- ホーム
- > 洋書
- > 英文書
- > Science / Mathematics
Full Description
In the fifteenth century, as astronomers charted the skies and explorers mapped the globe, the nature of life itself remained a mystery. It wasn't until the seventeenth century that Robert Hooke, looking through one of the earliest microscopes, coined the term cell. Nearly two centuries later, biologists established that all living organisms—from animals and plants to algae and fungi—are composed of cells. Around the same time, Charles Darwin introduced his theory of evolution, proposing that all life on Earth shares a common origin. Today, the scientific community has defined that origin as LUCA—the Last Universal Common Ancestor.
Unraveling how LUCA—the ancestral cell—emerged billions of years ago and gradually evolved into the vast diversity of life-forms we see today is a fascinating journey through history, biology, and the essence of what it means to be alive. Blending art with science, biologist Christian Sardet takes you on an exploration of DNA, RNA, proteins, protists, viruses, cell reproduction, aging, death, and more.
Written in clear, accessible language and accompanied by artful illustrations, Cells: The Illustrated Story of Life offers an authoritative and visually captivating overview of the building blocks of life. Designed for visual learners and curious minds alike, this immersive exploration of life and evolution brings readers up to date with the latest discoveries—revealing how cells function, how they have evolved, and why they fascinate us.
Contents
Foreword by Éric Karsenti
What Is Life?: Cells & Evolution
The Materials of Life: DNA, RNA, Proteins & Nanomachines
A Tale of Origins: From LUCA to Bacteria & Archaea
Life Becomes Complex: The Advent of Protists
From Unicellular to Multicellular: From Protists to Animals, Fungi, Plants & Algae
Viruses Bathe the Living World: Beneficial & Evil Manipulators
The Engines of Life: Energy & Metabolism
The Cell Cycle: Activation, Signaling & Splitting
Information & Heredity: From Genes to Proteins
Reproducing, Aging & Dying: And a Few Diseases
What Life Is All About: A Social Network of Cells
Index
Image Credits
Glossary
About the Author
