Dan Troxell
Boston, MA
On Wed, 18 Dec 2002, Bruce Stallsmith wrote:
> Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 08:21:28 -0500
> From: Bruce Stallsmith <fundulus_at_hotmail.com>
> Reply-To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
> To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
> Subject: Re: NANFA-- Off topic: mathematical theory of biology
>
> The series below, 1 2 3 5 8 13 etc., is also known as the Fibonacci series.
> Many patterns in nature can be explained using these numbers as ratios,
> especially the "Golden Mean"--approximately 1.62, described by the ratio of
> 13 to 8, or 21 to 13, etc. The twist of the Nautilus shell is described by
> these numbers, as are the whorl patterns on many plants. (Fibonacci means
> blockhead in medieval Italian, a long story...)
>
> --Bruce Stallsmith
> Huntsville, AL, US of A
>
> >From: Brian Haas <bhaas_at_netexpress.net>
> >Reply-To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
> >To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
> >Subject: Re: NANFA-- Off topic: mathematical theory of biology
> >Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2002 22:46:50 -0600
> >
> >All I can add is that patterns in nature such as those seen in the nautilus
> >shell frequently follow the form of the number "e" and natural logarithms.
> >("e" is a non-repeating decimal, as is the more familiar "pi".)
> >
> >Travis Haas
> >Hazel Green, WI
> >
> >
> >At 11:10 PM 12/17/02 -0500, Terri wrote:
> > >Bob,
> > >
> > >I can't recall the name of the theory, but will try to discribe it.
> > >Perhaps someone else will recognize it & put a name to it.
> > >
> > >Take the following numbers: 1 2 3 5 8 13 21...
> > >
> > >1+2=3 2+3=5 3+5=8 & so on, such that each number is the sum of the
> > >previous 2 numbers.
> > >
> > >How this relates biologically? It is nature's magical building #. For
> > >example, if you slice open a nautilus shell so as to show each of its
> > >inner sections, the formula for each section's size, from smallest to
> > >largest, equals the numbers I listed before: 1 2 3 5 8 13 21...
> > >It is also nature's formula for many other natural forms.
> > >
> > >Can one of y'all put a name to this formula for us?
> > >
> > >Terri
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/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
/"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association"
/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association
/ nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
/ nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead.
/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org