Biochemist Nick lane (University College London) suggests observers that life has evolved, but his extends his observation (perhaps into the realm of speculation, but that does not detract from the book).

The features of life that Lane selected were made based (he claims) on four criteria:

1) It revolutionized the living world.

2) It continues to be important to life here in the Holocene.

3) It results from natural selection.

4) It is somehow iconic.