Information Processing in Biological Systems

This volume contains the greater part of the papers submitted to the Information Processing in Biology portion of the 1983 Orbis Scientiae, then dedicated to the eightieth year of Professor P.A.M. Dirac. Before the volume could be published, Professor Dirac passed away on October 20, 1984, thereby changing the dedica­ tion of this volume, and its companion, on High Energy Physics, to his everlasting memory. The last Orbis Scientiae (as it was often in the past) was shared by two frontier fields - in this case by High Energy Physics and Information Processing in Biology, demonstrating the universality of scientific principles and goals. The interaction amongst scientists of diverse interests can only enhance the fruitfulness of their efforts. The editors take pride in the modest contribution of Orbis Scientiae towards this goal. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the typing of these proceedings by Regelio Rodriguez and Helga Billings, and the customary excellent supervision by the latter. The efficient preparation and organiza­ tion of the conference was due largely to the skill and dedication of Linda Scott. As in the past, Orbis Scientiae 1983 received nominal support from the United States Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. Front Matter....Pages i-ix Information Processing in the Cortex: The Role of Small Assemblies of Neurons....Pages 1-30 Information And Cause....Pages 31-54 Information Flow and Complexity in Large-Scale Metabolic Systems....Pages 55-67 Physical Principles and Proteinoid Experiments in the Emergence of Life....Pages 69-91 Microscopic-Macroscopic Interface in Biological Information Processing....Pages 93-130 Stochastic Information Processing in Biological Systems II — Statistics, Dynamics, and Phase Transitions....Pages 131-144 Design for a One-Dimensional Brain....Pages 145-153 Back Matter....Pages 155-164