Synopses & Reviews
Four centuries after the pioneering work of Robert Hooke and Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, biology is still trying to catch up with the microscopic nature of most of life. Although biologists have achieved a remarkable level of understanding about the way that multicellular organisms operate, the majority continue to ignore the "amoeba in the room": the fact that most of life isn't classified as either plant or animal.
In his newest book, Nicholas P. Money examines the extraordinary breadth of the microbial world and the vast swathes of biological diversity that can be detected only using molecular methods. The fact of the matter, he writes, is that we have been misled by our brains about the importance of elephants and need to employ a little imagination to appreciate the amoeba. Significant discoveries about the genetic composition of the biosphere are making it clear that zoology and botany have failed to comprehend the full spectrum of life on earth, which is far more diverse than anyone previously imagined. These considerations argue for a different purview of life, one in which the birds and the bees are recognized as extensions of the astonishing variety of microscopic life forms.
The Amoeba in the Room considers biological diversity in all its forms, exploring environments from the backyard pond to the ocean floor to the "mobile ecosystem" of our own bodies. In the process, Money proposes a radical reformulation of biology education and research in the life sciences. When speaking of microscopic organisms, Money shows, the species view of life is almost meaningless. There are many other ways to measure biological diversity, from genetic and structural approaches to a consideration of operational differences-- all of which tell us much more about the history of life. Lively and accessible, The Amoeba in the Room offers a revitalized vision of life, one in which we are challenged to reconsider our existence in proper relationship to the single-celled protists, bacteria, and viruses that constitute most of life on earth.
Review
"Money enthusiastically presents evidence of diversity everywhere, no matter the magnification. ... This is a lucid and informative book. There is an impressive afterword of references and notes, and fine line drawings. So much that is lyrical and little-known waits to be discovered here - novelties that will appeal to new undergraduates as well as to incorrigible microbial enthusiasts like myself." --Nature
"Nicholas P. Money, mycologist and professor of biology at Miami University, has made an excellent contribution to science in popular culture with his new book, The Amoeba in the Room."--Kansas City Star
Synopsis
A cup of seawater contains 100 million cells, which are preyed upon by billions of viruses. Fifty million tons of fungal spores are released into the atmosphere every year. And the human gut is home to somewhere between 500 and 1,000 species of bacteria. The more we learn about microbial biodiversity, the clearer it becomes that the vast majority of life has long gone unseen, and unobserved. The flowering of microbial science is revolutionizing biology and medicine in ways unimagined only a few years ago, and is inspiring a new view of what it means to be alive.
In The Amoeba in the Room, Nicholas Money explores the extraordinary breadth of the microbial world and the vast swathes of biological diversity that can be detected only using molecular methods. Although biologists have achieved a remarkable level of understanding about the way multicellular organisms operate, Money shows that most people continue to ignore the fact that most of life isn't classified as either plant or animal. Significant discoveries about the composition of the biosphere are making it clear that the sciences have failed to comprehend the full spectrum of life on earth, which is far more diverse than previously imagined. Money's engaging work considers this diversity in all its forms, exploring environments from the backyard pond to the ocean floor to the "mobile ecosystem" of our own bodies.
A revitalized vision of life emerges from Money's lively narrative of the lowly, one in which we are challenged to reconsider our existence in proper relationship to the single-celled protists, bacteria, and viruses that constitute most of life on earth. Proposing a radical reformulation of biology education and research in the life sciences, The Amoeba in the Room is a compelling romp through the least visible and yet most prodigiously magnificent aspects of life on earth.
About the Author
Nicholas P. Money is Professor of Botany at Miami University and author of
The Triumph of the Fungi,
Carpet Monsters and Killer Spores,
Mr. Bloomfield's Orchard, and
Mushroom.
Table of Contents
Preface
1. Eden
2. Lenses
3. Leviathan
4. Dirt and Water
5. Air
6. Naked Ape
7. Vulcan's Forge and Dante's Hell
8. New Jerusalem