Life's origin : the beginnings of biological evolution / edited by J. William Schopf.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Schopf, J. William, 1941-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Life--Origin.

Life.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (216 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Berkeley : University of California Press, c2002.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Always a controversial and compelling topic, the origin of life on Earth was considered taboo as an area of inquiry for science as recently as the 1950's. Since then, however, scientists working in this area have made remarkable progress, and an overall picture of how life emerged is coming more clearly into focus. We now know, for example, that the story of life's origin begins not on Earth, but in the interiors of distant stars. This book brings a summary of current research and ideas on life's origin to a wide audience. The contributors, all of whom received the Oparin/Urey Gold Medal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life, are luminaries in the fields of chemistry, paleobiology, and astrobiology, and in these chapters they discuss their life's work: understanding the what, when, and how of the early evolution of life on Earth. Presented in nontechnical language and including a useful glossary of scientific terms, Life's Origin gives a state-of-the-art encapsulation of the fascinating work now being done by scientists as they begin to characterize life as a natural outcome of the evolution of cosmic matter.

Contents:

Historical understanding of life's beginnings / John Or

From big bang to primordial planet : setting the stage for the origin of life / Alan W. Schwartz and Sherwood Chang

Formation of the building blocks of life / Stanley L. Miller and Antonio Lazcano

From building blocks to the polymers of life / James P. Ferris

The origin of biological information / Leslie E. Orgel

When did life begin? / J. William Schopf.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN:

9786612759123

9781597347150

1597347159

9780520928701

0520928709

9781282759121

1282759124

OCLC:

475931666