Table of Contents

List of contributors; Introduction André Brack; Part I. Setting the Stage: 1. The origin of the atmosphere Tobias C. Owen; 2. The early atmosphere as a source of biogenic compounds James F. Kasting, and Lisa L. Brown; Part II. Organic Molecules on the Primitive Earth: 3. The endogenous synthesis of organic compounds Stanley L. Miller; 4. Hydrothermal systems Nils G. Holm, and Eva M. Andersson; 5. Cosmic origin of the biosphere Armand H. Delsemme; 6. Meteorites John R. Cronin; 7. Micrometeorites on the early Earth Michel Maurette; Part III. Possible Starts for Primitive Life: 8. Membrane compartments in prebiotic evolution David W. Deamer; 9. A step-by-step analysis of the early chemistry of life in an iron-sulfur world Günter Wächtershauser; 10. The thioester world Christian de Duve; 11. Origins of the RNA world Alan W. Schwartz; 12. Catalysis of RNA synthesis: a possible route from prebiotic chemistry to the RNA world James P. Ferris; 13. Catalysis in the RNA world Kenneth D. James, and Andrew W. Ellington; 14. Self-replication and autocatalysis Jens Burmeister, and Günter von Kiedrowski; Part IV. Clues from the Bacterial World: 15. Hyperthermophiles and their possible role as ancestors of modern life Karl O. Stetter; 16. Tracing the roots of the universal tree of life J. William Schopf; Part V. Clues from Other Planets: 17. Titan François Raulin; 18. Life on Mars Christopher P. McKay; Part VI. Conclusion André Brack.