On Asymmetry in Biology and Nature

Abstract

Symmetry has attracted a substantial amount of effort because considerable simplifications are possible in the mathematical and physical treatment of phenomena and natural systems that possess a certain degree of symmetry. Among physical and chemical systems the most widely known are those related to crystals and fluids. Whereas crystals have a lattice structure and a symmetry caused by ‘perfect’ order which can be classified by mathematical symmetry groups, most fluids have an average isotropic, highly-disordered ‘structure’ that is often considered to be random.Asymmetry is widely encountered in Biology and ecological systems- from amino acids to trees forests, and tribes, from physiological processes to anatomy- one often finds asymmetry to be present , although symmetries are also encountered whenever nature affords it. An important case is that of cell biomembranes that possess a marked structural and functional asymmetry which is essential to the survival of cells and microorganisms. Asymmetry both in time and selection ‘criteria’ plays a key role in the evolution of organisms and species.