Origins of Life - Softcover

Dyson, Freeman

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521626684 ISBN 13: 9780521626682

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2010

Synopsis

How 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.

About this title

Review

'This is first class update of the first editon.' Peter Mata, Spaceflight

Book Description

How did life on earth originate? Did replication or metabolism come first in the history of life? In this updated and expanded second edition of Origins of Life, 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.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0521626684
• ISBN 13: 9780521626682
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 112