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1 February 2014 Evolution, Entropy, & Biological Information
Jacob Peterson
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Abstract

A logical question to be expected from students: “How could life develop, that is, change, evolve from simple, primitive organisms into the complex forms existing today, while at the same time there is a generally observed decline and disorganization — the second law of thermodynamics?” The explanations in biology textbooks relied upon by students and instructors are incomplete. A necessary but insufficient premise is that only total entropy of a system must increase. In this article, I present background information for a lesson plan on entropy and question biology textbook presentations on the second law and how life could evolve despite it. The principal concept is that biological information in macromolecules provides fresh insight into evolution in the earths thermodynamic system.

©2014 by National Association of Biology Teachers. All rights reserved. Request permission to photocopy or reproduce article content at the University of California Press's Rights and Permissions Web site at www.ucpressjournals.com/reprintinfo.asp.
Jacob Peterson "Evolution, Entropy, & Biological Information," The American Biology Teacher 76(2), 88-92, (1 February 2014). https://doi.org/10.1525/abt. 2014.76.2.4
Published: 1 February 2014
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KEYWORDS
biological information
chemical evolution
entropy
evolution
second law
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