Thermodynamic Landscape of Early Development of the African Clawed Frog Xenopus laevis

[Kamo no Chomei (1212), translated by Minakata Kumagusu (1905)]

Thermogenesis of the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis was measured as a function of incubation time during early development from cleavage to tailbud at various temperatures. A single growth curve was obtained by scaling the thermogeneses with growth rate τc-1 at different temperatures. The temperature-independent growth curve is interpreted in terms of the energy metabolism which shows the least entropy production in non-equilibrium steady states.

(by Y. Nagano)

(Photo)

Fig. 1. Thermogeneses of the early development of Xenopus laevis from cleavage to tailbud at different temperatures. Mature eggs were fertilized at t = 0 hr.

Fig. 2.Thermogeneses scaled by growth rate τc -1 at various temperatures.