The Geometry of Biological Time

Dealing with dynamics of processes that repeat themselves regularly, this revised and updated edition extends the thread from 1980 to the present day, concentrating on areas of interest where there will be much activity in the future. This involves going through spatial biochemical, electrophysiological, and organismic dynamical systems and patterns that were discovered by pursuing the theme of phase singularities introduced in the original book. In particular the work on excitability in cell membranes will be thoroughly updated as will the references throughout the book.

1. Circular Logic.- 2. Phase Singularities (Screwy Results of Circular Logic).- 3. The Rules of the Ring.- 4. Ring Populations.- 5. Getting off the Ring.- 6. Attracting Cycles and Isochrons.- 7. Measuring the Trajectories of a Circadian Clock.- 8. Populations of Attracting-Cycle Oscillators.- 9. Excitable Kinetics and Excitable Media.- 10. The Varieties of Phaseless Experience: In which the Geometrical Orderliness of Rhythmic Organization Breaks Down in Diverse Ways.- 11. The Firefly Machine.- 12. Energy Metabolism in Cells.- 13. The Malonic Acid Reagent ("Sodium Geometrate").- 14. Electrical Rhythmicity and Excitability in Cell Membranes.- 15. The Aggregation of Slime Mold Amoebae.- 16. Numerical Organizing Centers.- 17. Electrical Singular Filaments in the Heart Wall.- 18. Pattern Formation in the Fungi.- 19. Circadian Rhythms in General.- 20. The Circadian Clocks of Insect Eclosion.- 21. The Flower of Kalanchoë.- 22. The Cell Mitotic Cycle.- 23. The Female Cycle 650 A: Women, Hormones, and Eggs.- Index of Author Citations and Publications.- Index of Subjects.