Structure and Function of Living Systems

A living organism is, at its core, a localized rebellion against the chaos of the universe. In a cosmos that strictly favors entropy and disorder, life manages to capture energy, build incredibly complex structures, and maintain a highly ordered state. This defiance of physical degradation is not magic; it is an exquisite application of physics and chemistry performed by a hierarchy of highly specialized biological systems. To understand biology is to uncover the brilliant, interconnected mechanics of this machinery, from the microscopic factories inside a leaf to the rhythmic, muscular pump beating in the center of the human chest.