What is Life? - With Mind and Matter and Autobiographical Sketches

Key Facts and Insights

1. Life as an anomaly: The book begins with a provocative idea that life, as we know it, is a violation of the second law of thermodynamics, the law that describes the tendency of the universe towards entropy or disorder. Schrödinger argues that life maintains order and fights against entropy, which makes it an anomaly.
2. Genetic code: Schrödinger introduces the idea of a genetic code that carries information and is responsible for heredity. He termed this as an "aperiodic crystal" or "code-script," which later helped in the discovery of DNA.
3. Quantum mechanics and biology: The book...

   Full summary available for members.

   Log in or create a free account to view.