Integrative Biophysics: Biophotonics

ISBN-13: 9781402011399 / Angielski / Twarda / 2003 / 504 str.

Carlos V. Dualibe; Fritz-Albert Popp; Fritz-Albert Popp

Opis

Biophotonics is a rapidly increasing field of current scientific research and applications, based on the discovery of biophotons, a permanent, weak photon current emanating from all living systems. The biophoton emission reflects some, if not all, of the essential biological and physiological activities in biological systems. Biophotonics provides a powerful tool for investigating these electromagnetic interactions. The theoretical approach requires holistic models of living systems, rather than local analytical models. Consequently, these new insights into living matter create a new basis of "integrative biophysics" that is concerned with the questions of regulation, communication and organization of biological systems. Most of the specialists working in this interdisciplinary field of physics, biology, biophysics and medicine are associated with "The International Institute of Biophysics" (IIB), in Neuss, Germany, where basic research and possibilities for applications are coordinated. The growth in this field is indicated by the increase in financial support, interest from the scientific community and frequency of publications. Audience: The scientists of IIB have presented the most essential background and applications of biophotonics in these lecture notes in biophysics, based on the summer school lectures by this group. This book is devoted to questions of elementary biophysics, as well as current developments and applications. It will be of interest to graduate and postgraduate students, life scientists, and the responsible officials of industries and governments looking for non-invasive methods of investigating biological tissues.

Spis treści

to integrative biophysics.- Bio-electromagnetism.- Developmental biology and physics of today.- Cellular and molecular aspects of integrative biophysics.- Physical basis and applications of delayed luminescence.- Biological effects of electromagnetic fields on living cells.- Detectors for the quantized electromagnetic field.- Detection of photon emission from biological systems.- Photon emission from perturbed and dying organisms — the concept of photon cycling in biological systems.- Mitogenetic radiation, biophotons and non-linear oxidative processes in aqueous media.- Biophotons: Ultraweak photons in cells.- Biophotons — background, experimental results, theoretical approach and applications.- The physical basis of life.- Definition of consciousness. Impossible and unnecessary?.