Monday, February 23, 2009

Reading

Genesis.

No, not that book, the other one: Genesis: The Scientific Quest for Life's Origins by Robert Hazen.

Usually, I tend to read about genetics or similar (that is, when I read anything serious to begin with, which tends to be less than 10% of the time). This one is obviously related, but about the processes that came before it all began. And it also gives more of a look into the issues faced by somebody trying to do experiments in the area.

Me likee. It's a pretty easy read, and I liked the mix of talking about the theories and talking about the life of a scientist and the not-always-so-successful experiments.

15 comments:

Unknown said...

No offense, but I do hope you're not planning on genetic experiments...

Unknown said...

It seem to be nice. I will try to see if there is an italian version.

Lynne said...

Hi linus. Just stopping by and have not had the opportunity to read the referenced book. Wanted to share that "Linus" was my favorite out of the Peanut gang, lol. I named a puppy after him, when I was about 8. Have a good evening!

KK said...

Linus, I'd like to know how your whole blogging-to-see-what-its-like experience is turning out to be. Or is it too early to tell?

Marcello said...

@Michele Renda:
You should listen this podcast:
http://www.radio.rai.it/radio2/alleotto/elica/

Unknown said...

If you're interested in the question of 'how did life begin', then the book 'Autopoiesis and cognition' by Humbert Maturana and Fransisco Varela is a fascinating read. They say that started out attempting to define life in the most concise possible terms. They basically end up with a cyclical network of processes where each element exists for the maintenance of the whole or another element. What's particularly interesting though is that they believe that consciousness ( cognition ) is a fundamental part of the process, and they make a very good argument to this effect. Caveat: the book is written in somewhat 'strained' language, with particularly long sentences ( seriously - some of them go for an entire page ). It takes a look of reading and re-reading. But it's absolutely worth it. Though they don't touch too much on the question of the very begging of life, it's clear from their model that consiousness would be a fundamental force here too. Anyway, check out a preview here

Unknown said...

Hello everybody out there -

I'm doing a little bit of genetic engineering (just a hobby, won't be big and professional like god).

This has been brewing since feburary, and is starting to get ready. I'd like any feedback on things people like/dislike in current bacteria, as my lifeform resembles it somewhat
(same physical layout of the genomes (due to practical reasons)
among other things).

I've currently ported yeast over, and things seem to work(it makes beer).

This implies that I'll get something practical within a few months(of fermenting), and
I'd like to know what features most people would want. Any suggestions
are welcome, but I won't promise I'll implement them :-)


Sources for this lifeform pet project of mine can be found at nic.funet.fi
(128.214.6.100) in the directory /pub/lifeforms/linuacteria. The directory also
contains some README-file and a couple of examples to work under this lifeform
(yeast, bactocill and virus, what more can you ask for :-). Full lifeform
source is provided, as no genome-project code has been used.

Enjoy.

Adam said...

Amazon.com? Shame on you. What's wrong with Powell's? Remember where you live now.

Unknown said...

Genetics? That's cool...

Maximilian said...

Also worth reading related to life:

Stuart Kaufman:
The Origins of Order

Keep on reading!

Max

Anonymous said...

放鬆心情自由自在的來一趟花蓮旅遊,可以感受花蓮民宿各種不同的風味,所以來花蓮一定要住花蓮民宿哦!因為可從花蓮民宿主人那裡分享到不一樣的花蓮旅遊經驗及花蓮美食道地的花蓮小吃,所以來花蓮旅遊不一定就要享受花蓮高級餐廳的花蓮美食也可以多試試道地古早味的花蓮美味哦!來花蓮民宿可以放鬆整個心情,來花蓮住宿也可以放空自已,來花蓮也可以了解在地的文化哦!住民宿其實是很輕鬆的,住花蓮民宿其實是很容易,還有就是現在是高油價的時代,還自行開車來花蓮嗎?來花蓮租車會比較輕鬆哦!來花蓮房屋租車會比較省錢哦!或是可以請花蓮計程車帶您包車旅遊喔!!歡迎來住住美麗的花蓮民宿囉!!一定要讓您來花蓮旅遊並且讓您愛上花蓮江佳民宿,還有團購美食好吃的蜂蜜蛋糕

Anonymous said...

http://blog.qlep.com/blog.php/gillette
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/pumafr
http://www.pumafr.com/blog
http://www.trade-in-cn.com
http://www.clothessports.com
http://chinaclothes.net

Anonymous said...

mobile phones price and performance are a pair of contradiction. The word "shanzhai" is very popular in China. It is industry phenomenon of imitation, high quality and low price. Moreover, cell phones are the representative of them.The global financial crisis led to a significant shrinkage of assets for people. "china wholesale" demonstrate the might. most of them would like buy the cheap cell phones now .

Anonymous said...

Through google search engine, when you put in "discount cell phones", you will find more than 15,000 pieces of related information. Cell phone china has been concerned in the world. Many international sellers can get a considerable profit by ways of wholesale cell phones from China and switch selling. So it is a very good job on cell phones wholesale in the current financial crisis.Cellphone , it's not just talk tools.it make life easier.

Anonymous said...

The origins of life, is ofcourse transcendence. Please do read my blogpost about the subject.

http://www.myspace.com/paradoxuncreated