 Excitable Kinetics and Excitable Media 10 The Varieties of Phaseless Experience: In Which the Geometrical Orderliness of Rhythmic Organization Breaks Down in Diverse Ways 11 The Firefly Machine 12 Energy Metabolism in Cells 13 The Malonic Acid Reagent ('Sodium Geometrate') 14 Electrical Rhythmicity and Excitability in Cell Membranes 15 The Aggregation of Slime Mold Amoebae 16 Numerical Organizing Centers 17 Electrical Singular Filaments in the Heart Wall 18 Pattern Formation in the Fungi 19 Circadian Rhythms in General 20 The Circadian Clocks of Insect Eclosion 21 The Flower of Kalanchoe 22 The Cell Mitotic Cycle 23 The Female Cycle References Index of Names Index of Subjects