What Is Life ?

Erwin Schroedinger 1944 (PSU QH331.S3557)

In 1944, they knew genes were coded in molecular structures in paired chromosomes, one per parent - and Schroedinger likened them to "aperiodic crystals". He thought there were 24 pairs, not 23. He argued small size from X-ray damage, and energy density from thermal statistics. He worked from Delbruck's gene model and the Heitler-London forces governing chemical bonding. He argues that living animals are large enough so that the statistical law of large numbers allows predictability in the face of thermal motion and randomness.

Will the law of large numbers limit solid state electronocs?

It is important that researchers like Watson and Crick were inspired by Schrodinger's monograph to learn what is actually going on; Schroedinger was mistaken in some ways, but "correct" enough to lead others to better approximations of the truth.