Writing for a general readership, two world-class evolutionary biologists present a novel picture of evolution. Their idea is that evolution depends on changes in the information that is passed between generations, and that there have been a number of 'major transitions' in the way that information is stored and transmitted. These transitions include the appearance of the first replicating molecules - the origin of life itself; the origin of cells; reproduction by sexual means; the appearance of multicellular plants and animals; the emergence of cooperation and of animal societies; and the unique language ability of humans. The book describes these transitions, and how they came about.
The authors of "The Major Transitions in Evolution" now draw a brilliant, original picture of how life evolved on earth, focusing primarily on six major transitions and dramatic breakthroughs in the way that information was passed between generations.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
- Preface
- Life and Information
- The major transitions
- From chemistry to heredity
- From the RNA world to the modern world
- From heredity to simple cells
- The origin of eukaryotic cells
- The origin of sex
- Genetic conflict
- Living together
- The evolution of many-celled organisms
- Animal societies
- From animal to human societies
- The origin of language
- Glossary
- Notes
- Further reading
- Index
