Coverart for item
The Resource Life's other secret : the new mathematics of the living world, Ian Stewart

Life's other secret : the new mathematics of the living world, Ian Stewart

Label
Life's other secret : the new mathematics of the living world
Title
Life's other secret
Title remainder
the new mathematics of the living world
Statement of responsibility
Ian Stewart
Creator
Subject
Language
eng
Summary
"Is there an underlying set of principles that connects the pattern of a tiger's stripes with the design of a butterfly's wings? Are there hidden laws of life that lie deeper than DNA?" "According to award-winning science writer Ian Stewart, the answer is yes, and the hidden rules are called mathematics. In Life's Other Secret, Stewart exploits a realm of pattern and beauty that links the pulse of life with the creative enterprise of mathematics." "Pointing to what he describes as an exaggerated emphasis on the power of DNA in determining the shape and behavior of life-forms, Stewart compares DNA to a recipe book of ingredients, quantities, and sequences: very useful, but far from a complete plan of the final result. Beneath the genes lies the rich texture of the physical universe with its deep patterns, forms, structures, processes, and systems - a world of infinite subtlety that can be described only through mathematics. Genes may move a life-form in a specific direction, but it is the mathematical laws of chemistry and physics that control an organism's response to its genetic instructions." "With the visionary work of the zoologist D'Arcy Thompson as his touchstone, Stewart unfolds a series of dazzling mathematical patterns in the organic world: the ethereal spiral of the nautilus shell, the fluid forms of a jellyfish, the boastful beauty of the peacock's tail, and the amazing numerology of floral petals. He leads us to a place where number and nature coalesce, and where the order of mathematics manifests itself in life."--Jacket
Cataloging source
DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorDate
1945-
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Stewart, Ian
Dewey number
570/.1/51
Illustrations
  • illustrations
  • plates
Index
index present
LC call number
QH323.5
LC item number
.S74 1998
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Biomathematics
  • Biomatemática
  • Biomathématiques
  • Biomathematics
  • Evolutietheorie
  • Wiskundige methoden
  • Biologie
  • Biomathematik
  • Muster
Label
Life's other secret : the new mathematics of the living world, Ian Stewart
Link
Instantiates
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 265-270) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
  • ch. 5.
  • Artificial life
  • ch. 6.
  • Flowers for Fibonacci
  • ch. 7.
  • Morphogens and Mona Lisas
  • ch. 8.
  • Peacock's tale
  • ch. 9.
  • Walk on the wild side
  • ch. 1.
  • ch. 10.
  • Exaltation of boids
  • ch. 11.
  • Reef wars
  • ch. 12.
  • In search of secrets
  • What is life?
  • ch. 2.
  • Before life began
  • ch. 3.
  • Frozen accident
  • ch. 4.
  • Oxygen menace
Control code
ocm37211069
Dimensions
25 cm
Extent
xiii, 285 pages, [8] pages of plates
Isbn
9780471296515
Lccn
97018152
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations
System control number
  • (Sirsi) o37211069
  • (OCoLC)37211069
Label
Life's other secret : the new mathematics of the living world, Ian Stewart
Link
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 265-270) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
  • ch. 5.
  • Artificial life
  • ch. 6.
  • Flowers for Fibonacci
  • ch. 7.
  • Morphogens and Mona Lisas
  • ch. 8.
  • Peacock's tale
  • ch. 9.
  • Walk on the wild side
  • ch. 1.
  • ch. 10.
  • Exaltation of boids
  • ch. 11.
  • Reef wars
  • ch. 12.
  • In search of secrets
  • What is life?
  • ch. 2.
  • Before life began
  • ch. 3.
  • Frozen accident
  • ch. 4.
  • Oxygen menace
Control code
ocm37211069
Dimensions
25 cm
Extent
xiii, 285 pages, [8] pages of plates
Isbn
9780471296515
Lccn
97018152
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations
System control number
  • (Sirsi) o37211069
  • (OCoLC)37211069

Library Locations

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