Biology: An Illustrated History of Life Science (100 Ponderables)

Description

Here is the essential guide to biology, an authoritative reference book and fold out timeline that examines how we have uncovered the secrets of lifethe most complex process in the Universe. From the workings of molecules to the way entire oceans or continents of lifeforms interact, biology seeks to understand how it is that something can be alive, how it fends off death and how it leaves more life in its wake. We follow the journey through the history of life science to find out why the dolphin got its name (it is the womb fish), how a seven-foot strand of DNA is able to build your body, and what gives a lobster its blue blood. The great names, such as Darwin and Linnaeus, are joined by lesser known discoverers, such as Karl von Frisch who discovered that bees dance and Jan Baptist van Helmont who found a plant uses air and water to grow. Biology today is still very much a live science, finding a purpose in robot design and helping us to understand non-living complex systems like the Internet. Biology has changed the way we understand ourselves. What will it tell us next? Review: helpful for some historical perspective on a very broad and important science - Biology is provided a simple historical context where the editors of this book have selected what they believe to be the most characteristic and defining events in its history. I think that a summary overview like this is probably best suited to the nonspecialist, but also to someone who has some training or formal education in biology. In addition, to fully appreciate what we see presented here and evolving in the science itself, it is important, as well, to have some grasp or understanding in at least the basic sciences, physics and chemistry, that bear on biology, and would also be helpful to have some understanding of technologies like optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Given such a (non-specialized but knowledgeable) background, the book opens our eyes to certain very important historical events, and put them in focus, without any strong biases. Since the development of the theory of evolution (and its support in genetics and in biochemistry with DNA, proteins and cell biology) much controversy has been incurred by the science as it has clashed with numerous superstitions and religious proclivities, so it is not entirely obvious that an unbiased presentation of the science is feasible. Also, modern biology is shifting more and more toward cellular biology, biochemistry, biophysics and bioengineering. Thus, we see a certain paucity of major events in the more traditional areas of biology, somewhat reflected in this book, that does not quite capture the significant vitality of modern biology. In addition, some of the somewhat "traditional" areas, like ecology, have grown quite technical and have applied significant and sometimes difficult mathematical modeling. Thus, we are presented with a somewhat skewed impression of biology as the book moves forward toward the present. Nevertheless, I find the discussions and presentations in the book to be very illuminating and overall insightful, and can strongly recommend this book, especially for biology undergraduate majors who would like a better "big picture" view of their science. I think generally a book like this, if you already have some knowledge of modern biology, is a great book: Not a substitute for serious learning, but a significant supplement, especially at the introductory level of the science. The book is extremely well-designed, has superb illustrations and vignettes, and is quite an impressive achievement: Certainly a cut above most popular books addressing biology or issues from biology. Review: Love this series - I may be spending all my money to buy every book in this series. I love them for myself and my boys (teen and tween)