Cited by 215Origins and Evolution of LifeEarth Systems and Cosmic EvolutionPaleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils

The Origin and Nature of Life on Earth: The Emergence of the Fourth Geosphere

Smith, Eric, Morowitz, Harold J.·2016·Cambridge University Press eBooks

Abstract

Uniting the conceptual foundations of the physical sciences and biology, this groundbreaking multidisciplinary book explores the origin of life as a planetary process. Combining geology, geochemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, evolution and statistical physics to create an inclusive picture of the living state, the authors develop the argument that the emergence of life was a necessary cascade of non-equilibrium phase transitions that opened new channels for chemical energy flow on Earth. This full colour and logically structured book introduces the main areas of significance and provides a well-ordered and accessible introduction to multiple literatures outside the confines of disciplinary specializations, as well as including an extensive bibliography to provide context and further reading. For researchers, professionals entering the field or specialists looking for a coherent overview, this text brings together diverse perspectives to form a unified picture of the origin of life and the ongoing organization of the biosphere.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1017/cbo9781316348772

Cites

90 of 90 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Several well-known examples of evolutionary innovations seem to be associated with a symmetry-breaking event, including the transition from 'pre-volution' to evolution, natural selection, the universality of intermediate metabolism, and the origin of chirality.

    “Several well-known examples of evolutionary innovations seem to be associated with a symmetry-breaking event. These include, for example, the transition from ‘pre-volution’ to evolution [376], natural selection [377], the universality of intermediate metabolism [86,98] as well as the origin of chirality (figure 10b) [378–380]”

    From Fundamental constraints to the logic of living systems (2024) · cites this paper as [86]

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Authors
Smith, E., & Morowitz, H. J.
Affiliations
  • Tokyo Institute of Technology (JP)
  • George Mason University (US)
Venue
Cambridge University Press eBooks
Published
2016-03-31
OpenAlex
W4238650950
Cited by
215
References
90
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 5
FWCI
10.82
Type
book
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Cambridge University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Earth Systems and Cosmic Evolution
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
Keywords
origin of life, nonequilibrium phase transitions, planetary processes, geochemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, evolution, statistical physics, geology

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Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

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