Biogenesis provides a detailed, critical discussion of the modern scientific study of the origin of life. It covers the entire history, including the biological, geological, and cosmological background. The author explains the rationale behind the main assumptions and experimental strategies

of the study of the origin of life, and reviews its plethora of theories, models, scenarios, and controversies.

The book begins with the history of the search for life's origin from the Greek philosophers to contemporary scientists. The author introduces the reader to important aspects of scientific thinking, and covers the biases, successes, and failures of these thinkers. Part II succinctly describes

selected attributes of life, which are connected to theories and controversies of the studies of the origin of life. The main features of the solar system and Earth, where life is assumed to have originated, are briefly reviewed in Part III. This section covers the formation of the planet, its

primordial atmosphere and seas, and the Gaia theory. Part IV investigates the rationale of the scientific theories of the origin of life. It begins with the fundamental assumptions and guidelines, as well as the main experimental strategies used by origin-of-life researchers. The book proceeds with

a search for clues in both the geological and biological records. It concludes with a critical, but objective discussion of the main reactions, processes, models, and scenarios suggested for the emergence of various attributes of life in prebiotic environment and the transition from inanimate to

animate.

Biogenesis provides a detailed, critical discussion of the modern scientific study of the origin of life. It covers the entire history, including the biological, geological, and cosmological background. The author explains the rationale behind the main assumptions and experimental strategies of the study of the origin of life, and reviews its plethora of theories, models, scenarios, and controversies.

Biogenesis provides a detailed, critical discussion of the modern scientific study of the origin of life. It covers the entire history, including the biological, geological, and cosmological background. The author explains the rationale behind the main assumptions and experimental strategies of the study of the origin of life, and reviews its plethora of theories, models, scenarios, and controversies.

The book begins with the history of the search for life's origin from the Greek philosophers to contemporary scientists. The author introduces the reader to important aspects of scientific thinking, and covers the biases, successes, and failures of these thinkers. Part II succinctly describes selected attributes of life, which are connected to theories and controversies of the studies of the origin of life. The main features of the solar system and Earth, where life is assumed to have originated, are briefly reviewed in Part III. This section covers the formation of the planet, its primordial atmosphere and seas, and the Gaia theory. Part IV investigates the rationale of the scientific theories of the origin of life. It begins with the fundamental assumptions and guidelines, as well as the main experimental strategies used by origin-of-life researchers. The book proceeds with a search for clues in both the geological and biological records. It concludes with a critical, but objective discussion of the main reactions, processes, models, and scenarios suggested for the emergence of various attributes of life in prebiotic environment and the transition from inanimate to animate.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 305-334) and index.

Preface

Prologue. On Universes, Elements, Planets, and Life

Part I. History of the Search Into the Origin of Life: On the Shoulders of So Many

1. From Myths to Logos to Stagnation

2. Experimental Biology of the 17th Century

3. Systematic Biology, Doubts and Uncertainties: The 18th Century

4. Demise and Resurrection of the Spontaneous Generation School: Pasteur and Darwin

5. The Modern Era: Spontaneous Generation at the Molecular Level

Part II. Central Features of Life as We Know It In Our Phylogenetic Tree

6. A General Morphological-Functional Characterization of the Cell

7. General Chemical, Biochemical, and Molecular-Biological Characterization

8. General Thermodynamic Considerations

9. Central Biochemical Molecules and Processes

10. Biological Conservation and Continuity and the Phylogenetic Tree

11. Biological Life: A Multitude of Points of View

Part III

12. Our Universe, Galaxy and Solar System

13. Planet Earth

Part IV. Beyond the Progenote: Rationale, Strategies, Scenarios, and Models in the Search of the Origin of Life

14. Basic Assumptions and Strategies

15. Clues and Speculations by Back-Extrapolation from Cosmology and Geology

16. Clues From Biology: Evolution, Conservationism, Continuity, and Their Implications

17. Top-Down Reconstruction of Processes and Early Evolutionary Stages without Specific Geochemical Consideration

18. Bottom-Up Reconstruction Without Specific Biogeochemical Conditions

19. Bottom-Up Biogeochemical Reconstruction: Starting From Organic Scratch in the Absence of Minerals

20. Bottom-Up Biogeochemical Reconstruction: Minerals Functioning as Scaffolds, Adsorbents, Catalysts, and Information Carriers

21. Bottom-Up Biogeochemical Reconstructions: Mineral Involvement in Energy Production and Transfer

22. Possible Sites for Molecular Evolution Scenarios and Their Rhythms

23. Computer Modeling of Biogeochemical Scenarios