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A reconceptualization of origins research that exploits a modern understanding of non-covalent molecular forces that stabilize living prokaryotic cells.Scientific research into the origins of life remains exploratory and speculative. Science has no definitive answer to the biggest questions—“What is life?” and “How did life begin on earth?” In this book, Jan Spitzer reconceptualizes origins research by exploiting a modern understanding of non-covalent molecular forces and covalent bond formation—a physicochemical approach propounded originally by Linus Pauling and Max Delbrück. Spitzer develops the Pauling–Delbrück premise as a physicochemical jigsaw puzzle that identifies key stages in life's emergence, from the formation of first oceans, tidal sediments, and proto-biofilms to progenotes, proto-cells and the first cellular organisms.Spitzer argues that non-covalent molecular forces, acting in cycling geochemical processes, bring about phase separations—the creation of purified, lower entropy, potentially living biological matter. Geochemical cycling processes—diurnal solar radiation and tidal hydration-dehydration—underpin life's emergence and evolution. After presenting a physicochemical view of how non-covalent molecular forces stabilize a bacterial cell during its cell cycle, Spitzer assembles the puzzle pieces into a working provisional picture of life's emergence. He classifies early Archaean evolution as micro-evolution, meso-evolution, and macro-evolution according to physicochemical mechanisms that can modify the nucleoid during a prokaryotic cell cycle. Finally, he describes some experimental ideas, based on cyclically driven processes.

How does a bacterial cell grow during the division cycle? This question is answered by the codeveloper of the Cooper-Helmstetter model of DNA replication. In a unique analysis of the bacterial division cycle, Cooper considers the major cell categories (cytoplasm, DNA, and cell surface) and presents a lucid description of bacterial growth during the division cycle. The concepts of bacterial physiology from Ole Maaløe's Copenhagen school are presented throughout the book and are applied to such topics as the origin of variability, the pattern of DNA segregation, and the principles underlying growth transitions. The results of research on E. coli are used to explain the division cycles of Caulobacter, Bacilli, Streptococci, and eukaryotes. Insightful reanalysis highlights significant similarities between these cells and E.coli. With over 25 years of experience in the study of the bacterial division cycle, Cooper has synthesized his ideas and research into an exciting presentation. He manages to write a comprehensive volume that will be of great interest to microbiologists, cell physiologists, cell and molecular biologists, researchers in cell-cycle studies, and mathematicians and engineering scientists interested in modeling cell growth. - Written by one of the codiscoverers of the Cooper-Helmstetter model - Applies the results of research on E. coli to other groups, including Caulobacter, Bacilli, Streptococci, and eukaryotes; the Caulobacter reanalysis highlights significant similarities with the E. coli system - Presents a unified description of the bacterial division cycle with relevance to eukaryotic systems - Addresses the concepts of the Copenhagen School in a new and original way