目次

PrefaceChapter 1. The Dynamic Earth: A Recent Concept Necessary for the Study of the Origin of Life1-1 Continental Drift Theory in the Early Twentieth Century1-2 Revival of the Continental Drift Theory1-3 Plate Tectonics: A Dynamically Flowing Mantle1-4 Plume Tectonics: A Recent Concept of the EarthChapter 2.  Why did Life Generate? Why does Life Evolve? Physical Perspective of the Origin of Life2-1 Does the generation and evolution of life violate the basic principle of physics?2-2 Physical inevitability of generation and evolution of lifeChapter 3. What is the Ultimate Ancestor? Evidence from Fossils and Gene Analyses3-1 The oldest fossil of “life”?3-2 The “ultimate ancestor” explored by gene analysis3-3 A gene must be a “molecule” governed by quantum physicsChapter 4. “Miller-Urey Experiment” in the Recent Picture of the Early Earth4-1 Traditional hypotheses on the origin of bio-organic molecules4-2 An overview: Cooling history of the Hadean and Archean Earth4-3 At 4.0 ~ 3.8 b.y.a., reductive atmosphere occurred locally and temporarily!4-4 Evaporation of minerals by meteorite collisions with ocean: an experimental simulation4-5 Hypothesis: mass production of ammonia during meteorite ocean collisions on the early EarthChapter 5. Origin of Organic Molecules and Natural Selection of Bioorganic Molecules5-1 “The big-bang” of organic molecules5-2 Experimental confirmation of the hypothesis, “the Big-bang” of organic molecules5-3 Natural selection of “bioorganic molecules”Chapter 6. Molecular Evolution in Deep Subterranean Regions6-1 Dispelling the myth that “an ancient sea was the mother of life”6-2 A hypothesis, “Molecular Evolution in Deep Subterranean Regions”6-3 Experimental confirmation of the hypothesis, "Molecular evolution in Deep Subterranean Regions"6-4 Homochirality of bioorganic molecules, from the view of natural selection of moleculesChapter 7. The last stage of molecular evolution to the birth of life: Individuals, metabolism, and heredity7-1 Geological situation of tectonic plate edges at about 4.0 b.y.a.7-2 Appearance of "individuals" and vesicle fusion7-3 The final stage leading to the birth of life -“The Origin of Species” that C. Darwin did not know-7-4 On the Genetic takeover hypothesis and the Fe-S world hypothesisChapter 8. Summary: The Evolutionary Phylogenetic Tree of the Earth’s Light Elements8-1 Life occurred in subterranean regions and underwent adaptive radiation in ocean8-2 Earth, the watery planet where life generated and evolves