1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910461823103321

Autore

Maynard Smith John <1920-2004, >

Titolo

The origins of life : from the birth of life to the origin of language / / John Maynard Smith and Eörs Szathmáry

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Oxford, [England] : , : Oxford University Press, , 2009

©1999

ISBN

1-336-03095-X

0-19-160421-6

0-19-164732-2

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (310 p.)

Disciplina

576.8

Soggetti

Evolution (Biology)

Genetic transformation

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Cover Page; Title Page; Copyright Page; Dedication; Preface; Contents; 1 Life and information; 2 The major transitions; 3 From chemistry to heredity; 4 From the RNA world to the modern world; 5 From heredity to simple cells; 6 The origin of eukaryotic cells; 7 The origin of sex; 8 Genetic conflict; 9 Living together; 10 The evolution of many-celled organisms; 11 Animal societies; 12 From animal societies to human societies; 13 The origin of language; Further reading; Glossary; Index

Sommario/riassunto

In this fascinating book, John Maynard Smith and Eors Szathmary present an original picture of evolution. They propose that during evolution there have been a number of major transitions in the way in which information is passed between generations. These transitions include the appearance of the first replicating molecules, the emergence of co-operative animal societies, and the unique language ability of humans. Containing many new ideas, this book is contemporary biology on thegrandest scale, from the birth of life to the origin of language.