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What Is Life?

How Chemistry Becomes Biology

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What Is Life?

Written by: Addy Pross
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
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About this listen

Seventy years ago, Erwin Schrdinger posed a simple, yet profound, question: What is life?. How could the very existence of such extraordinary chemical systems be understood? This problem has puzzled biologists and physical scientists both before, and ever since. Living things are hugely complex and have unique properties, such as self-maintenance and apparently purposeful behaviour which we do not see in inert matter. So how does chemistry give rise to biology? Did life begin with replicating molecules, and, if so, what could have led the first replicating molecules up such a path? Now, developments in the emerging field of 'systems chemistry' are unlocking the problem. Addy Pross shows how the different kind of stability that operates among replicating entities results in a tendency for certain chemical systems to become more complex and acquire the properties of life. Strikingly, he demonstrates that Darwinian evolution is the biological expression of a deeper and more fundamental chemical principle: the whole story from replicating molecules to complex life is one continuous coherent chemical process governed by a simple definable principle.

©2012, Addy Pross (P)2014 Audible Inc. Biological Sciences Science
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One of the best books that I ever listened on Audible. It has associated all 3 basic subjects that everyone has learnt in the school (Physics, Chemistry, Biology). We always spell out these subjects in that order with Physics first and Biology at the end.
And if you read this book you will be able to appreciate. One of the best possible ways it is explained regarding how Abiotic simple molecules could have transformed into Complex Life form without violating any of the most prominent natural laws as we know today (gravity, thermodynamics etc). A stone has to roll from uphill to downhill which is governed by natural laws. What if a stone can roll uphill only acted by natural laws? Anyone will believe it.
That is what possibly happened via specific type of chemical reaction which climbed uphill to form life without violating any known natural laws and in line with Darwin's natural selection. One has to read to fully appreciate the concepts and to connect the dots.

Wonderful Read !!

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