8.6 Summary

The preceding discussion has presented some of the results from classical and modern radiation theory and demonstrated how these physical principles can be applied to the analysis of biological systems. The emphasis in these applications has been upon the evolutionary significance of the physical processes. In the biological applications presented, the physical processes are involved in the following two types of explanations. In the first type of explanation, physical theory is used to isolate constant factors in the environment to which all organisms must adjust their evolution. In a second application, physical theory is used to elucidate the constraints governing the evolution of biological systems. It is demonstrated that radiation theory is applicable to a wide range of sense organs, radiation types, wavelengths, and organisms.