How does life work? In conversation with Philip Ball

Francis Crick's "The Astonishing Hypothesis" boldly proposes that 'you,' your joys and your sorrows, your memories and your ambitions, your sense of personal identity and free will, are in fact no more than the behavior of a vast assembly of nerve cells and their associated molecules. ' This materialistic view challenges traditional notions of the mind and soul, arguing that consciousness is a purely physical phenomenon arising from brain activity. The book explores the biological basis of consciousness, emphasizing the importance of understanding the brain's intricate mechanisms to unravel the mysteries of the mind. Crick's work sparked significant debate and continues to influence contemporary research on consciousness. It remains a landmark contribution to the ongoing quest to understand the relationship between brain and mind.

In 'The Selfish Gene', Richard Dawkins presents a gene-centred view of evolution, arguing that genes are the primary units of selection and that they behave selfishly to ensure their own replication. The book explains concepts such as kin selection, inclusive fitness, and the evolutionarily stable strategy, highlighting how these mechanisms can lead to altruistic behaviors in organisms. Dawkins emphasizes that the 'selfishness' of genes is a metaphorical concept, describing their evolutionary consequences rather than any intentional behavior. The book has been influential in shaping modern evolutionary thought and remains relevant today.

In 'How Life Works', Philip Ball presents a new vision of biology, revealing life as a complex system of multiple levels—genes, proteins, cells, tissues, and body modules—each with its own rules and principles. The book explores how these levels interact and work together, leading to new possibilities in redesigning living systems and potentially regenerating limbs or creating new life forms.