The article is a brief review of the modern state of problem of thermodynamics criteria of evolution of biological open system. Experiments are considered on the experimental evolution (microevolution) of populations of microorganisms in continuous cultures. From the point of view of thermodynamics, continuous cultures of microorganisms are thermodynamics open system, able to be in the stable stationary states. In accordance with classification of M. Eigen, the chemostat corresponds to the case of constant flows (constant dilution rate), while the turbidostat - to the case of constant organization (constant density of population of microorganisms). As follows from general principles of non-equilibrium thermodynamics (principle of Onsager, theorem of Prigogine) open systems of both types in a steady-state must evolve in the direction of decline of entropy production rate. However, results of experiments on the evolution of microorganisms in the chemostat and in the turbidostat conflict with it. It is shown that in the process of experimental evolution of genetically modified microorganisms (ГМО) in open systems of both types at limiting of development of population by substrate the entropy production rate must increase, but not decrease, as follows from the basic principles of non-equilibrium thermodynamics. The results of experiments testify to the necessity of further development of thermodynamics theory of biological open systems, further study of general regularities of biological development.
Non-equilibrium thermodynamics, open system, evolution of steady-states, continuous cultures of microorganisms, turbidostat and chemostat, principles of microevolution
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