Fungal Biology in the Origin and Emergence of Life
Cambridge University Press, 1/24/2013
EAN 9781107652774, ISBN10: 1107652774
Paperback, 238 pages, 22.8 x 15.2 x 1.4 cm
Language: English
The rhythm of life on Earth includes several strong themes contributed by Kingdom Fungi. So why are fungi ignored when theorists ponder the origin of life? Casting aside common theories that life originated in an oceanic primeval soup, in a deep, hot place, or even a warm little pond, this is a mycological perspective on the emergence of life on Earth. The author traces the crucial role played by the first biofilms – products of aerosols, storms, volcanic plumes and rainout from a turbulent atmosphere – which formed in volcanic caves 4 billion years ago. Moore describes how these biofilms contributed to the formation of the first prokaryotic cells, and later, unicellular stem eukaryotes, highlighting the role of the fungal grade of organisation in the evolution of higher organisms. Based on the latest research, this is a unique account of the origin of life and its evolutionary diversity to the present day.
1. Learning from life on Earth in the present day
2. Essentials of fungal cell biology
3. First, make a habitat
4. The building blocks of life
5. An extraterrestrial origin of life?
6. Endogenous synthesis of prebiotic organic compounds on the young Earth
7. Cooking the recipe for life
8. 'It's life, Jim…'
9. Coming alive
what happened and where?
10. My name is LUCA
11. Towards eukaryotes
12. Rise of the fungi
13. Emergence of diversity
References
Index.
Advance praise: 'Fungi and animals share a deep Precambrian root from which our unicellular ancestors diverged more than one billion years ago. This common beginning is evident when we look at similarities between fungus and animal at the level of genes and proteins, as well as the grander disjunction between both groups of eukaryotes and every other form of life on earth. Mycologist David Moore details the evolutionary history of the fungi in his new book and its relationship to the origins and subsequent development of life on land. This rich and compelling story provides a crucial mycological perspective on some of the biggest questions in modern biology.' Nicholas Money, Miami University, Ohio