Origins : A Skeptic's Guide to the Genesis of Life on Earth

The author's reconsideration of modern biology's hypotheses about the origin of life on earth is a springboard for an exploration of the nature and limitations of the scientific method

This is popular science writing in top style: witty, informed, provocative. New York University chemistry professor Shapiro, DNA expert and co-author (with Gerald Feinberg) of Life Beyond Earth, expounds on the notion that modern theories of life's origin are inadequate and in a sense tend to become mythologies. Then, with a sobriety leavened by his consistent summoning of an imagined champion of true science called The Skeptic, he examines and rejects "genesis" theories Sir Fred Hoyle's "planetary dust" suggestions; the life-from-clay explanations; the Urey-Miller argument favored by scientists, that life began when lightning stirred earth's "prebiotic soups"; and so on, including even so-called Scientific Creationism. In the end, Shapiro proves surprisingly sanguine that science will yet find the "answer," offering his own bold reversal of molecular science's central dogma, that nucleic acids were the first genes. "In the beginning was protein. Protein begat RNA and then both begat DNA." January
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Shapiro, a biochemist, considers the various experiments and theories that contribute to explaining the origin of life on Earth. He examines in detail the Urey-Miller experiments (familiar to every freshman in biology), the clay organism, and spontaneous generation with relentless attention to their scientific merits. He gently dismisses the peculiar theory of directed panspermia espoused by Crick, and thoroughly debunks the outrageous proposals of Hoyle. Finally, Shapiro suggests a protein (enzyme) as the orginal replicator, and speculates on the possibility that other planets may provide models for some processes in life's origin. An excellent critical review, with technical jargon kept to a minimum, this book will be comprehensible to a diversified readership. Walter P. Coombs, Jr., Biology Dept., Western New England College, Springfield, Mass.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.