Liquid crystal physics and the physics of living matter

Nowadays, a modern physical theory becomes of a principle importance in und erstanding the complexities of the living world: the physics of lyotropic s tates of matter. We demonstrate here what kind of specification is necessar y in the molecular description of lyomesogens, in the theory of elastic and flexoelectric phenomena, in order to make this part of liquid crystal phys ics suitable for describing and understanding the complex behaviour and str ucture-function relationship of biomembranes. We underline the role of a me chanical degree of freedom, the curvature, of liquid crystal systems, both model and living ones. Moreover, we stress the interrelation of the mechani cal degree of freedom to the electrical, optical and chemical degrees of fr eedom of membranes, resulting in the sophisticated living cellular mechanis ms.