Biology of life : biochemistry, physiology and philosophy / Laurence A. Cole, Director, USA hCG Reference Service, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Section I. How life started. The physics and chemistry of planet earth -- How life started -- RNA, ribozymes, and early life forms -- Amino acids and peptides, essential ingredients of life -- Biochemistry of early life -- Evolutionary history of planet earth -- What is life? -- Section II. DNA and RNA. The evolution of DNA and the genetic code -- DNA biology : DNA replication, transcription, and translation -- Section III. Energetics. Adenosine triphosphate energetics -- Adenosine triphosphate synthase -- Section IV. 4.5 billion years evolution. Evolution timeline -- Evolution of chemical, prokaryotic, and eukaryotic life -- Animal evolution, small brain and advanced brain -- The evolution of humans -- Human development -- Section V. Human development. Human female oogenesis -- Human male spermatogenesis -- Sperm activation, fertilization, morula, blastocyst formation, and twinning -- Multiple human chorionic gonadotropin molecules -- Implantation and pregnancy failure -- Hemochorial placentation -- Human life, development of the human brain -- Human life.