Thermodynamics and evolutionary genetics (Q989988)

The purpose of this article is to show that there is the possibility to draw analogy between thermodynamics and genetics, and to make that analogy explicit by using the methods of the mathematical model. By the rules of statistical thermodynamics and of evolutionary genetics certain commons models are deduced. Moreover, the model of population in the case both haploid cells and diploid cells is considered. The author conclude that the randomness of mutation of cells may be likened to the random thermal fluctuations in a gas. And the probabilistic nature of entropy in statistical thermodynamics can be carried over to a population of haploid and diploid cells without any conceptual change. Also, the author remarks, that it may be that the real distinction between the mathematical theories of thermodynamics and genetics is one of practicality and applicability: thermodynamics gives all kinds of practical and valuable results about engines driven by air and water, which are the most important agents of classical technology. Genetics, on the other hand, cannot be applied, perhaps, except to oversimplified models, and certainly not to practical problems. This, however, only means that more study is to be done in genetics to get away from the simple models amenable to explicit analysis. Just like more study is needed in thermodynamics for the rectification of oil and natural gas than for the separation of ideal gases.