Waubonsee Community College

The origins of life and the universe, Paul F. Lurquin

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 201-203) and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

The origins of life and the universe

bibliography

50803298

Paul F. Lurquin

Preface -- Introduction -- Meaning of science -- What is life? -- Some origins models before science -- 1. Foundations of the universe -- What is in the universe? ; Physics holds one of the clues to the origins : relativity ; Next clue : quantum physics ; Forces of nature and elementary particles ; Conclusions -- 2. Building a universe -- Cosmology : the big bang model ; Genesis of stars and planets ; Conclusions -- 3. Life as it is today -- Universal blueprint ; Variations in the blueprint ; Metabolism and energy transactions ; Life that depends on simple molecules only ; Cell's envelope and its skeleton ; Conclusions -- 4. Prebiotic Earth : first organic compounds and first informational molecules -- Organic compounds from Earth's putative primitive atmosphere ; Space chemistry and the origins of life ; Ocean floor chemistry ; Proteins and metabolism first : the iron-sulfur world ; Genetic information first : the RNA world ; Conclusions -- 5. Life on its way -- Lessons from bacteriophages ; Quasispecies and hypercycles ; Origin of the genetic code : from the RNA world to proteins ; Protocells and the emergence of the DNA world ; First DNA-containing cells and their evolution ; Paths of fast evolution ; First eukaryotes ; Conclusions -- 6. Has life originated elsewhere and will it end? -- Panspermia ; Life elsewhere in the solar system ; Discontent with origins models ; End of the universe, the end of life ; Conclusions -- Appendix 1. Graphic representation of special relativity -- Appendix 2. More on Heisenberg's uncertainty principle -- Appendix 3. How do we know the age of the universe? -- Appendix 4. Eric Chaisson's view of cosmic evolution -- Appendix 5. Do the universe and life have a purpose and a designer?