On the likelihood of habitable worlds
Article Abstract:
The properties of natural selection when applied to the universe define the latter's fitness by the number of black holes produced. This indicates that if the physical constants needed for black hole production favor life, then the chance of a random universe favouring life also increases. The anthropic principle's proposal that physical laws can be understood because they have produced intelligent observers able to analyze their nature, has gained popularity among cosmologists. Biologists feel that organisms are adapted to their surroundings rather than the reverse.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1996
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The first two billion years
Article Abstract:
A meeting held in Sweden in April 1997 discussed topics ranging from the origin of eukaryotes to the arrival of multicellular eukaryotes. A problem that has not yet been solved is the origin of non-enzymatic replication, but research is underway looking at the ligation of small nucleic-acid units to form larger oligonucleotides, in-vitro construction of a catalytic RNA and copying of nucleic acids on a surface.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1997
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Developmental circuits rewired
Article Abstract:
Research examining the body segmentation occurring in the developmental phases of invertebrates is presented. Particular attention is given to scientific efforts to map the patterns of segmentation in order to produce hierarchical networks.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 2001
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