Origins and Evolution of Life An Astrobiological Perspective Gargaud Hardback

Description: Origins and Evolution of Life An Astrobiological Perspective Devoted to exploring questions about the origin and evolution of life in our Universe, this interdisciplinary book has widespread appeal. Muriel Gargaud (Edited by), Purificación López-Garcìa (Edited by), Hervé Martin (Edited by) 9780521761314, Cambridge University Press Hardback, published 6 January 2011 546 pages 25.4 x 17.8 x 2.9 cm, 1.2 kg Devoted to exploring questions about the origin and evolution of life in our Universe, this highly interdisciplinary book brings together a broad array of scientists. Thirty chapters assembled in eight major sections convey the knowledge accumulated and the richness of the debates generated by this challenging theme. The text explores the latest research on the conditions and processes that led to the emergence of life on Earth and, by extension, perhaps on other planetary bodies. Diverse sources of knowledge are integrated, from astronomical and geophysical data, to the role of water, the origin of minimal life properties and the oldest traces of biological activity on our planet. This text will not only appeal to graduate students but to the large body of scientists interested in the challenges presented by the origin of life, its evolution, and its possible existence beyond Earth. Part I. What Is Life?: 1. Problems raised by a definition of life M. Morange 2. Some remarks about uses of cosmological anthropic 'principles' D. Lambert 3. Minimal cell: the biologist point of view C. Brochier-Armanet 4. Minimal cell: the computer scientist point of view H. Bersini 5. Origins of life: computing and simulation approaches B. Billoud Part II. Astronomical and Geophysical Context of the Emergence of Life: 6. Organic molecules in interstellar medium C. Ceccarelli and C. Cernicharo 7. Cosmochemical evolution and the origin of life: insights from meteorites S. Pizzarello 8. Astronomical constraints on the emergence of life M. Gounelle and T. Montmerle 9. Formation of habitable planets J. Chambers 10. The concept of galactic habitable zone N. Prantzos 11. The young Sun and its influence on planetary atmospheres M. Güdel and J. Kasting 12. Climates of the Earth G. Ramstein Part III. Role of Water in the Emergence of Life: 13. Liquid water: a necessary condition to all forms of life K. Bartik, G. Bruylants, E. Locci and J. Reisse 14. The role of water in the formation and evolution of planets T. Encrenaz 15. Water on Mars J. P. Bibring Part IV. From Non-Living Systems to Life: 16. Energetic constraints on prebiotic pathways: application to the emergence of translation R. Pascal and L. Boiteau 17. Comparative genomics and early cell evolution A. Lazcano 18. Origin and evolution of metabolisms J. Peretó Part V. Mechanisms for Life Evolution: 19. Molecular phylogeny: inferring the patterns of evolution E. Douzery 20. Horizontal gene transfer: mechanisms and evolutionary consequences D. Moreira 21. The role of symbiosis in eukaryotic evolution A. Latorre, A. Durbán, A. Moya and J. Peretó Part VI. Life in Extreme Conditions: 22. Life in extreme conditions: Deinococcus radiodurans, an organism able to survive prolonged desiccation and high doses of ionising radiation S. Sommer and M. Toueille 23. Molecular effects of UV and ionizing radiations on DNA J. Cadet and T. Douki 24. Molecular adaptations to life at high salt: lessons from Haloarcula marismortui G. Zaccai Part VII. Traces of Life and Biosignatures: 25. Early life: nature, distribution and evolution F. Westall 26. Early eukaryotes in precambrian oceans E. Javaux 27. Biomineralisation mechanisms K. Benzerara and J. Miot 28. Limits of life and biosphere: lesson from detection of microorganisms in deep sea and deep subsurface in the Earth K. Takai Part VIII. Life Elsewhere?: 29. Titan and the Cassini-Huygens mission J. Lunine and F. Raulin 30. The role of terrestrial analogue environments in astrobiology R. Léveillé Index. Subject Areas: Evolution [PSAJ], Solar system: the Sun & planets [PGS]

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