Zubay, Geoffrey : Columbia University in the City of New York
Summary
Origins of Life on the Earth and in the Cosmos, Second Edition suggests answers to the age-old questions of
how life arose in the universe and how it might arise elsewhere. This thorough revision of a very successful text
describes key events in the evolution of living systems, starting with the creation of an environment suitable
for the origins of life. Whereas we may never be able to reconstruct the precise pathway that led to the origin
of life on earth, we can certainly make some plausible reconstructions of how it took place. Such discussions have
greatly expanded our understanding of the principles of chemical evolution and how they compare and contrast with
the principles of biological evolution.
Provides an excellent review of basic biochemistry and evolution written in a clear, concise style for scientists,
students, and readers interested in a scientific inquiry into the origins of life.
The author is an authority in the field and has made this book thoroughly up-to-date in light of new research
since the successful first edition.
Origins pulls together valuable information not found in a single source organized and presented in a manner
conducive for use in a college course.
This text is heavily illustrated to make difficult concepts concrete.
Table of Contents
Preface
Part I: Creation of an Environment Suitable for the Origin of Life
1. The Origin of the Universe
2. Formation of the Elements
3. The Beginnings of Chemistry
4. Element Abundances of the Planets
5. Geologic, Hydrologic, and Atmospheric Evolution of the Earth
Part II: The Logic of Living Systems
6. Cells, Organelles, and Biomolecules
7. Metabolic Strategies and Pathway Design
8. Biochemical Catalysis
9. Storage, Replication, and Utilization of Biochemical Information
Part III: Biochemical and Prebiotic Pathways: A Comparison
10. General Considerations Concerning the Origin of Life on the Earth
11. Carbohydrate Metabolism
12. The Prebiotic Synthesis of Ribose
13. Parallels Between the Biosynthesis of Nucleotides and the Prebiotic Synthesis of Nucleotides
14. RNA Metabolism and the Prebiotic Synthesis of RNA
15. Amino Acid Synthesis Then and Now
17. Early Developments in Polypeptide Synthesis
18. Lipid Metabolism and the Prebiotic Synthesis of Lipids
19. Properties of Membranes and Their Evolution
20. Possible Roles of Clays and Minerals in the Origin of Life
Part IV: Evolutionary Aspects of Living Systems
21. Evolution of Organisms
22. Evolution of the Main Energy-Producing Pathway for Aerobic Metabolism: The Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle
23. Evolution of Photosynthesis
24. The Origin and Elaboration of the Genetic Code
25. Prospectus
