The development of a proper theoretical description of the living world today poses one of the most significant challenges to science. In this interdisciplinary work, leading scientists in biology, physics, computer science and mathematics have joinded forces to present and tackle some of the open problems. They demonstrate that the concepts and methods of the newly developed fields of nonlinear dynamics and complex systems theory, combined with irreversible thermodynamics and far-from-equilibrium statistical mechanics, enable us to make progress with many of these problems. The book will interest all researchers and students involved in seeking an integrative approach to the frontiers of biological science.