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Beginnings of Cellular Life: Metabolism Recapitulates Biogenesis
In 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.
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.
208 pages, Paperback
First published December 23, 1992
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About the author
Harold J. Morowitz
33 books12 followersHarold Joseph Morowitz was an American biophysicist who studied the application of thermodynamics to living systems. Author of numerous books and articles, his work includes technical monographs as well as essays. The origin of life was his primary research interest for more than fifty years. He was the Robinson Professor of Biology and Natural Philosophy at George Mason University after a long career at Yale.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 29, 2016
Morowitz is always a pleasure to read
August 24, 2019
Beginnings of Cellular Life is a nicely structured book laying out some important physical arguments for a particular narrative for the origins of life. Nowadays, it may be considered a bit outdated, but it provides a nice historical perspective. As a quick, accessible, thought-provoking read it is recommended. To get a firmer grasp of the subject, one should rather consult the author's more recent book
"The Origin and Nature of Life on Earth: The Emergence of the Fourth Geosphere". That being said, origins of life is a field with diverging points of view and most books in the field display a clear preference for certain types of scenarios.
"The Origin and Nature of Life on Earth: The Emergence of the Fourth Geosphere". That being said, origins of life is a field with diverging points of view and most books in the field display a clear preference for certain types of scenarios.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews