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　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.

Preface

1. Illustrious predecessors

2. Experiments and theories

3. A toy model

4. Open questions

Bibliography

Author index

The plural of the title is purposeful: Dyson advances the hypothesis that life had a double origin. "Either life began only once, with the functions of replication and metabolism already present in rudimentary form and linked together from the beginning, or life began twice, with two separate kinds of creatures, one kind capable of metabolism without exact replication and the other kind capable of replication without metabolism." He sees reasons to favor the second possibility, with metabolizing creatures appearing first. Dyson is a renowned theoretical physicist (professor emeritus at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J.)

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书籍介绍

How did life on Earth originate? Did replication or metabolism come first in the history of life? In the second edition of the acclaimed Origins of Life, distinguished scientist and science writer 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 chemists, aiming to stimulate new experiments that could help decide which theory is correct. This second edition covers the impact revolutionary discoveries such as the existence of ribozymes, enzymes made of RNA; the likelihood that many of the most ancient creatures are thermophilic, living in hot environments; and evidence of life in the most ancient of all terrestrial rocks in Greenland 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.