The Major Transitions in Evolution

1st ed. thus softback with stiff wrappers As New octavo xiv + 346pp., text ills., references, index, During evolution, there have been several major changes in the way that genetic information is organised and transmitted from one generation to the next. These transitions include the origin of life itself, the first eukaryotic cells, reproduction by sexual means, the appearance of multi-cellular plants and animals, the emergence of co-operation and of animal societies, and the unique language ability of humans. This is the first book to discuss all of these major transitions.