About the Book
The authors, Eugene Rosenberg and Ilana Zilber Rosenberg, are
distinguished scientists in the fields of microbiology, evolution and the symbiosis
between beneficial microbes and humans, animals and plants.
Where Did We Come From? The Origin and Evolution of Life is a
welcoming contribution to an understanding of the origin and evolution of life for
readers versed in these theories or those that possess little knowledge of these
interesting subjects.
The authors discuss the origin of life from religious narratives to scientific-
based accounts, leading to the conclusion that we still do not know how life began,
but strive to do so.
The theory of evolution by natural selection, presented simultaneously by
Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace, is one of the greatest ideas of all times.
However, new developments in molecular genetics, microbiology and
system biology have necessitated an extension/revision of evolutionary theory.
The authors special contribution to the field of modern-day evolution theory
is the hologenome concept, depicting a human, an animal or a plant interacting
with their microbes as being one evolving unit in their evolution.
Where Did We Come From? The Origin and Evolution of Life also provides
a glimpse of how theories of evolution can affect our understanding of social
phenomena.
Through an accessible authorial voice, the authors engage with readers and
lead them to become well-informed on these captivating subjects.
Book Reviews
Marietta Amrani
The book Where did we come from? The origin and evolution of life is an
extremely well researched and informative on the subject of the origins and
evolution of life, by the authors Rosenberg and Zilber Rosenberg.
It tells the story of man`s search for the roots of creation - from early myths
to today`s scientific theories of the building blocks of life, in a fascinating and
accessible manner.
I highly recommend this book for readers of all ages – from the simply
curious to the professionals in the field. It is a captivating and illuminating reading
experience.
Joshua Aizenman
Dockson Chair in Economics and International Relations, University of Southern California
This book is a fascinating and compelling non-technical review of the expanding research of Darwin’s paradigm of Evolution by Natural Selection. This paradigm elicited vibrant scientific debates, spilling over to social studies and humanities, spanning evolutionary economics, philosophical, religious and historical debates.
This book is an essential read for updating the readers about recent developments and explorations of evolutionary dynamics associated with the role of microorganisms as a key framework for future evolutionary thought. The authors illustrate that classical evolutionary theory requires expansion and revision in light of modern discoveries in molecular genetics, microbiology, and systems biology in the context of the new frontier of evolutionary dynamics.
The authors introduce the reader to the ‘hologenome’ concept, related to their research, illustrating that the unit of selection in evolution is not just the individual organism (host) but the host plus all of its associated microorganisms (the microbiome). The ‘hologenome’ incorporates the genetic information of both the host and its symbiotic microbes. The authors illustrate that this integrated system functions as a cohesive biological entity, with the microbiome playing a crucial role in the holobiont's adaptation, health, and evolution. Changes in the microbiome, which can occur more rapidly than changes in the host genome, and can provide a swift means for the holobiont to adapt to environmental pressures.
The authors effectively illustrate the extended spectrum of research associated with the hologenome concept, including the study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence - how organisms and their environments mutually influence each other's evolutionary trajectories. The role of learned behaviors and culturally transmitted knowledge in shaping evolutionary paths, particularly in more complex organisms.
This approach suggests that while host genomes evolve slowly, microbiomes can change quickly in response to environmental factors, allowing organisms to adapt more rapidly. Some microorganisms are passed from generation to generation, meaning they contribute to long-term evolutionary changes. Studies suggest that microbiota can play a role in the formation of new species by influencing traits such as immunity, metabolism, and even home microorganisms that are passed from generation to generation, meaning they contribute to long-term evolutionary changes. Studies suggest that microbiota can play a role in the formation of new species by influencing traits such as immunity, metabolism, and even behavior.
Notably, the authors also explore the broader implications of evolutionary theories for understanding social phenomena, including biological cooperation versus social Darwinism, Collective memory, and the wide array of issues explored by interpretive research done by Social Science and Humanities.