This was a very interesting read, especially as someone
interested in genetics. It is very accessible, even to novices, and written
very clearly. Sometimes the style is a little obnoxious as the author likes to
throw in references to literary works which can get kind of irritating (this is
a science book, you don’t need to show off your knowledge of great works of
literature).
What is very helpful is that the reader can use this book as
a jumping point into more science, if they so choose. At the end of every
chapter is a list of works and sometimes a short description of them. This can
be used to further your studies of RNA, if you want. Or it’s just fun to
examine.
Yarus here primarily posits the existence of an RNA world,
or a world where organisms evolved without DNA. This is an interesting concept,
and one that I hadn’t heard before. To show how he came to this conclusion, he
brings you step-by-step through his thought process, starting with the
principles of evolution. Everything is very clear and easy to follow.
I thought it was a great read, and a rather quick one too.
It is important to know what we have evolved from, and the origins of life
itself. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in learning more
about evolution, whether they are in the sciences or not!
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