Non-animal eukaryotes There are essential differences between the 1st and 2nd editions of the book in this section. Another rendezvous has been added (#33), and the unknown rendezvous has been partially resolved. Great Historic Rendezvous This is a significantly shorter section in the second edition. The authors describe the critical beginnings of eukaryotic cells and describe the endosymbiotic theory proposed by Lynn Margulis. Prokaryotes Prokaryotes can move genetic material between unicellular and multicellular organisms other than by the ("vertical") transmission of DNA from parent to offspring by way of Horizontal gene transfer. Origin of life The authors elaborate at length about the possible origins of life through RNA world, Enterobacteria phage Qbeta, Miller–Urey experiment, Spiegelman's Monster and the possible hypercycle of DNA, RNA, and enzymes which work together to support each other in a primordial world. Reception Carl Zimmer of the New York Times stated that the book is one of the best to understand evolutionary trees. The Guardian thought it was awkward to move backward in time starting from humans and required linguistic gymnastics with new definitions of before and after a certain evolutionary point. Matt Ridley at The Guardian liked the approach of a Chaucer Pilgrim traveling backwards and the perspective of not seeing other animals as failures. Translations See also Evolutionary history of life Phylogenetic tree Timeline of evolution Timeline of human evolution References External links Video introduction by Richard Dawkins Richard Dawkins talks to Ira Flatow on "Science Friday" Family and kid's experiential programs based on Ancestors Tale, by Connie Barlow, with video, slides and scripts. OneZoom, an interactive fractal explorer of the tree of life, used to make the visualizations in The Ancestor's Tale. 2004 non-fiction books 2004 in biology 2016 in biology 2016 non-fiction books Biological evolution Biology books Books about evolution Books by Richard Dawkins English-language books English non-fiction books Houghton Mifflin books Human evolution books Last common ancestors Weidenfeld & Nicolson books Roc (mythology)