This well-illustrated book on the life sciences covers many topical issues, ranging from the origin of life to mad-cow disease. The illustrations include line drawings, mostly in color, and many electron micrographs. Concise and clearly written, it is suitable for the non-specialist, and the undergraduate embarking on this field.

The book also provides basic information on the major groups of disease-producing microorganisms, their defense by the body, and preventive measures such as immunization. It shows how closely integrated plants and animals are to one another in maintaining life on the planet.

The ultimate message of the book is the need to protect our ecosystem and the need for scientists to rise above the confines of race and nationality for the good of humanity.

Contents:

• In Search of Truth
• From Molecules to Cell
• From Inanimate to Animate
• The Mother of All Cells
• Cells Out of Control
• Extending the Range of Vision
• On Life's Fringes
• A Friend and a Foe
• The Mouldy World
• The Unwanted Guests
• Mad Cows and Toxic Proteins
• Arthropods as Agents of Disease
• The Never Ending Battle
• Bolstering Defenses
• Microbes as Weapons
• Sex and Survival
• Do Microbes Possess Consciousness?
• Nature's Clocks
• The Plant Kingdom
• The Long March of Evolution
• Making Clones
• The End Game

“It is to the author’s credit that the book generally avoids a didactic approach and presents a diversity of views without overtly steering the reader to those most widely accepted.”