How Molecular Forces and Rotating Planets Create Life

The Emergence and Evolution of Prokaryotic Cells

Look inside
A reconceptualization of origins research that exploits a modern understanding of non-covalent molecular forces that stabilize living prokaryotic cells.

Scientific research into the origins of life remains exploratory and speculative. Science has no definitive answer to the biggest questions--"What is life?" and "How did life begin on earth?" In this book, Jan Spitzer reconceptualizes origins research by exploiting a modern understanding of non-covalent molecular forces and covalent bond formation--a physicochemical approach propounded originally by Linus Pauling and Max Delbrück. Spitzer develops the Pauling-Delbrück premise as a physicochemical jigsaw puzzle that identifies key stages in life's emergence, from the formation of first oceans, tidal sediments, and proto-biofilms to progenotes, proto-cells and the first cellular organisms.
Series Foreword xv
A Note about This “Story” xvii
Preface xix
Acknowledgments xxv
Introduction: A Physicochemical Framework for Origins Research 1
1 Understanding Biological Matter 19
2 Defining the Origins Problem 31
3 Structured Bacterial Life: No Bag of Enzymes 53
4 Bacterial Non-covalent Forces and Phase Separation 65
5 Bacterial Crowding and Vectorial Organization 85
6 The Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces 103
7 The Physicochemical Roots of Darwinian Evolution 129
8 An Unexplored Experimental Paradigm of Cyclic Processes 141
Summary 157
Appendix: Screened Electrostatic Interactions in Crowded Colloidal Systems 165
Notes 171
References 191
Index 217
Jan Spitzer, a PhD in Physical Chemistry from Queen Elizabeth College at the University of London, has had a long career in chemistry and polymer science, as Associate Professor, and Research and Development Manager in synthetic latex industry. He is the author or coauthor of numerous peer-reviewed papers, technical articles, and book chapters.

About

A reconceptualization of origins research that exploits a modern understanding of non-covalent molecular forces that stabilize living prokaryotic cells.

Scientific research into the origins of life remains exploratory and speculative. Science has no definitive answer to the biggest questions--"What is life?" and "How did life begin on earth?" In this book, Jan Spitzer reconceptualizes origins research by exploiting a modern understanding of non-covalent molecular forces and covalent bond formation--a physicochemical approach propounded originally by Linus Pauling and Max Delbrück. Spitzer develops the Pauling-Delbrück premise as a physicochemical jigsaw puzzle that identifies key stages in life's emergence, from the formation of first oceans, tidal sediments, and proto-biofilms to progenotes, proto-cells and the first cellular organisms.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword xv
A Note about This “Story” xvii
Preface xix
Acknowledgments xxv
Introduction: A Physicochemical Framework for Origins Research 1
1 Understanding Biological Matter 19
2 Defining the Origins Problem 31
3 Structured Bacterial Life: No Bag of Enzymes 53
4 Bacterial Non-covalent Forces and Phase Separation 65
5 Bacterial Crowding and Vectorial Organization 85
6 The Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces 103
7 The Physicochemical Roots of Darwinian Evolution 129
8 An Unexplored Experimental Paradigm of Cyclic Processes 141
Summary 157
Appendix: Screened Electrostatic Interactions in Crowded Colloidal Systems 165
Notes 171
References 191
Index 217

Author

Jan Spitzer, a PhD in Physical Chemistry from Queen Elizabeth College at the University of London, has had a long career in chemistry and polymer science, as Associate Professor, and Research and Development Manager in synthetic latex industry. He is the author or coauthor of numerous peer-reviewed papers, technical articles, and book chapters.

Books for National Depression Education and Awareness Month

For National Depression Education and Awareness Month in October, we are sharing a collection of titles that educates and informs on depression, including personal stories from those who have experienced depression and topics that range from causes and symptoms of depression to how to develop coping mechanisms to battle depression.

Read more

Horror Titles for the Halloween Season

In celebration of the Halloween season, we are sharing horror books that are aligned with the themes of the holiday: the sometimes unknown and scary creatures and witches. From classic ghost stories and popular novels that are celebrated today, in literature courses and beyond, to contemporary stories about the monsters that hide in the dark, our list

Read more

Books for LGBTQIA+ History Month

For LGBTQIA+ History Month in October, we’re celebrating the shared history of individuals within the community and the importance of the activists who have fought for their rights and the rights of others. We acknowledge the varying and diverse experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community that have shaped history and have led the way for those

Read more