The Origins of Life. From Abiotic Chemistry to the First Cells

Authors

Randy O. Wayne Plant Cell Biologist, Cornell University, USA. Randy O. Wayne is a plant cell biologist at Cornell University notable for his work on plant development. In particular, along with his colleague Peter K. Hepler, Wayne established the powerful role of calcium in regulating plant growth; accordingly, their 1985 article, Calcium and plant development, was cited by at least 405 subsequent articles to earn the "Citation Classic" award from Current Contents magazine and has been cited by hundreds more since 1993. He is an authority on how plant cells sense gravity through pressure, on the water permeability of plant membranes, light microscopy, as well as the effects of calcium on plant development. He has published over 50 articles and is the author of another book, Light and Video Microscopy. Thomas Owens Cornell University, USA. Tom Owens is an emeritus professor at Cornell University. Over the course of his career, he taught classes that spanned the range from Introductory Biology through the physiology, biochemistry, and biophysics of plant processes. His research encompassed the physiology and molecular biophysics of photosynthesis Karl Niklas Cornell University, USA. Karl Niklas is an emeritus professor at Cornell University. He is the author of five books, and has taught classes ranging from Introductory Biology, Introductory Botany, Evolution, and Biomechanics. His research has focused on the application of engineering principles and physics to understand biology and evolution.