Life Ascending The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution [Paperback]

Where does DNA come from? What is consciousness? How did the eye evolve? Drawing on a treasure trove of new scientific knowledge, Nick Lane expertly reconstructs evolutions history by describing its ten greatest inventionsfrom sex and warmth to deathresulting in a stunning account of natures ingenuity.The emergence of life itself remains obscure. But as Lane shows with clarity and vigor, fascinating studies on the subject abound.Excellent and imaginative and, similar to life itself, the book is full of surprises.Lane lays out processes of dizzying complexity in smooth, nimble prose.If Charles Darwin sprang from his grave, I would give him this fine book to bring him up to speed.Original and awe-inspiring . . . an exhilarating tour of some of the most profound and important ideas in biology.