The DOI matches its Crossref record.
The Origins of Life: From the birth of life to the origin of language
Abstract
Abstract Living organisms are astonishingly complex. And the more we know about them - their biochemistry, their anatomy, their behaviour - the more astonishing are the detailed adaptations that we discover. How could this complexity have arisen? Most of us are familiar with Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. The idea behind it being that, in nature, those individuals best able to survive and reproduce will transmit the characteristics that enabled them to do so to their offspring, leading to the evolution of traits beneficial to the organism. Although Darwin's idea is simple - perhaps because it is so simple - it is hard to believe that it is able to explain the complexity of the living world. We can breed cows that produce more milk compared with earlier generations, say, but we cannot breed pigs that fly, or horses that can talk: there would be no promising variants that we could select and breed from. Where, then, does the variation come from that has made possible the evolution of ever-increasing complexity in the wonderfully adapted organisms we see around us? In answering this central question, John Maynard Smith and Eors Szathmary present for a general readership a novel picture of evolution. Their basic idea is that evolution depends on changes in the information that is passed between generations, and that there have been a number of 'major transitions' in the way that information is stored and transmitted. These transitions include the appearance of the first replicating molecules - the origin of life itself; the origin of cells; reproduction by sexual means; the appearance of multicellular plants and animals; the emergence of cooperation and of animal societies; and the unique language ability of humans. Here, then, is an accessible account of contemporary biology on the grandest scale, from the birth of life to the origin of language. Containing many original ideas, and covering many of the most fundamental ideas in biology, this important and deeply interesting book will appeal both to readers with little prior knowledge of science and to biologists themselves.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“Information in a biological context must exist within ‘meaning’ [46].”
From The Origin of Prebiotic Information System in the Peptide/RNA World: A Simulation Model of the Evolution of Translation and the Genetic Code (2019) · cites this paper as [46]
In the citing paper
“This small hairpin RNA molecule with specific terminal base sequences acquired the corresponding amino acid as a ‘cofactor’ to improve the catalytic range and efficiency to become initial ribozymes [46].”
From The Origin of Prebiotic Information System in the Peptide/RNA World: A Simulation Model of the Evolution of Translation and the Genetic Code (2019) · cites this paper as [46]
In the citing paper
“Since various enzymes were available in the Peptide/RNA world, we propose that the functional enzyme for binding an amino acid to its corresponding tRNA was pre-aaRS from the beginning, not ribozyme, as previously suggested by other workers [46].”
From The Origin of Prebiotic Information System in the Peptide/RNA World: A Simulation Model of the Evolution of Translation and the Genetic Code (2019) · cites this paper as [46]
In the citing paper
“Ribozymes would have been in greater need of cofactors than protein enzymes, because, without them, the range of reactions that they can catalyze is much smaller [46].”
From The Origin of Prebiotic Information System in the Peptide/RNA World: A Simulation Model of the Evolution of Translation and the Genetic Code (2019) · cites this paper as [46]
In the citing paper
“Similarly, amino acids that are used more often in proteins are specified by a greater number of different codons.”
From The Origin of Prebiotic Information System in the Peptide/RNA World: A Simulation Model of the Evolution of Translation and the Genetic Code (2019) · cites this paper as [46]
Citations
Cites
Still being checked.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 201–300 of 334
Anker, P. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108763851 · Cited by 1
The Origin of Morality: From Behavioral Synchronization to Moral Norm Internalization
Yang, Y. (2023) · Journal of Education Humanities and Social Sciences · doi:10.54097/ehss.v8i.4258 · Cited by 2
de Sousa, R. (2009) · Emotion Review · doi:10.1177/1754073909345545 · Cited by 1
Harcourt, B. E. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108676946.010 · Cited by 1
The Illiberal Experiment: How Guantánamo Became a Defining American Institution
Paradis, M. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108676946.006 · Cited by 1
(2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199577439.003.0001 · Cited by 1
Richardson, K. (2010) · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · doi:10.1057/9780230299245_3 · Cited by 1
From personal to transpersonal? An evolutionary stance and ‘self’ as the centre of narrative gravity
Jackson, T. (2022) · Innovation The European Journal of Social Science Research · doi:10.1080/13511610.2022.2097057 · Cited by 2
Haq, I. U., Babar, M., Ali, H. M., Khan, N. A., Habib, A., Waris, M., & Jabeen, Z. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-97-0814-7_9 · Cited by 1
A Deflationary Account of Information in Terms of Probability
Manzotti, R. (2025) · Entropy · doi:10.3390/e27050514 · Cited by 1
Science in the Mirror of “Big History”
Christian, D. (2002) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-010-0587-6_7 · Cited by 1
Integration of Metabolic Reactions and Gene Regulation
Yeang, C. (2009) · Methods in molecular biology · doi:10.1007/978-1-60327-563-7_13 · Cited by 1
Agosta, S. J., & Brooks, D. R. (2020) · Evolutionary Biology/Evolutionary biology · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-52086-1_7 · Cited by 1
Anker, P. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108763851.005 · Cited by 1
Agosta, S. J., & Brooks, D. R. (2020) · Evolutionary Biology/Evolutionary biology · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-52086-1_8 · Cited by 1
Gibney, E., & Wyatt, T. (2021) · Palgrave studies in victims and victimology · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-72408-5_14 · Cited by 1
Elton, M. (2003) · The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science · doi:10.1093/bjps/54.2.365 · Cited by 1
Manning, A. (2001) · Geological Society London Special Publications · doi:10.1144/gsl.sp.2001.190.01.17 · Cited by 1
Rehmann‐Sutter, C. (2002) · J.B. Metzler eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-476-02903-4_9 · Cited by 1
Computing Natural Language with Biomolecules: Overview and Challenges
Bel-Enguix, G. (2009) · Lecture notes in computer science · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-02264-7_34
What is life? A Historical Survey
Pancaldi, G. (2012) · Encyclopedia of Life Sciences · doi:10.1002/9780470015902.a0023957
Pozharskii, A. F., Soldatenkov, A. T., & KATRITZKY, A. R. (2011) · doi:10.1002/9781119998372.ch12
Evolving the Future: Sketching a Science of Intentional Change
Wilson, D. S. (2011) · Boston studies in the philosophy of science · doi:10.1007/978-94-007-1951-4_7
Artificial Life or Digital Dissection
Bersini, H. (2007) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-540-33693-8_15
An Introduction to the Second Part
Battail, G. (2013) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-007-7040-9_7
The Descent of Humanity: The Biological Roots of Human Consciousness, Culture and History
Recchia-Luciani, A. N. M. (2012) · Biosemiotics/Biosemiotics. Bookseries · doi:10.1007/978-94-007-5419-5_3
Ceremonial Inadequacy: In Search of a New Enlightenment
Caraça, J. (2001) · European Journal of Social Theory · doi:10.1177/136843101004003004
Jékely, G. (2002) · EMBO Reports · doi:10.1093/embo-reports/kvf077
The Evolution of Intelligent Design Arguments
Shanks, N. (2004) · doi:10.1093/0195161998.003.0002
2 Quantum and Classical Information and Entropy
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0003
20 Intentionality and Conceptualization
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0021
The Cosmological Case for Intelligent Design
Shanks, N. (2004) · doi:10.1093/0195161998.003.0007
The Biochemical Case for Intelligent Design
Shanks, N. (2004) · doi:10.1093/0195161998.003.0006
13 The Brain as an Information‐Control System
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0014
5 Dealing with Target Motion and Our Own Movement
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0006
Microbial Diversity and Global Environmental Issues
Ogunseitan, O. A. (2004) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9780470750490.ch11
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0004
Thermodynamics and the Origins of Order
Shanks, N. (2004) · doi:10.1093/0195161998.003.0004
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0020
6 Complexity: A Necessary Condition
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0007
1 Quantum Mechanics as a General Framework
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0002
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0025
8 The Organism as a Semiotic and Cybernetic System
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0009
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0008
14 Decisional, Emotional, and Cognitive Systems
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0015
25 Final Philosophical Remarks
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0026
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0019
Big History, Value, and the Art of Continued Existence
Cline, B. (2019) · Philosophia · doi:10.1007/s11406-019-00124-1
The National Security State Gone Awry: Returning to First Principles
Johnson, L. K. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108676946.005
Glennon, M. J. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108676946.002
National Security and Court Deference: Ramifications and Worrying Trends
Pitter, L. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108676946.007
Durkin, T. A. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108676946.008
Rethinking the National Security State from an Evolutionary Perspective: A Reconnaissance
Wilson, D. S. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108676946.012
Reimagining the National Security State: Illusions and Constraints
Dratel, J. L. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108676946.009
A Tale of Two Countries: Fundamental Rights in the “War on Terror”
Cassel, D. W. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108676946.004
The Deep State and the Failed State: Illusions and Realities in the Pursuit of Security
Gray, J. H. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108676946.003
Homininen, Hirn und Hiatus. Kritische Anfragen an eine humanzentrierte Anthropologie
Nungesser, F. (2019) · Soziologische Revue · doi:10.1515/srsr-2019-0066
Infectious Diseases: Conquest or Coexistence?
Yamamoto, T. (2020) · Translational systems sciences · doi:10.1007/978-981-15-4091-2_6
Information; Convergence of Science and Philosophy
Brenner, J. E., & Igamberdiev, A. U. (2020) · Studies in applied philosophy, epistemology and rational ethics · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-62757-7_11
Phenotypic Variation in an Asexual-Sexual Fish System: Visual Lateralization
Connelly, A. D., & Ryan, M. J. (2021) · Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.3389/fevo.2021.605943 · Cited by 1
On evolution, change, and beyond
Martínez, V. M. L. (2021) · Evolutionary Linguistic Theory · doi:10.1075/elt.00025.lon
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0016
Shanks, N. (2004) · doi:10.1093/0195161998.003.0001
(2004) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9780470750490.refs
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0012
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0018
Anker, P. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108763851.011
Anker, P. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108763851.001
Anker, P. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108763851.002
Anker, P. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108763851.004
Anker, P. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108763851.010
(2006) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/0-387-21739-8_8
Islam, M. R., Islam, J. S., Zatzman, G. M., Mughal, M. A. H., & Rahman, M. S. (2015) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781119184201.refs
The Call for a New Ecoreligion
Anker, P. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108763851.007
Durenard, E. A. (2013) · doi:10.1002/9781118755846.biblio
(2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108763851.012
(2016) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781119159704.refs
Anker, P. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108763851.008
Anker, P. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108763851.003
(2000) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/9781420040432.ch5
Berger, J. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108676946.013
Bersini, H. (2014) · Encyclopedia of Astrobiology · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_110-2
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0001
Shanks, N. (2004) · doi:10.1093/0195161998.003.0008
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0010
Lull, J. (2007) · doi:10.1002/9780470696545.refs
Greenberg, K. J. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108676946.015
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0024
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0017
Greenberg, K. J. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108676946.016
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0022
Glascoff, D. (2019) · doi:10.1017/9781108676946.001
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0005
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0013
Greenberg, K. J. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108676946.014
Bersini, H. (2015) · Encyclopedia of Astrobiology · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-44185-5_110
Auletta, G. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608485.003.0011
Anker, P. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108763851.013
Metadata
- Authors
- Maynard Smith, J., & SzathmáRy, E.
- ORCID
- SzathmáRy, EöRs
- Publisher
- Oxford University PressOxford
- Published
- 1999-03-04
- OpenAlex
- W4388277938
- Cited by
- 334
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 9.24
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy of Biology and Scientific Explanation
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Keywords
- origin of life, major transitions, evolution of complexity, information transmission, origin of cells, sexual reproduction, multicellularity, cooperation, animal societies, origin of language, Darwinian evolution, John Maynard Smith
About these checks
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.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
