Book Description
A clinical psychiatrist explores the effects of DMT, one of the most powerful psychedelics known.
• A behind-the-scenes look at the cutting edge of psychedelic research.
• Provides a unique scientific explanation for the phenomenon of alien abduction experiences.
From 1990 to 1995 Dr. Rick Strassman conducted U.S. Government-approved and funded clinical research at the University of New Mexico in which he injected sixty volunteers with DMT, one of the most powerful psychedelics known. His detailed account of those sessions is an extraordinarily riveting inquiry into the nature of the human mind and the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. DMT, a plant-derived chemical found in the psychedelic Amazon brew, ayahuasca, is also manufactured by the human brain. In Strassman's volunteers, it consistently produced near-death and mystical experiences. Many reported convincing encounters with intelligent nonhuman presences, aliens, angels, and spirits. Nearly all felt that the sessions were among the most profound experiences of their lives.
Strassman's research connects DMT with the pineal gland, considered by Hindus to be the site of the seventh chakra and by Rene Descartes to be the seat of the soul. DMT: The Spirit Molecule makes the bold case that DMT, naturally released by the pineal gland, facilitates the soul's movement in and out of the body and is an integral part of the birth and death experiences, as well as the highest states of meditation and even sexual transcendence. Strassman also believes that "alien abduction experiences" are brought on by accidental releases of DMT. If used wisely, DMT could trigger a period of remarkable progress in the scientific exploration of the most mystical regions of the human mind and soul.
Customer Reviews:
Revolutionary read!.......2007-08-30
A must for anyone who is interested in mystical experiences and the human mind and spirit.
I strongly recommend this book.......2007-08-23
I liked the fact the author writes about the whole experience - positive and negative parts. It is important to hear about all of the experiences not only from the jovial side of it. Eventhough he conducted the experiment, he manages to stay objective in his writing.
The experiences sound amazing. Unfortunately not everybody is able to accept certain truths, this is why he carefully chose the participants. It's a shame he stopped his researches in that direction, eventhough I perfectly understand him. I would be discouraged faster than him.
20th Century Schizoid Man..........2007-08-21
Dr Strassman has indeed taken a giant step forward for mankind with his research. The psychedelic experience seems at once necessary and enlightening for the human race. Perhaps if everyone could experience an outer dimensional "trip" such as described in this book, we could put an end to the modern ethos of hatred and violence that surrounds us.
Researchers as opened minded as this are rare and deserve our support. If you are at all interested in the exploration of inner space, buy Dr Strassman's book - it's a modern day equivalent to the moon landing (if it ever really happened...)
The study of DMT must continue.......2007-07-22
The fact of the matter is, in the troubling world we find ourselves in - good news is very hard to come by. It is research such as this that becomes the candle in the dark, the light at the end of the dark tunnel we all traverse.
Rick Strassman's research is not only revolutionary, but it shows that science, unequivocally, must never leave spirituality at the front door - since spirituality may be far more scientific than we previously had thought. Without a doubt in my mind, this book has proven such a thing.
Yet, there are still many more questions that need to be answered. The ultimate being - are these experiences, creatures and invisible landscapes REAL? Are they more real than "channel normal"? The exciting thing about these questions is that they may be answered in our lifetime, IF the study of DMT is continued.
From what I understand, Rick Strassman's website speaks of a DMT Documentary that is currently in the making. I sincerely hope that this Documentary, upon release, arouses the curiosity of mainstream science and the general population.
Do I recommend this book? The answer is 100% YES. If you are not aware of the information within this book, you are intellectually naked.
With ever-increasing scientific knowledge, this generation as we know it could very well be catching up to what the mystics have been saying for aeons.
Increadible Read.......2007-07-14
This book is incredible. IT sheds light on research done on psychedelics and goes into the history of psychedelic research. Very Interesting. A lot of interesting and mind expanding ideas and theories within.
Book Description
Why do we feel the way we feel? How do our thoughts and emotions affect our health? Are our bodies and minds distinct from each other or do they function together as parts of an interconnected system?
In her groundbreaking book Molecules of Emotion, Candace Pert provides startling and decisive answers to these and other challenging questions that scientists and philosophers have pondered for centuries.
Her pioneering research on how the chemicals inside our bodies form a dynamic information network, linking mind and body, is not only provocative, it is revolutionary. By establishing the biomolecular basis for our emotions and explaining these new scientific developments in a clear and accessible way, Pert empowers us to understand ourselves, our feelings, and the connection between our minds and our bodies -- body-minds -- in ways we could never possibly have imagined before.
Molecules of Emotion is a landmark work, full of insight and wisdom and possessing that rare power to change the way we see the world and ourselves.
Customer Reviews:
Amazing story ...........2007-09-27
I really enjoyed this book. I know other women PhD'ers so I was not put off by Dr. Pert's style of writing and confidence. My husband, on the other hand was and put it down after only a few pages. I was amazed and enthralled by her story and life. I think the book would appeal to women more than men. She was after all, at the forefront of the women's movement and what courage it must have taken to enter into the field of science research--the big boy domain! Even though the book was published in the late 1990's and much of what she discovered has been in the public domain by now--it is still a very good book to read and one of those larger than life bio's.
A Must Read for Anyone Interested in Health.......2007-08-16
I absolutely loved this book. A great book to read in conjunction with Molecules of Emotion is Feelings Buried Alive Never Die becasue Molecules of Emotion is the science behind Feelings Buried Alive Never Die. I think both books are a must read for anyone who wants more out of life and does not want to waste time being duped by the American Health Industry.
Molecules of Emotion from Lucy's Standpoing.......2007-07-30
I purchased this on the recommendation of a friend. I have always been such a skeptic about Chakra's but remain open to new ideas including this. I haven't been home enough to read the book as much as I would like to but expect that it will make good evening reading as the days grow shorter. When I have read it takes a while for the material to sink in and I find I need to ponder each concept some before moving on.
A very important book.......2007-07-24
Candace B. Pert gives a fascinating account of her research and her findings on how mind and body interact. I read this book before I read ORDINARY MIND: EXPLORING THE COMMON GROUND OF ZEN AND PSYCHOANALYSIS, by Barry Magid, and WHAT THE BLEEP DO WE KNOW, by William Arntz, Betsy Chasse and Mark Vicente. These latter two books throw more light on the chemistry behind what goes on inside our minds and bodies. All of these books provide helpful tools in understanding ourselves and others.
Molecules of Emotion Review.......2007-05-17
The title of this book may lead one to believe that it is a text book. However, although it does contain science that is easily understood by the non-scientist, it is autobiographical. Candace Pert tells of her journey in the world of male-dominated science. I would recommend it for any young woman starting out in science.
Book Description
What is memory and where in the brain is it stored? How is memory storage accomplished? Two scientists responsible for some of the fundamental research in the field answer these key questions in Memory: From Mind to Molecules, the first book for a general readership to offer an up-to-date, comprehensive overview of memory from molecules and cells to brain systems and cognition.
Customer Reviews:
The Abyss in the Middle of the Bridge.......2001-09-06
The long journey from the physical molecules to the non-physical mind starts with a first step. Squire and Kandel have taken that first step in a masterful attempt to bridge the certainty of their laboratory measurements of brain function with the elusive, receding, transfinite virtuality of the human mind at the other end of the bridge. Notwithstanding their announced warning that "We are not who we are simply because we think. We are who we are because we can remember what we have thought about", the authors stick to the experimental facts. Perhaps the statement was meant as a red herring bait for the reductionists or an echo of "The Remembered Present" theory of Edelman about consciousness. The book is a no nonsense abridged laboratory report. The authors start at the beginning and move up the spiralcase of complexity one step at a time in an impressive 'show and tell' scientific act. Their rendition of memory research is credible, convincing and extremely well written; a must for students of neuro-molecular biology or the cognitive sciences.
Were the authors able to reduce mind and consciousness to a molecular equation? Of course not. Nor should they; as scientists they are committed to deal with observable facts in nature or in the simulations lab, directly or aided by instruments. That, they did, in a very systematic and cogent way from Kandel's elegant Aplysia experiments to Squire's behavioral analysis of neuropsychiatric data. The language was carefully selected and the illustrations added much needed understanding for the un-initiated. The didactic value of illustrating how an investigator moves along a research protocol path mined with conceptual and experimental difficulties is a classic in basic research.
The sequential concatenation of ionic and molecular events at synaptic receptor sites offered as an explanation of short term memory is very convincing. The explanation offered for the conversion of short term memory to long term memory involving the genetic apparatus is not so clear at the molecular transcryption level but opens up a new reliable approach to behavioral genetics. In the opinion of the undersigned, the genetic basis for Lamarcquian inheritance has been given a push forward as we anticipated in "Biopsychosociology", Limusa Ed. 1987.
True to the tradition among the practitioners of the scientific methodology, the authors do not try to explain why the selective course of ionic and molecular sequences lead to the adaptive behavior of the species. If an apple falls from a tree to the ground all they need is to measure the distance from the branch to the ground, the velocity at impact, the weight of the apple or any other observable and measurable concomittants. Why the apple did not 'fall' to the clouds instead, is outside science and properly belongs to theology. The authors knew better than to try to answer "why".
A riveting book, and a quick summary of current thinking.......2000-04-24
This compact book draws a circle around the small kernelof facts neuroscientists have accumulated about memory. The book iscurrent to within the last couple of years -- a quick way to bringyourself up to date.
The book has two authors, and each of them has a distinctive voice and personality. You will notice, as you read a chapter, which scientist wrote it. Squires is engaging, wide ranging and conversational. Kandel's prose is single minded and straight to the point. The book appears to be the product of a real collaboration, not just an editor's paste-together or interleaving of two separately contributed manuscripts. By passing the microphone back and forth at timely moments, the two men are able to fill in a large and remarkable picture of what we know now about memory.
What is memory? The working hypothesis is that the nervous system rewires itself as an animal acquires new information from the world. This reworking of a pre-existing nervous system is accomplished by altering the strength of synaptic connections between nerves. Novel synaptic connections establish favored conduction pathways within the complex nest of wiring in the brain. These favored pathways are believed to constitute the memory. Although this concept was elaborated by the psychologist Donald Hebb, and is often called the Hebb hypothesis, the authors point out that it has roots in the prescient thinking of the 19th century microscopist, Ramon y Cajal.
Kandel develops an explanation of how synaptic changes record memory, using the Aplysia (sea snail) as a prototype. He carries this story right down to the level of the gene. Squires presents the overarching concepts of declarative versus non-declarative memories, introduces the idea that there exist multiple memories in the brain, enumerates and explains them, and sets the stage for an explanation of how short term memory is "switched" biochemically to become long term memory. Chapters 3 and 7 offer nicely detailed descriptions of how synaptic changes occur. These two chapters belong together and you might find it helpful to read them in succession.
It is a deeply set assumption in this science, and a rhetorical short cut in this book, that synaptic changes are essentially the same thing as a memory. As A equals B. Synaptic changes do occur, and they do coincide with learning, and both processes are measurable and proved. But a skeptical reader might ask - and really should ask -- if the memory mechanism thus assumed isn't a post hoc fallacy. Maybe memory is not written by and into synapses. Maybe memory is written somewhere else and in some other way. Maybe the experimental results mean something else or something more.
The neuron is probably a multichannel device, a cable rather than a wire. This is the only reasonable way to construct a nerve that would enable us to think as fast as we do. Because nerve impulses are so very slow moving, each successive impulse must be rich in information. A multichannel nerve would have the power to convey graded information from one end of a neuron to the other. All the while appearing, to instruments, to convey only the classically blank, "all or nothing" impulse that is so confidently presented to us on the first page of every neurobiology text.
Sodium and potassium ions flow into and out of the cell via structured portals in the cell membrane called (fortuitously) sodium and potassium channels. To create a continuous longitudinal information channel running the full length of an axon membrane, one would simply link each ion portal to its next door neighbor. A conformation change in one portal induces a conformation change in the next. One can visualize many parallel tracks, a corduroy membrane. Linked receptors are commonplace. The structure of the potassium channel has been published recently, and so we are now finally working at the level where a multichannel membrane can be detected.
At a multichannel nerve's ending, the modification and multiplication of synapses -- that is, the two specific processes so beautifully documented and explained in Chapters 3 and 7 of this book -- might not be writing memory at all. Synaptic changes could simply reflect an underlying scaling or calibration process, the pioneering of a useful operating range. Or a glimpse at the workings of a control network. This is theoretical, however, and the problem of memory has always been a jungle gym for theoreticians. It still is. This is a great book about the memory, and it is also a great book about the synapse. But it does not quite win its implicit argument that the synapse makes the memory. It does succinctly report the factual findings now in hand, many of them quite surprising, and it is current and clear. END
Book Description
There is probably no one who has a deeper understanding of life's biochemical basis than Francis Crick (b. 1916). In 1962 he jointly won the Nobel Prize (with James D. Watson and Maurice H.F. Wilkins) in physiology/medicine for breakthrough studies on the molecular structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). In 1966 he published this collection of popular lectures in which he explained the importance of this discovery in layman's terms, emphasizing its wide-reaching implications.
Crick begins with a critique of vitalism, the notion that an intangible life force beyond the grasp of biology distinguishes living organisms from inanimate things. In his second lecture he explores the borderline between the organic and inorganic, presenting an elegantly clear description of DNA's basic structure and function in relation to RNA and myriad enzymes.
In his third lecture Crick anticipates events and trends that have in fact come to pass in the past four decades, including the increasing use of computer technology and robotics in mind-brain research, explorations into right-side versus left-side uses of the brain, and controversies surrounding the existence of the soul.
OF MOLECULES AND MEN is fascinating not only for its historical significance but for its continued relevance to ongoing discussions of many crucially important issues in life science.
Customer Reviews:
Franklin Flew over the Neuro-Genetics Nest.......2006-04-03
'One-third of us suffer from some form of mental illness, and that much abnormal behavior results from malfunctioning of the chemical systems within our brains.' Franklin Marshals, (Pulitzer Prize twice winning journalist)
Molecular Psychology:
The emerging science of "molecular psychology" is basically concerned with molecular influences on human behavior. Scientists are keenly interested in the relation of biology to behavior. What influences do genes have on behavior? How do they influence behavior? Discoveries in psychological science have proven that a brain-behavior relationship clearly exists. The environment interacts with Biology in many complex ways that make us who we are.
There are around 100,000 human genes. It has been suggested by various scientists that significant numbers of these are likely to influence behavior. In attempting to decipher the systems of biological behavior, biological neuroscientists study cellular and molecular level behavior, searching brain anatomy and physiology, and neuro-genetics for answers.
What gaps still exist in our knowledge of genetic influences? Constructing a map for the complex genetic sequence and perceiving the relationship of these genes to behavior is a tremendous challenge that needs multi layered inter disciplinary work. Developing a sophisticated molecular psychology, with contributions from both molecular biology and psychological science, will put us in a far better position to understand genetic influences on behavior.
Franklin's New Science:
According to the author of 'The Mind fixers,' the molecular psychology revolution in the study of brain biochemistry, will solve the ills of the world. Franklin makes the argument that such a perfect world will be possible within the near future. Franklin writes, "We are mechanisms, pure and simple, explainable without resort to the concept of the soul ...That is the central, cold, hard, emotionless truth of the revolution in molecular psychology. If we really desire the safety we seek, the safety from chemicals and radiation and war, then we must renounce the romantic, dualistic view of man.' So we have first to accept and admit that we, humans, are species of animated complex machines. Franklin tries to push the argument that mental illnesses are just biochemical, in the hope to remove the stigma associated with depression and schizophrenia.
In the introduction, he admits his campaign to spread the word about molecular psychology. In addition, he uses biochemical based arguments to inform mothers on the probable root cause of psychological problems, but blames blind mothering for unleashing such biochemical malfunctions.
Professional Review:
"It is unfortunate that a writer of Franklin's caliber has filled 'Molecules of the Mind' with such simplistic pronouncements. At the heart of the book is an important and captivating story--the search for the biochemical basis of behavior, particularly mental illness. ...For many, the story will be a familiar one: mapping neurotransmitters in the brain and tying them to specific behaviors; a discussion of the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia and the links between other neurotransmitters and other behavioral problems; ... Nevertheless, Franklin does a good job of explaining the science behind such discoveries, as well as of integrating those developments and others into a coherent story." Joseph Alper, Psychology Today, July 1987
Toss It Back........2005-10-17
I always give Jon Franklin 5 stars, he's the man! But not this time. For one, he doesnt practice what he preaches about writing, in this instance. The writing reminds me of boxes I toss stuff in; it's all valuable and interesting stuff but there's no cohesion or philosophy beyond the shared box. Here it's just stuff in a book. My second objection is Jon comes across as a sycophant in this book. He's not an objective reporter, he's an acolyte. And finally, when Franklin concludes that alcoholics and criminals are 'ill' and deserving of better consequences than their conduct normally gets, I hurled the book across the room. It's not the killer's fault, he's.....ill (I'm so touched by Franklin's caring I'll never smile again). Of course, Franklin never gets around to illustrating what sort of consolation prize the dead get for the killer's or drunk's illness. Strangely enough the victims arent part of the equation. PC Crap is what this book is.
An outstanding book. Educational and entertaining!.......1998-08-14
One of the most exceptional books I have ever read. A "must read" for anyone wanting to better understand the workings of the human mind and why there are differences between individuals.
Average customer rating:
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Mayonnaise and the Origin of Life: Thoughts of Minds and Molecules
Harold J. Morowitz
Manufacturer: Ox Bow Press
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ASIN: 091802482X |
Customer Reviews:
Morowitz does it again!.......2000-02-14
The great Harold Morowitz once again dazzles us with his insights into science, the world and various other topics. One caution: despite its title, this book has only one essay that deals with the origin of life (the essay shares the same title as the book itself). Unlike "Cosmic Joy And Local Pain" there is no thematic unity that is shared by the subject matter of his essays. This is by no means bad, it's just good to know that this is NOT a series of essays which deal exclusively with the origin of life on Earth. Morowitz writes delightful pieces on ethics in universities, the academic standards of pre-med students (which are much lower and driven by politics far more than I had thought possible), the pragmatic uses of liberal arts degrees as well as other topics. His writing is succinct and always insightful. If one is interested in the vast scope and inner-workings of science, one can do much worse than to follow along and trace the path of trenchant observations of Harold J. Morowitz.
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Of Minds and Molecules: New Philosophical Perspectives on Chemistry
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0195128346 |
Book Description
Of Minds and Molecules is the first anthology devoted exclusively to work in the philosophy of chemistry. The essays, written by both chemists and philosophers, adopt distinctive philosophical perspectives on chemistry and collectively offer both a conceptualization of and a justification for this emerging field.
Customer Reviews:
Of Minds and Molecules.......2001-04-07
Let me be the first to congratulate Nalini Bhushan and the late Stuart Rosenfeld on editing a new anthology just published by Oxford University Press and entitled Of Minds and Molecules.
They have assembled together a very interesting and diverse collection of articles on the subject of philosophy of chemistry. Their editorial introduction and introduction to the field is excellent as are many of the articles written by philosophers, chemists and educators.
At the end of the day you can have international conferences, web servers, new journals, internet journals and special issues but what really defines a field is still one slim monograph which collects together, in a coherent and inter-related fashion, all the modern themes being studied.
This is the book which will define the field. If you have even a passing interest in history and philosophy of chemistry you need to own this book.
Book Description
In just a half century, humanity has made an astounding leap in its understanding of life. Now, one of the giants of biological science, Christian de Duve, discusses what we've learned in this half century, ranging from the tiniest cells to the future of our species and of life itself. With wide-ranging erudition, de Duve takes us on a dazzling tour of the biological world, beginning with the invisible workings of the cell, the area in which he won his Nobel Prize. He describes how the first cells may have arisen and suggests that they may have been like the organisms that exist today near deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Contrary to many other scientists, he argues that life was bound to arise and that it probably only took millennia--maybe tens of thousands of years--to move from rough building blocks to the first organisms possessing the basic properties of life. With equal authority, De Duve examines topics such as the evolution of humans, the origins of consciousness, the development of language, the birth of science, and the origin of emotion, morality, altruism, and love. He concludes with his conjectures on the future of humanity--for instance, we may evolve, perhaps via genetic engineering, into a new species--and he shares his personal thoughts about God and immortality. In Life Evolving, one of our most eminent scientists sums up what he has learned about the nature of life and our place in the universe. An extraordinarily wise and humane volume, it will fascinate readers curious about the world around them and about the impact of science on philosophy and religion.
Customer Reviews:
One giant leap of faith after another.......2004-04-27
Let's me say first that I'm 100% pro-evolution, and that abiogenesis is what attracted me to this book. I was seeking an explanation that is either fundamental by itself and based upon some empirical data, or another based on advances of known origin-of-life theories like the "RNA-world".
Unfortunately, the book delivers neither.
As another reviewer pointed out already, De Duve divulges the reader into the basics of cell biology; a nice introduction of life chemistry, proteins, RNA, DNA, enzymes and such.
De Duve then spends few chapters on paving the way from a pre biotic world to one that is dominated by protocells. He believes that proteins are a by-product of RNA and therefore RNA must have preceded proteins. Judging by the complexity of RNA, he postulates that peptide bonds _somehow_ formed among amino acids with the help of what he calls "multimers" (amino acids among other things), and those short peptides could have played the role of a primitive catalyst.
What De Duve fails to provide through out his book is data + examples. To convince any reader with the possibility of such event, common wisdom dictates a minimum amount of experimental data to support the "building" blocks of his hypothesis.
In 1997, Ghadri group synthesized a peptide ligase. That is, a self-replicating 32 amino-acid long peptide. It is the constant lack of evidence that makes Du Duve arguments weak.
Then he says that ATP and other NTPs _somehow_ arose, and the discussion for their "existence" is beyond the scope of the book. Then our catalyst peptide forms an RNA-like structure from ATP and others. Then he says that many bases were initially bound, not just A, U, G, and C. But once we had a "rare" RNA with A, U, G, C, it is _somehow_ more stable and more reproducible. De Duve does not really discuss why he believes this is the case, other than it must be because this is what we have now.
In one occasion, De Duve says "Admittedly, this is all hypothetical. But the hypothesis rests on undeniable foundations and has the advantage of suggesting experimental approaches". He made it clear on several occasions than many areas of pre biotic chemistry lack experimentation despite their significance in origin-of-life research. After suggesting an experiment, he concludes "This is what I would do if I were 20 years younger".
De Duve then goes on to explain how the RNA led eventually to proteins (RNA attaches itself to some amino acids, and using the RNA itself as a catalyst, we form protein). And that once we had proteins, life needed cells at that stage to compete and protocells were created. The RNA made proteins, and RNA that made better proteins for the cell survived and got duplicated. The cell at this has some rudimentary membrane, and can replicate itself via division.
What he skipped is how such membrane forms, why it forms, and how the division process in this protocell exactly takes place.
I really wished that De Duve paid more attention to such critical details. Different people might read the book for different reasons, I read it for the goal of gaining an understanding on abiogenesis. Being a strong believer in abiogenesis myself, I was quite enthusiastic when I began reading the book. However, skepticism over Duve's take on abiogensis kept growing as I read more chapters.
Unfortunately, I lost faith in his approach to this critical issue.
Interesting and thought provoking book.......2003-01-28
I read this book because Christian De Duve is one of the "grand old men" of origin-of-life research. What I found was as much a book on theology as one on life sciences. Along with lucid descriptions of the inner workings of living cells and conjectures of how life arose, it is an evangelistic treatise in support of soft-core atheism. His message is that we need priests, not because God exists...He does not...but because natural selection has created within mankind the need for God.
De Duve gives a great review of just how cells work at the molecular level. There is adequate depth without getting bogged down in details. What I really wanted to see was his explanation for the origin of life. De Duve proposes that
Abundant triphosphates somehow arose to provide energy
Prebiotic peptide catalysts somehow arose
Myriads of different RNA-like molecules somehow formed from phosphates
"Rare true-RNA" molecules evolved by Darwinian evolution
RNAs began to make proteins out of the abundant amino acid soup
The RNAs began to make cell walls
The genetic code for specific proteins arose via Darwinian evolution
These very short RNA chains grew tremendously longer via Darwinian evolution
DNA developed from RNA to form protocells
The protocells evolved via Darwinian evolution until they became the first living cells
The key to his proposal is molecular selection. "This mechanism, it must be emphasized, represents at the molecular level exactly that imagined by Darwin to account for biological evolution". In other words, the way to get around the incredible odds of accomplishing each of the proposed steps to life listed above is by having non-living molecules competing with each other. The winning molecules then advance to the next level of competition.
De Duve is rather less than kind to those who disagree. He is distressed that many intelligent people, even scientists, do not agree that this is a plausible explanation to the origin of life. As one with a background in the earth sciences, I am one of the skeptics. My major problem is that he seemingly ignores data from other scientific disciplines. His premise depends on assumptions that are either wrong or improbable at best.
His proposal requires a benign chemical environment with a rich prebiotic soup from which the peptides, RNAs, and proteins could form. Geochemists and planetary physicists have conclusively demonstrated that this soup simply didn't exist. The neutral atmosphere of the early earth could not form prebiotics. In addition, there was sufficient photogenic oxygen in the atmosphere and radiogenic (radiation-induced) oxygen in the oceans to destroy them if they did form. No "prebiotic soup" has ever been found, although "post-biotics" are extremely common. What does exist in abundance are deposits of poisonous heavy metals and rare-earth elements. The early ocean more closely resembled the deadly effluent from a toxic waste dump than the prebiotic soup De Duve needs. Entire industries exist to mine these materials which were once poisons dissolved in the early oceans.
De Duve proposes that prebiotic materials were delivered to the Earth from outer space. Small amounts of nucleic acids have been found in some meteorites, and comets often contain some carbon compounds as well. In reality, the volume of chemicals is small, but the energy release is not. For example, the Shoemaker-Levy comet which struck Jupiter in 1994, probably contained hundreds of tons of organic compounds. This is the proverbial "drop in a bucket" in terms of getting a meaningful volume of prebiotics into the ocean. However, the impact event was roughly 100 million megatons of TNT. This is ten thousand times the power of all of mankind's nuclear weapons combined. We would all be dead if this impact had occurred on Earth.
Another problem occurs in obtaining concentrated baths of organic compounds. The scenarios De Duve mentions are Darwin's "warm little pond" and Stanley Miller's "drying lagoon". These are physical impossibilities on the early earth, where tides were measured in hundreds of feet and wind speeds were measured in thousands of miles an hour. Think of the movie "Perfect Storm" and consider that the weather never got that nice 3.9 billion years ago! There is no plausible mechanism available to generate a concentrated bath of prebiotic compounds in such an environment.
The last several chapters delve into esoteric astronomical subjects far from De Duve's area of expertise, including life on other planets. Large numbers are quoted, but there is little discussed in the vein of cause-and-effect from which a meaningful statistical calculation could be made. He acknowledges that the physical properties of the universe exhibit evidence of incredible precision which allows life to exist. Inconceivably tiny deviations in a number of parameters would make life impossible. This "anthropic principle" has led many formerly atheistic or agnostic scientists to a belief in God. I know one radio-astronomer who wrote "Astronomers who do not draw theistic or deistic conclusions are becoming rare", while his atheist collegue complained that his fellow astronomers are rushing off to join "the First Church of Christ of the Big Bang." De Duve apparently prefers the explanation that there are an infinite number of universes, perhaps even evolving via natural selection, and ours is the lucky one.
De Duve's final appeal is that "something positive must be proposed that can eventually replace the myths propagated by religion." God does not exist, but we need "spiritual guides" to provide ethics and morals. "The religious feeling is deeply embedded in our nature, probably carved into it by natural selection"
I enjoyed De Duve's excellent description of cellular biology. However, I found his proposed mechanisms for the origin of life unconvincing and unsupported by actual chemical pathways. He ignored the hard evidence from other scientific disciplines that render his explanations highly implausible. His premise that science has demonstrated naturalistic explanations to how the universe, the earth, and mankind got here requires more faith than I can muster. I remain skeptical, and tend to agree with the astronomers, who are finding increasing evidence of "something else behind it all".
Intellectually Engaging.......2003-01-28
De Duve exhibits an extraordinary skill in conveying his deep knowledge of biology. He again demonstrates that he is both a first-rate scholar and an accomplished popularizer of science. His style does not overshadow the book's content; de Duve moves with equal familiarity and elegance from scientific papers to French poets, never losing his grip on a deterministic description of the history of life. A straightforward story line starts with the origin of life and continues through the evolution of humans, mind, and language. Intertwined with the narrative are the author's thoughts on the willful world of biotechnology and our potential for determining our future as a species. It is not surprising that de Duve's biography of the biosphere includes sweeping generalizations, but his gripping chronicle could have been aided by diagrams and additional illustrations. The author's treatment of issues such as language, consciousness, and the development of pluricellularity may be unsatisfactory to some. And readers interested in the origin and earliest evolution of life would probably prefer more detailed discussions of the RNA world and what may have preceded it.
However, evolutionary convergence shows that the history of life is not as contingent as some critics of de Duve's positions would argue. Quite surprisingly, the author does not discuss any cases of molecular convergence in Life Evolving. The small, but very revealing, list of known examples includes the independent development of biosynthetic pathways for molecules such as lysine or the imizadole moiety found in purines and histidine as well as the polyphyletic origin of several nonhomologous classes of nucleic acid polymerases. With only one example of biology (Earth's own) we cannot calculate probabilities, but the search for extraterrestrial life may assist us in evaluating the evolutionary odds of life and consciousness. The idea that life on Earth is the result of a miracle or of a rare chance event has been replaced by an evolutionary narrative. Still, as William Blake wrote in There Is No Natural Religion, "Reason, or the ratio of all we have already known, is not the same that it shall be when we know more." The discovery of dozens of planets orbiting nearby stars and the prospect of searching for compounds of possible biological origin in their atmospheres suggest that in the not-so-distant future we may have more factors to consider when addressing the issues de Duve raises.
Whether or not one agrees with de Duve's strong statements, Life Evolving forces the reader to avoid intellectual complacency and to articulate one's own arguments to effectively address his position. These are, in themselves, major reasons to appreciate the book.
Examines how humans have evolved and developed.......2003-01-10
What is the nature of life and our place in the universe? In Life Evolving, Christian de Duve describes how the first cells may have arisen and evolved, arguing that life was likely to arise and to move more quickly along evolutionary lines than has previously been postulated. He examines how humans have evolved and developed, and shares insights on religion and science along the way. An intriguing account blending a history of life with a survey of where it's heading.
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- Are human memories stored in nucleic acids?
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The Making of Memory: From Molecules to Mind
Steven Rose
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0385471211
Release Date: 1993-09-01 |
Book Description
Combining a richly detailed account of scientists at work with a highly readable explanation of cutting-edge neuroscience, this book offers fascinating new insights on the cellular mechanisms of memory and learning.
Customer Reviews:
Are human memories stored in nucleic acids?.......2000-10-07
We were taught in basic biochemistry that this question was answered in 1965 with a resounding, table pounding "No." Case closed. But on reflection, and at this remove in time, it is clear that the (rather appealing, really) possibility that nucleic acids constitute a long term memory storage medium was neither tested nor refuted 35 years ago. No one knew how. No one would know how today.
The author, who became deeply skeptical of the original 1960s research that launched the idea of nucleic acid memory -- tells the story of this forgotten controversy from a personal point of view, and this is the most interesting part of the book.
The fact is, biological information is very typically stored as sequences and shapes, and there is no reason to imagine the human memory is stored in some entirely different way. Probably the notion of nucleic acid memory will get a second hearing someday when we have the technology to actually test it, and some sort of a hunch or clue about how such a thing might work in the brain.
A fun book on the subject is the science fiction classic, "Hauser's Memory," and it is probably the only other book on nucleic acid memory that is still available.
For a quick, seamless review of the currently accepted view of human memory, which is grounded on the assumption that memory is stored as synaptic changes, see Kandel & Squire's book, "Memory. From Mind to Molecules."
For a sense of why the cherished assumption of synaptic memory will probably fail, and pretty soon, see the recent, mildly written but revolutionary book: "Spikes," by Rieke et al.
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- A joyful dance and a wondrous soul experience
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Dancing Molecules: An Intimate Dance With the Divine
Eric P. McCarty
Manufacturer: Writer's Showcase Press
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0595261442 |
Book Description
Dancing Molecules is poetry to inspire a love affair with the self. This intimate collection will lead the reader inwards to discover the source of their own divine music. This book is an invitation to listen to this ectatic music, to join the sacred dance of connection, and to invite others to dance along.
Customer Reviews:
A joyful dance and a wondrous soul experience.......2003-04-27
I love this Author because he shares Light and Love through his stunningly beautiful poems in such an unusual, powerful way, touching my heart so profoundly, that I just have to pause and listen in awe to this flow of beauty, amazed at its force of penetration to the deepest layers of my being. Reading this book was a wondrous SOUL experience.
Why unusual? You breathe freedom in his words. They soar high and reach into untold heights without carrying the weight of labels. Even though his poetry is infinitely spiritual, it is not linked to any religion in particular, but embraces the core of wisdom that resides in all of the different ways mankind tries to connect with the ultimate truth, God, the Creator. He finds Him in every dancing molecule, transforming into a dancing molecule himself in order to touch the Whole. It seems to me that his approach to the Divine is the fruit of an uncommon intimacy with what binds our human nature to our Source. He knows something about the reality of ONENESS. Reading Eric P. McCarty's poems means to travel far, to a higher level of consciousness, where the air is pure and where there are no limits to transparency. He gives emotions that convey purity, beauty, harmony, peace, LOVE. The Author, seeing the sacredness of life in all things and creatures, combines masterfully the yearning for Divine love and its fulfilment with our human exigencies of tangible earthly warmth and love, conferring an incredible touch of overwhelming sensuality to his poems. This amazingly appealing mixture of the Divine and the Human reaches results that I do not hesitate to define absolutely irresistible. I enjoyed the dance and my horizon of perception of the Divine has widened, thanks to this inspiring book. In my opinion Eric P. McCarty's poems are masterpieces and as such they will conquer the world.
Books:
- Dragon's Gate (Golden Mountain Chronicles, 1867)
- Dragon of the Red Dawn (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))
- Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research (2nd Edition)
- Einstein: His Life and Universe
- Electrical Power and Controls
- Electronic Design Automation for Integrated Circuits Handbook 2 Vol Set (Electronic Design Automation for Integrated Circuits Hdbk)
- Eragon / Eldest (Inheritance, Books 1 & 2)
- Evolution of American Urban Society, The (6th Edition)
- Experimental Methods for Engineers (McGraw-Hill Mechanical Engineering)
- Freakonomics [Revised and Expanded]: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
Books Index
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