The origin and early evolution of life is an inseparable part of the discipline of Astrobiology. The journal Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres places special importance on this interconnection. While any scientific study which contributes to our understanding of the origins, evolution and distribution of life in the Universe is suitable for inclusion in the journal, some examples of important areas of interest are: prebiotic chemistry and the nature of Earth's early environment, self-replicating and self-organizing systems, the theory of the RNA world and of other possible precursor systems, and the problem of the origin of the genetic code. Early evolution of life - as revealed by elucidation of biochemical pathways, molecular phylogeny, the study of Precambrian sediments and fossils and of major innovations in microbial evolution - forms a second focus. The journal presents experimental papers, theoretical articles and authoritative literature reviews.

生命的起源和早期進化是天體生物學不可分割的一部分。《生命起源與生物圈進化》雜志特別重視這種相互聯系。任何有助于我們理解宇宙中生命起源、進化和分布的科學研究都適合刊登在《自然》雜志上。一些重要領域的例子包括:生命起源前的化學和地球早期環境的性質，自我復制和自我組織系統，RNA世界和其他可能的前體系統的理論，以及遺傳密碼的起源問題。生命的早期進化——通過闡明生物化學途徑、分子系統學、前寒武紀沉積物和化石的研究以及微生物進化方面的重大創新揭示出來——形成了第二個重點。該期刊發表實驗論文、理論文章和權威文獻綜述。