0
NL888 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Whereby the vital conditions for natural selection first came about?
Does "whereby the vital conditions for natural selection first came about" mean "on this base the vital conditions for natural selection first occurred"?
Context:
Liquid water is a necessary condition for life as we know it, but
it is far from sufficient. Life still has to originate in the water, and
the origin of life may have been a highly improbable occurrence.
Darwinian evolution proceeds merrily once life has originated. But
how does life get started? The origin of life was the chemical event,
or series of events, whereby the vital conditions for natural
selection first came about. The major ingredient was heredity, either
DNA or (more probably) something that copies like DNA but less
accurately, perhaps the related molecule RNA. Once the vital
ingredient - some kind of genetic molecule - is in place, true
Darwinian natural selection can follow, and complex life emerges
as the eventual consequence. But the spontaneous arising by chance
of the first hereditary molecule strikes many as improbable. Maybe
it is - very very improbable, and I shall dwell on this, for it is central
to this section of the book.
Context:
Liquid water is a necessary condition for life as we know it, but
it is far from sufficient. Life still has to originate in the water, and
the origin of life may have been a highly improbable occurrence.
Darwinian evolution proceeds merrily once life has originated. But
how does life get started? The origin of life was the chemical event,
or series of events, whereby the vital conditions for natural
selection first came about. The major ingredient was heredity, either
DNA or (more probably) something that copies like DNA but less
accurately, perhaps the related molecule RNA. Once the vital
ingredient - some kind of genetic molecule - is in place, true
Darwinian natural selection can follow, and complex life emerges
as the eventual consequence. But the spontaneous arising by chance
of the first hereditary molecule strikes many as improbable. Maybe
it is - very very improbable, and I shall dwell on this, for it is central
to this section of the book.
Top answer
NL888 Does "whereby the vital conditions for natural selection first came about" mean "on this base the vital conditions for natural selection first occurred"? '
- NL888 Does "whereby the vital conditions for natural selection first came about" mean "on this base the vital conditions for natural selection first occurred"?
- '
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
6 Answers
0
NL888Does "whereby the vital conditions for natural selection first came about" mean "on this base the vital conditions for natural selection first occurred"?'on which base...'
00
0
Instead of "whereby" I would say "in this way". I think "whereb"y is an archaic word.
00
Andre Delicata I think "whereb"y is an archaic word.No, not at all, Andre. What makes you think that? It is merely formal, which suits the context.
00
NL888What does "came about" mean? Appeared?Yes, that's right: came into existence.
00
You're right, formal is more accurate than archaic. I tend to prefer to write in the same way that I would express myself in regular conversation. I graduated as a pharmacist though I work as a manager in sales and marketing, however in both contexts this was always my preference in writing. I think it's more effective (though this just a personal view).
0
Related Questions