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.
R. John Collier, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Harvard Medical School
Eugene Rosenberg and Ilana Zilber-Rosenberg bring to their new book, entitled “Where
Did We Come From? The Origin and Evolution of Life” a wealth of knowledge and
decades of experience as master researchers. In terms understandable to all, including the
lay reader, they describe the grand quest to understand how we and all other species of life
came to be. The volume covers a vast range of topics, from origin myths through to
current concepts of how natural selection occurs at various levels - among mutated genes;
among cells carrying those altered genes; among individual organisms harboring those
cells; and among populations of those organisms. The authors describe observations that
led Darwin and Wallace to conceive of the revolutionary concept of natural selection, and
of experiments over the long term that led to the discovery of DNA, it’s double-helical
structure, and how the structure underlies genetic transmission of heritable traits from one
generation to the next. Photographs and descriptions of the personalities of scientists
instrumental in key advances provide paths for the reader to sense how scientific
discoveries actually occur. Of particular interest is discussion focused on the topic of the
Rosenberg’s’ own research in recent years, namely the unique microbial populations
carried by multicellular organisms, be they human or other, and how the Rosenbergs’
studies led to the hologenome concept of evolution, that is, how these microbes influence
the process of natural selection of their hosts. In this and other topics the reader is
presented with both solidly based science and interpretations of the science, and care is
taken to distinguish the two. Peppered throughout the volume are quotations from
prominent scientists, philosophers, and other notables, providing diverse perspectives on
the topics under discussion. This book will be of value to the lay reader interested in
gaining a broad, authoritative view of evolution and its relevance to their lives. Also,
citations to key publications are included, making the volume a gift to professionals in the
world of science interested in a refresher course or a reference to fill gaps in their
recollections.