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A Theory on Causal Factors in the Origin of Life

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2022

J. Lee Kavanau*
Affiliation:
California Institute of Technology

Extract

In this paper a theory relating to the causal factors operative in the origin of living systems is presented.

Let us consider living forms as material systems exhibiting, in addition to those properties held in common with all matter, systemic properties of a specific nature. If, then, the matter of the earth is classified from this standpoint, it is found that these systems are distributed only over the surface of the earth or in a shallow upper layer. This fact indicates that the special properties of these systems are related in some manner to factors introduced at the surface and not operative elsewhere.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Philosophy of Science Association 1945

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References

REFERENCES

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