Creation: The Origin Of Life / The Future Of Life

Author: Adam Rutherford

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General Fields

  • : $30.00 NZD
  • : 9780241954690
  • : Penguin Books, Limited
  • : Penguin Books, Limited
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  • : February 2014
  • : United Kingdom
  • : 30.0
  • : April 2014
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  • : books

Special Fields

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  • : Adam Rutherford
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  • : Paperback
  • : 414
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  • : English
  • : 576.83
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  • : 272
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Barcode 9780241954690
9780241954690

Description

Creation- The Origin of Life

What is life? In what form did it first appear? And how?


Every creature, plant and cell that has ever inhabited the Earth owes its existence to the emergence, some four billion years ago, of a single living being. From this first, unique life-form, all other life subsequently evolved. What extraordinary circumstances conspired to create such a thing?


The question of life's origin has preoccupied humanity throughout its history. In the last two hundred years, the three cornerstones of biology - the discovery of cells, Darwin's theory of evolution and the workings of DNA - have provided the key clues to an answer. Now, thanks to the recent work of leading contemporary biologists, we have within our grasp a full understanding of this most astonishing event.


Drawing on remarkable recent research, The Origin of Life takes us on a gripping, four-billion year journey of discovery, from interplanetary collisions to the inner-workings of cells and genes, to uncover the identity, nature and origin of first life - and all life - offering answers to the grandest of questions before arriving at a thrilling solution to the greatest detective story of them all.


Flip this Book for Creation- The Future of Life


'Prepare to be astounded. There are moments when this book is so gripping it reads like a thriller.' Mail on Sunday


'One of the most eloquent and genuinely thoughtful books on science over the past decade. Essential reading.' Observer


'The extraordinary science and Rutherford's argument are worth every reader's scrutiny.' Sunday Telegraph


'The perfect primer on the past and future of DNA.' Guardian

Reviews

One of the most eloquent and genuinely thoughtful books on science over the past decade.' Observer 'The reader's sense of awe at the well-nigh inconceivable nature of nature is suitably awakened. The extraordinary science and Rutherford's argument are worth every reader's scrutiny. Fascinating.' Sunday Telegraph 'A witty, engaging and eye-opening explanation of the basic units of life, right back to our common ancestors and on to their incredible synthetic future.' Dara O Briain 'In this book of two halves, Rutherford tells the epic history of life on earth, and eloquently argues the case for embracing technology which allows us to become biological designers.' Alice Roberts 'The perfect primer on the past and future of DNA.' Guardian 'Susenseful, erudite and thrilling.' Prospect

Author description

Dr Adam Rutherford is a geneticist, writer and broadcaster. He presents BBC Radio 4's weekly programme Inside Science and his documentaries include the award-winning series The Cell (BBC4), The Gene Code (BBC4), Horizon: 'Playing God' (BBC2) as well as numerous other programmes for BBC Radio 4. This is his first book.