Life Ascending

Summary

A biochemist's tour through the deep history of life on Earth, aimed at readers willing to follow detailed science about cells, energy, and evolution. Lane organizes the story around ten pivotal innovations, including the origin of life, DNA, photosynthesis, sex, and consciousness, drawing on recent research into bioenergetics. He argues that the rules of chemistry and physics, especially the flow of energy across membranes, shape what evolution can and cannot do.