TY - BOOK ID - 77893853 TI - Origins of life PY - 1999 SN - 1107111145 1280153482 9786610153480 0511116993 0511149549 0511322615 0511546300 0511050836 0511002157 9780511002151 0511035594 9780511035593 9780511116995 9780521626682 0521626684 9780511546303 PB - Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, DB - UniCat KW - Life KW - Abiogenesis KW - Biogenesis KW - Germ theory KW - Heterogenesis KW - Life, Origin of KW - Life (Biology) KW - Origin of life KW - Plasmogeny KW - Plasmogony KW - Evolution (Biology) KW - Exobiology KW - Spontaneous generation KW - Origin. KW - Origin UR - https://www.unicat.be/uniCat?func=search&query=sysid:77893853 AB - 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. ER -