Origins of Life

How did life on Earth originate? Did replication or metabolism come
first in the history of life? In this extensively rewritten second edition,
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 and that natural selection drove the evolution of
cells toward greater complexity for a long time without the benefit
of genes. Dyson analyzes both of these theories with reference to
recent important discoveries by geologists and biologists, aiming to
stimulate new experiments that could help decide which theory is
correct.

Since the first edition of this book was published in 1985, revolutionary
discoveries have been made in biology, genetics, and
geology, casting new light on the questions of the origins of life.
Molecular biologists discovered ribozymes, enzymes made of RNA.
Geneticists discovered that many of the most ancient creatures are
thermophilic, living in hot environments. Geologists discovered evidence
of life in the most ancient of all terrestrial rocks in Greenland.
This second edition covers the enormous advances that have been
made in biology and geology in the past decade and a half and the
impact they have had on our ideas about how life began. Freeman
Dyson’s clearly written, fascinating book will appeal to anyone interested
in the origins of life.
Freeman Dyson, currently Emeritus Professor at the Institute for
Advanced Study in Princeton, is a distinguished scientist and a gifted
writer. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of London and a member
of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, as well as the holder of
eighteen honorary degrees. His most recent books include Imagined
Worlds (1997) and From Eros to Gaia (1992).

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