Where Did We Come From?

Where Did We Come From? The Origin and Evolution of Life is a welcoming introduction to the understanding of the origin and evolution of life. The authors capture the attention of all readers, be they well versed in theories of the origin of life and the Theory of Evolution or those that possess little knowledge of these interesting subjects. The authors discuss the origin of life from religious narratives to scientific-based accounts, leading to the conclusion that we still do not know how life began, but strive to do so. The Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection, presented simultaneously by Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace, is one of the greatest ideas of all time. However, new discoveries in molecular genetics, microbiology, and systems biology have necessitated an extension/revision of the classical frame of evolutionary theory. These new discoveries include epigenetics, alteration of the environment, learning and cultural transmission, and the role of microorganisms in the evolution of animals and plants: the hologenome concept. Where Did We Come From? The Origin and Evolution of Life also provides a glimpse of how theories of evolution can affect our understanding of social phenomena, such as motherhood and social standing, biological cooperation versus Social Darwinism, and collective memory. Through an accessible authorial voice and clarity, not burdened with superfluous jargon, the authors engage with readers and lead them to become well-informed on these captivating subjects.

Eugene Rosenberg is Professor Emeritus at Tel Aviv University. He received his PhD in biochemistry at Columbia University. After postdoctoral research with Lord Todd in Cambridge, England, he became an associate professor of microbiology at UCLA. Since 1970, he has been a professor of microbiology at Tel Aviv University. He has published over 300 scientific articles and reviews, 15 books and 18 patents. He is a member of the American and European Academies of Microbiology. Rosenberg has received several awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, Pan Lab Award, Fogarty International Scholar of the NIH, and the Proctor & Gamble Award. Ilana Zilber-Rosenberg is an independent scientist. She received her PhD in microbiology at Tel Aviv University. After performing postdoctoral research, she studied nutritional science, receiving a B.Sc. in Nutrition and a certification as a clinical nutritionist. Zilber-Rosenberg worked as a public health nutritionist and managed a mid-life Women's Centre. She has published 30 scientific articles and four books, and in 2006 received her BA in Sociology. Since 2006, she has collaborated with Eugene Rosenberg on the hologenome concept of evolution. Together with Rosenberg, she received the Möbius Prize (Germany) for lifetime achievements in symbiosis.