Product Description

A renowned biochemist draws on cutting-edge scientific findings to construct the mosaic of life’s astounding history. How did life invent itself? Where did DNA come from? How did consciousness develop? Powerful new research methods are providing vivid insights into the makeup of life. Comparing gene sequences, examining atomic structures of proteins, and looking into the geochemistry of rocks have helped explain evolution in more detail than ever before. Nick Lane expertly reconstructs the history of life by describing the ten greatest inventions of evolution (including DNA, photosynthesis, sex, and sight), based on their historical impact, role in organisms today, and relevance to current controversies. Who would have guessed that eyes started off as light-sensitive spots used to calibrate photosynthesis in algae? Or that DNA’s building blocks form spontaneously in hydrothermal vents? Lane gives a gripping, lucid account of nature’s ingenuity, and the result is a work of essential reading for anyone who has ever pondered or questioned the science underlying evolution’s greatest gifts to man.

20 figures.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20934 in Books
• Published on: 2009-06-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780393065961
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. In this wonderful book, Lane (Power, Sex, Suicide), a biochemist at University College London, asks an intriguing and simple question: what were the great biological inventions that led to Earth as we know it. (He is quick to point out that by œinvention, he refers to nature's own creativity, not to intelligent design.) Lane argues that there are 10 such inventions and explores the evolution of each. Not surprisingly, each of the 10—the origin of life, the creation of DNA, photosynthesis, the evolution of complex cells, sex, movement, sight, warm bloodedness, consciousness and death—is intricate, its origins swirling in significant controversy. Drawing on cutting-edge science, Lane does a masterful job of explaining the science of each, distinguishing what is fairly conclusively known and what is currently reasonable conjecture. At times he presents some shocking but compelling information. For example, one of the light-sensitive pigments in human eyes probably arose first in algae, where it can still be found today helping to maximize photosynthesis. While each of Lane's 10 subjects deserves a book of its own, they come together to form an elegant, fully satisfying whole. 20 illus. (June)
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Review
Original and awe-inspiring... an exhilarating tour of some of the most profound and important ideas in biology. (Michael Le Page - New Scientist )

About the Author
Nick Lane is a biochemist and honorary reader at University College London, where he lives. His book Power, Sex, Suicide was named an Economist Book of the Year and was shortlisted for the Aventis Science Book Prize.

Customer Reviews

Just when I think evolution books can't get any better, the ante is upped.
Twenty-five years ago when I was learning creationism rather than biology in the Christian college I graduated from, we had a fairly good excuse. No doubt scientists knew the evidence well enough and found it overwhelmingly supported the fact and theory of evolution. But for non-biology students and typical laypersons, the evidence was never presented in an accessible or cogent enough way to persuade us, and so we defaulted to the easy-to-grasp, if simplistic, notion that "God did it." Period, quotation marks, end of story.

The excuse is gone, and each new book in this field seems to top the previous entries in some key aspect. "Life Ascending" takes a biochemical approach to the fascinating "inventions" of evolution, from the beginning of life to photosynthesis, sex...even death. Other writers have dipped into this important topic, notably Sean Carroll, but I am not aware of another popularly written book that focuses so extensively on this one aspect of evolutionary theory. And for my money, it's the most compelling evidence that exists.

The chapters on the origins of life and metabolism (Krebs cycle) are worth the price of the book alone. Will the hypotheses advanced convince a hard-core Intelligent Design promoter? Not likely. The speculation required still eclipses the evidence provided, but a very plausible-sounding pathway is put forth, and it's fascinating to think about. What's more, key elements of each hypothesis are TESTABLE, setting them well apart from the comparitively content-free notion of Intelligent Design.

The capper is how lucid the prose is, and how entertaining. Even when the topics get technical and potentially dry, great care is taken to turn phrases, add color, and supply interesting metaphors and examples to pull the reader through. I can hardly recommend this book more highly.

Do not buy the Kindle Edition.. Incomplete
First of all I am reviewing ONLY the Kindle Edition, not the book itself. DO NOT BUY THE KINDLE EDITION! It is flawed and incomplete. I would put 1 star, but this would affect all the editions of this book and would be unfair to Nick Lane (he is an amazing author, and I am sure this book deserves 5 stars.. Amazon should offer a way to review only the edition, not the content)

Amazon is selling seriously flawed Kindle editions of books. In this case, illustrations are missing. There is even an "Illustrations Index", but no illustration to be seen. This is ashaming, and I feel Amazon is cheating on its customers... Perhaps in the rush to have content to promote the Kindle, or to reduce bytes and minimize Whispernet delivery costs, Amazon is betraying its long tradition of quality and customer care, and selling products that would never pass quality control.

This is the second time I have the same problem, and now I think it is a common problem for all books that have illustrations. On the positive side, Amazon did reimburse me the first time, and hope will do it again this time.

Hope Amazon soon fixes this, or at least inform that the edition is incomplete so we customers can decide before buying.

Kindle edition poorly formatted
Although this is an excellent book, the Kindle edition is not well formatted. The illustrations are entirely missing, and the footnotes are not linked.