A conference was held at Trinity College, Dublin from 20 to 22 September 1993 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Erwin Schrödinger's lectures What is Life? At this conference scientists from a number of disciplines speculated, in the manner of Schrödinger's original lectures, on the development of biology over the next fifty years. This volume contains most of these contributions. In addition, there are a few contributions from scientists who were unable to speak at the conference.

The editors thank Otago University; the Wellcome Trust; the Austrian Embassy, Dublin; the Biochemical Society, London; TCD Association and Trust; the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies; the Royal Irish Academy; BioResearch Ireland; the British Council; Biotrin International; and Pharmacia Biotech for their generous support. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the help and advice we received throughout from Dr Joe Carroll, Dean of Science, Trinity College, Dublin; Dr Margaret Worrall, Newman Fellow, University College, Dublin; Dr Tim Mantle, Department of Biochemistry, Trinity College, Dublin; Ms Alex Anderson, Trinity College, Dublin; Professor John Lewis, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies; Professor David McConnell, Department of Genetics, Trinity College, Dublin; Professor Keith Tipton, Department of Biochemistry, Trinity College, Dublin; Associate Professor Merv Smith, Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin; Dr Garret Fitzgerald, Dublin; and Mr Louis le Brocquy, Carros, France.