| Summary |
Annotation When John Maynard Smith and Ers Szathmry publishedThe Major Transitions in Evolution, it was seen as a major work in biology.Naturehailed it as a book of "grand and daunting sweep...A splendid and rewardingtour de force." AndNew Scientistwrote that it captured "the essence of modern biology," calling it "an extremely significant book which, as a bonus, is very readable." Now, inThe Origins of Life, Maynard Smith and Szathmry have completely rewrittenTransitionsto bring their ideas to a wider audience of general readers. Here is a brilliant, original picture of how life evolved on earth, focusing primarily on six major transitionsdramatic breakthroughs in the way that information was passed between generations. The authors offer illuminating explorations of the origin of life itself, the arrival of the first cells with nuclei, the first reproduction by sexual means, the appearance of multicellular plants and animals, the emergence of cooperative animal societies, and the birth of language.The Origins of Liferepresents the thinking of two leading scientists on questions that engage us allhow life began and how it gradually evolved from tiny invisible cells into whales and trees and human beings. |
