Introduction -- Primordial science. The biggest question ; A Soviet free thinker ; Creation in a test tube -- Strange objects. The DNA revolution; Crystal clear ; The schism -- Scattered, divided, leaderless. The other long molecule ; Rise of the replicators ; The blobs ; The need for power ; Born in the depths -- Reunification. Mirrors ; Return of the blobs ; Just messy enough -- Epilogue : the meaning of life.
Summary:
"Some have argued that life began in the chemical-rich seas of the early Earth, the famous primordial soup, while others are convinced that life began in strange vents pumping hot water out of the sea floor, where the chemical reactions that sustain living cells could get started. Or perhaps life began in volcanic ponds on land, or in meteorite impact zones, or even in beds of clay. Each idea has attracted staunch believers who promote it with an almost religious fervor. But the story of life's origins is more than this: it is a story that takes in some of the greatest discoveries in modern biology, from cells to DNA, and evolution to life's family tree. This book is the first full history of the scientists who struggled to explain one of the greatest mysteries of all: how and why life began"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.