The Plausibility of Life; Resolving Darwin’s Dilemma

Won the 2005 Professional/Scholarly Publishing Division of the Association of American Publishers Award for Excellence in the Biological Science category. (PSP/AAP) Winner of the 2006 IPPY Award in the Science Category Offering daring new ideas about evolution, two highly respected biologists here tackle the central, unresolved question in the fieldhow have living organisms on Earth developed with such astounding variety and complexity? Marc Kirschner and John Gerhart draw on cutting-edge biological and medical research to provide an original solution to this longstanding puzzle. "In this terrific new book, molecular systems meet evolution. The result is a wealth of stimulating ideas set among clear explanations drawn from a revelatory decade in biology."Andrew H. Knoll, author ofLife on a Young Planet "Thought-provoking and lucidly written. . . .The Plausibility of Lifewill help readers understand not just the plausibility of evolution, but its remarkable, inventive powers." Sean Carroll, author ofEndless Forms Most Beautiful: The New Science of Evo Devo "Remarkably lucid and comprehensive, this new theoretical synthesis will . . . shift the grounds for debate in the controversy surrounding organic evolution."Booklist(starred review)

MARC W. KIRSCHNER is professor and chair, department of systems biology, Harvard Medical School. JOHN C. GERHART is professor in the graduate school, University of California, Berkeley.