1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910956918303321

Autore

Williams R. J. P (Robert Joseph Paton)

Titolo

The chemistry of evolution : the development of our ecosystem / / R.J.P.Williams and J.J.R. Frausto da Silva

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Amsterdam ; ; Boston, : Elsevier, 2006

ISBN

1-280-63859-1

9786610638598

0-08-046211-1

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (495 p.)

Classificazione

42.21

42.97

Altri autori (Persone)

SilvaJ. J. R. Fraústo da

Disciplina

576.8

Soggetti

Evolution (Biology)

Chemistry

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

1. The evolution of earth-the geochemical partner of the global ecosystem (5 billion years of history) -- 2. Basic chemistry of the ecosystem -- 3. Energy, order and disorder, and organised systems -- 4. Outline of biological chemical principles : components, pathways and controls -- 5. First steps in evolution of prokaryotes : anaerobic chemotypes four to three billion years ago -- 6. The evolution of protoaerobic and aerobic prokaryote chemotypes (three to two billion years ago) -- 7. Unicellular eukaryotes chemotypes (about one and a half billion years ago?) -- 8. Multi-cellular eukaryote chemotypes (from one billion years ago) -- 9. The evolution of chemotypes with nerves and a brain (0.5 billion years ago to today) -- 10. Evolution due to mankind : a completely novel chemotype (less than one hundred thousand years ago) -- 11. Conclusion : the inevitable factors in evolution.

Sommario/riassunto

Conventionally, evolution has always been described in terms of species. The Chemistry of Evolution takes a novel, not to say revolutionary, approach and examines the evolution of chemicals and the use and degradation of energy, coupled to the environment, as the drive behind it. The authors address the major changes of life from



bacteria to man in a systematic and unavoidable sequence, reclassifying organisms as chemotypes. Written by the authors of the bestseller The Biological Chemistry of the Elements - The Inorganic Chemistry of Life, the clarity and precision of The Chemistry