where does physics and biology meet? or where does life and non life ( matter)meet?

Question

can life proceses be explained by physics? or is there a limitation on our understanding of the world around us from our sense organs?

in other words how life enters matter and leaves matter? where are the touch or contact points?

Answer 1

There's an entire field called 'Biophysics', which attempts to explain life processes in the language of physics. I took a class in undergraduate on it; it was fascinating. We started with basic stuff like diffusion and osmotic pressure, but we eventually modeled things like the behavior of motor proteins and DNA folding/unzipping. Can physics fully explain life? The best case scenario is maybe, but not yet; even the most basic form of life is such a complicated system that we are just beginning to understand the basics. If you're wondering if physics can answer questions like what consciousness is, or more metaphysical questions like that.... well, physics doesn't really bother itself with that- some questions are best left to the philosophers and theologists. The actual mechanics of life, however, are being studied by physicists right now; biophysics is one of the most exciting new areas in physics today.

Answer 2

There is a discipline called Biophysics where the two sciences meet.
Explanation of biological phenomena through physical laws is biophysics. For example the force with which heart pumps the blood, the resistance offered by the arteries in the velocity of blood. The penetration of high-speed particles, and waves in the body and their effect has to be looked at from the point of view of physical law impinging on biological principles. There are many problems that need the help of physics for explanation and understanding.
As to our sensory perception, you know that there is a limitation. Our eyes and ears cannot perceive beyond a certain level. These are different in different animals. Consider the eye of an eagle, the ear of an elephant, sense of smell of a shark...We perceive the world through our senses and think beyond, herein we find the beauty of human life.

Answer 3

A very interesting question. Physics that deals with fundamental nature of matter and energy and their interactions, is on one hand; a complex living conscious systems like humans on the other end. The relationships between the two build up as below:

1. Physics at the quantum level (subatmoic, nuclear scales).
2. Chemistry at the electronic configuration level (All the subject of chemical reactions are exchanges/reconfigurations of outer electrons of the atoms and molecules, forming new bonds and shapes).
3. Organic Chemistry at the hydrocarbon chain level [ macro-molecules; 50-200+ atoms forming one organic molecule is common for organic chemicals; H-C (hydrogen-carbon) chain makes this possible ].
4. Self-replicating organic molecules (The fundamental basis of life).
5. Unicellular organisms
6. Multicellular organisms, viruses, microbes, bacteria.
7. Fish, reptiles, birds and mammals.

The meeting point seems to be at the breakthrough step 4. Because when the molecule learned to replicate itself, it became possible for it to "grow". Yet it is not "life" as we know it in Biology.

Answer 4

Phsyics is the father of sciences. All other sciences are "higher-level" abstractions of the universe. The order goes something like: physics -> chemistry -> biology -> psychology -> sociology. Of course, other sciences fit in there somewhere, also, like geology and whatnot.

While it is theoretically possible to explain, say, human psychology in terms of physics, it is very impractical. There are simply too many calculations. Higher-level sciences are very good heuristics, or rules of thumb.

Life comes in the form of very complicated chemical structures. While the same matter makes up both life and non-life, the structure of that matter makes a difference. Life is also defined biological by certain criterion, such as being able to react to stimuli and reproduce.

In conclusion, physics is at least two degrees of freedom away from life. Life can be reduced to physics, though it's not easy. And life can be distinguished from non-life through some established criteria.

Answer 5

Gee, I was going to say chemistry, but biophysics sounds much better. Oh, to that guy above, the one who ordered the sciences, psychology and, especially sociology are not sciences, but social sciences. They do not meet much of anything that is real or important.

Answer 6

well last night as i came home from a biggie, i was talking to the taxi bloke, when we notice the door opening in the back and them something floating through and then the other door open and shut, and it wasn't some kid playing a prank, so can anyone explain that.

Answer 7

"The creatures cruise silently, skimming the surface of their world with the elegance of ice skaters..."

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