The Birth of Complexity

How did life originate and by what laws did it develop on our planet? What led to the formation of multicellular organisms? How do mutations arise, and what causes them to change life forms? Sociological studies show that in seeking answers to these cornerstone questions, people today are turning less and less to scientific data, preferring superficial and often incorrect explanations offered by television and the tabloid press. This book by Doctor of Biological Sciences, renowned paleontologist, and science popularizer Alexander Markov is an attempt to overcome the barrier of mutual misunderstanding between serious researchers and the general reader. "The Birth of Complexity" is both a gripping account of what is happening today at the cutting edge of biological science and, at the same time, a serious attempt to generalize and systematize the knowledge humanity has accumulated in this field.