Foraging Dynamics and Entropy Production in a Simulated Proto-Cell

Abstract

All organisms depend on a supply of energetic resources to power behavior and the irreversible entropy-producing processes that sustain them. Dissipative structure theory has often been a source of inspiration for better understanding the thermodynamics of biology, yet real organisms are inordinately more complex than most laboratory systems. Here we report on a simulated chemical dissipative structure that operates as a proto cell. The simulated swimmer moves through a 1D environment collecting resources that drive a nonlinear reaction network interior to the swimmer. The model minimally represents properties of a simple organism including rudimentary foraging and chemotaxis and an analog of a metabolism in the nonlinear reaction network. We evaluated how dynamical stability of the foraging dynamics (i.e., swimming and chemotaxis) relates to the rate of entropy production. Results suggested a relationship between dynamical steady states and entropy production that was tuned by the relative coordination of foraging and metabolic processes. Results include evidence in support of and contradicting one formulation of a maximum entropy production principle. We discuss the status of this principle and its relevance to biology.