Beginnings of Cellular Life: Metabolism Recapitulates BiogenesisIn this book an internationally renowned scientist presents a radically new theory of the origin of life on Earth 4 billion years ago. Harold J. Morowitz postulates that the first step toward the origin of life was the spontaneous condensation of amphiphilic molecules to form vesicles (or protocells). This hypothesis provides a framework for reexamining the emergence of cellularity. Morowitz further proposes that core metabolic processes have not changed for some 3.8 billion years, so we can use a study of modern biochemistry to advance our knowledge about the chemical processes of the earliest protocells. Morowitz views origin of life issues from the perspective of certain constructs in the philosophy of science that provide guideposts to formulating and assessing hypotheses. This book presents a unique discussion among origin-of-life books on the relation between science and epistemology on the difficult problem of learning about the very distant past. |
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Table des matières
The Nature of the Problem | 1 |
The Study of Origins | 10 |
The TopDown Approach | 28 |
Generalizations from Contemporary Biology | 38 |
The Minimal Cell | 59 |
The BottomUp Approach | 69 |
Chemical Elements Hydrophobicity and | 85 |
The Logic of Replication | 98 |
Energy Complexity and Organization | 113 |
Underlying Chemical Mechanisms | 133 |
Networks | 150 |
Lessons from Contemporary Biochemistry | 160 |
The Scenario | 172 |
| 187 | |
Autres éditions - Tout afficher
Beginnings of Cellular Life: Metabolism Recapitulates Biogenesis Harold J. Morowitz Aucun aperçu disponible - 1992 |
Expressions et termes fréquents
activity amino acids amphiphiles approach aqueous Archean atomic autotrophic bilayer biochemical biochemistry biogenesis biological systems biosphere bonds carbon catalysis catalysts cellular chemical networks chemical reactions chemistry chromophores complexity components compounds condensation consider contemporary cyanobacteria cycles Deamer discussed domain Earth electron elements energy flow entity environment enzymes equilibrium eukaryotes event evolutionary experimental flux formation fossil free energy function genetic genome high-energy hydrogen input intermediates laws lipid living cells living systems logic macromolecules material mechanisms membrane metabolic molecular molecules Morowitz mycoplasma nitrogen nonpolar nutrient organisms origin oxidized pathway phase phosphate phosphorus phosphorylation photosynthetic physics planet polyphosphates possible prebiotic prebiotic chemistry precursors present-day primitive principle of continuity processes prokaryotes properties protein protocell proton pyrophosphate radiation random redox replication result role self-replicating small molecules solar specific stromatolites structures sulfur surface synthesis temperature theory thermal thermodynamics tion transmembrane trophic level universal ancestor ur-organism vesicle
Références à ce livre
Informations bibliographiques
| Titre | Beginnings of Cellular Life: Metabolism Recapitulates Biogenesis Bio-origins series |
| Auteur | Harold J. Morowitz |
| Éditeur | Yale University Press, 2004 |
| ISBN | 0300102100, 9780300102109 |
| Longueur | 208 pages |
| Exporter la citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |