A comprehensive, reader-friendly introduction to the world ofbacteria
When most people hear the word ‘bacteria’ they think of foodpoisoning; infections; and acute, debilitating, or fatal diseases.Yet, while E. coli, strep, and other bacterial pathogenscertainly cause their share of misery in the world, they are only atiny portion of a vast universe of microorganisms–the mostbasic of life forms. Without them, nothing else could live or growon Planet Earth. Bacteria: The Benign, the Bad, and the Beautiful introduces you to this diverse, microscopic world andexplains the fundamental microbiological concepts you need toexplore the life and behavior of bacteria. Even if you have noprevious background in the subject, the book’s clear, jargon-freelanguage tells you what you need to know about:
* The origins and evolution of bacteria
* Some of the fundamental ways in which bacteria have shaped theworld
* Bacteria commonly found in the healthy human body
* Antibiotics and the growing problem of resistance
* Marine microbiology, bacterial toxins, and enzymes
* Bacterial genetics and genomics
* Bacteria that survive in extreme environments, such as boilingwater
* And much more
This comprehensive guide features custom-drawn, black-and-whiteillustrations by artist Karoly Farkas, and it illuminates itspoints through real-world examples and engaging stories. Discrete, topic-by-topic structure, text-box summaries of background science, and a helpful glossary make for quick and easy reference. Whetheryou are a science professional in need of information on bacteriaoutside of your specialty, a student in search of a solidintroduction, or a curious reader looking for fascinating andreliable information, Bacteria: The Benign, the Bad, and the Beautiful is the resource you need.
Mục lục
Preface vii
Note to the Reader ix
1. The Blue Planet 1
2. Tree of Life: Let Three Live 9
3. How Old Are They? 17
4. On the Move 23
5. Needles 29
6. Dead or Alive 35
7. Nobel Works 43
8. Bacteria and Insects 51
9. Bacterial Toxins 59
10. Enzymes 67
11. Genetics and Genomics 75
12. Antibiotics and Resistance 81
13. Marine Microbiology 87
14. Bacteria and Oil 95
15. Extreme Life 103
16. Record Holders 109
17. Bacteria and Art 117
18. Fixing the Air 125
19. Pest and Pestilence 131
20. Our Bacteria 141
21. Sensing Bacteria 149
22. Bacteria and Mankind 155
23. Big Questions on Small Subjects 163
24. Synthetic Biology 169
25. Bacteria, the Earth, and Beyond 177
Glossary 183
Bibliography 195
Index of Bacterial Genera and Species 205
Subject Index 209
Giới thiệu về tác giả
Dr. Trudy Wassenaar, Ph D, is director of Molecular Microbiology and Genomics Consultants, and author and curator of the popular Virtual Museum of Bacteria (www.bacteriamuseum.org). She is also an Associate Professor of comparative bacterial genomics at the Centre of Biological Sequences at the Danish Technical University in Lyngby, Denmark, and the author of numerous contributed book chapters as well as nearly 80 publications in peer-review journals, including Applied Environmental Microbiology, the Journal of Medical Microbiology and Infection and Immunity.
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