Kinetic Theory of Living Pattern

Development of the shapes of living organisms and their parts is a field of science in which there are no generally accepted theoretical principles and there is a wide gulf of disagreement between physical scientists and experimental biologists. Here there is an extensive philosophical commentary on this dichotomy in views and an exposition of the type of theory most favoured by physical scientists.

Preface; Part I. Macroscopics Without Mathematics: 1. Introduction; 2. Morphogen: one word for at least two concepts; 3. Pictorial reasoning in kinetic theory of pattern and form; 4. Structure, equilibrium, kinetics; Part II. Pattern-Forming Processes: 5. The making and breaking of symmetry; 6. Matters needing mathematics: an introduction; 7. Kinetic models for stable pattern: an introduction; Part III. Bringing Experiment and Theory Together: 8. Classifications; 9. Non-linear reaction-diffusion models; 10. Approaching agreement?; References; Index.