Origins of LifeHow did life on earth originate? Did replication or metabolism come first in the history of life? In this book, Freeman Dyson examines these questions and discusses the two main theories that try to explain how naturally occurring chemicals could organize themselves into living creatures. The majority view is that life began with replicating molecules, the precursors of modern genes. The minority belief is that random populations of molecules evolved metabolic activities before exact replication existed. Dyson analyzes both of these theories with reference to recent important discoveries by geologists and chemists. His main aim is to stimulate experiments that could help to decide which theory is correct. This second edition covers the enormous advances that have been made in biology and geology in the past and the impact they have had on our ideas about how life began. It is a clearly-written, fascinating book that will appeal to anyone interested in the origins of life. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 21
Page 2
... of higher organisms ? He did not answer these questions , but by asking them he set biology moving along the path that led to the epoch - making discoveries of the subsequent forty years : to the discovery 2 Origins of Life.
... of higher organisms ? He did not answer these questions , but by asking them he set biology moving along the path that led to the epoch - making discoveries of the subsequent forty years : to the discovery 2 Origins of Life.
Page 5
You have reached your viewing limit for this book.
You have reached your viewing limit for this book.
Page 7
You have reached your viewing limit for this book.
You have reached your viewing limit for this book.
Page 8
You have reached your viewing limit for this book.
You have reached your viewing limit for this book.
Page 9
You have reached your viewing limit for this book.
You have reached your viewing limit for this book.
Contents
| 1 | |
CHAPTER TWO Experiments and Theories | 22 |
CHAPTER THREE A Toy Model | 48 |
CHAPTER FOUR Open Questions | 72 |
Bibliography | 93 |
Index | 97 |
Common terms and phrases
active monomers adsorption amino acids Assumption beginning biological biologists Cairns-Smith catalysts Cech Chapter chemical chemistry clay components computer simulations containing Darwinian selection Delbrück describe disorder to order double-origin hypothesis droplets earth ecology Eigen theory environment enzymes eons equilibrium error rate error tolerance eucaryotic eucaryotic cells evidence evolution evolve exact replication existed experimental function genes genetic drift hardware homeostasis homeostatic hypercycle hypercycle model illustrious predecessors jump junk DNA Kimura latest common ancestor Leslie Orgel living cells Manfred Eigen Margulis metabolic cycles metabolism metabolism and replication microfossils modern cells molecular populations monomers natural selection Neumann Niesert nucleic acids nucleotides Oparin theory organisms origin of metabolism parasites population of molecules prebiotic primitive cell prion probability protein quasi-stationary questions random reducing atmosphere ribosomes ribozymes RNA molecules saddle point Schrödinger Spiegelman Spiegelman monster stage structure sulphide surface synthesis test tube tion toy model transfer RNA virus Wächtershäuser