Abstract
AN analysis of the general attributes manifest by the entropy in template-directed polymerization reactions is relevant to the nature of entropy in biological systems. Both the biosynthesis of proteins and replication of poly-nucleotides are established examples of reactions in this category. Wolkenshtein and Eliasevich1 have previously sought to define the conditions of equilibrium for polydeoxynucleic acid (DNA) replication. In their work, the mixing entropy derived from polymeric nucleotides was neglected; it is, however, this component of the entropy that is the distinctive feature in the reaction and, accordingly, it is central to the present treatment. To simplify presentation, the communication has been confined mainly to DNA replication. The argument, nevertheless, retains its generality.
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References
Wolkenshtein, M. V., and Eliasevich, A. M., Biophys., 6, 5, 1 (1961).
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DAVIS, B. Entropy in Template-directed Polymerization. Nature 206, 183–184 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1038/206183a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/206183a0
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