Kingfisher Knowledge: Microscopic Life

by Walker, Richard; Doherty, Peter C.

• ISBN13: 9780753457788
• ISBN10: 0753457784
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-10-14
• Publisher: Kingfisher

Summary

Microscopic Life explores the tiny worlds that exist around us and even within us! Examine how some organisms help us fight diseases and others help to produce food. But bacteria can also be harmful, causing tooth decay, food poisoning, and many deadly epidemics. Students will be amazed at the vast range of microscopic life and at the close proximity in which they live to humans! Richard Walkeris an award-winning author of books about natural history and human biology for both children and adults, including Kingfisher Knowledge:Microscopic Life. He has a Ph.D. in zoology. As a former biology teacher he has a practical understanding of the importance of accessible reference materials. Professor Peter C. Dohertyjointly won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1996 for the discovery of how the immune system recognizes virus-infected cells. Microscopic Lifeexplores the tiny worlds that exist around us--and even within us! Meet the fungi and molds that help us in our daily lives, and find out how they do it. Examine how some organisms help us fight diseases and others help to produce food. But bacteria can also be harmful, causing tooth decay, food poisoning, and many deadly epidemics. Students will be amazed at the vast range of microscopic life and at the close proximity in which they live to humans! Kingfisher Knowledgetakes readers into the heart of a subject. Vivid photographs and thought-provoking digital artwork capture the essence of each topic, while compelling text guides the reader through a wealth of information. Each chapter encourages the reader to discover more through links to web sites, books, and places to visit and even suggests possible career opportunities.

Author Biography

Richard Walker is an award-winning author of books about natural history and human biology for both children and adults, including Kingfisher Knowledge: Microscopic Life. He has a Ph.D. in zoology. As a former biology teacher he has a practical understanding of the importance of accessible reference materials. Professor Peter C. Doherty jointly won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1996 for the discovery of how the immune system recognizes virus-infected cells.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. 6
Micro Life Revealed	p. 7
Unseen world	p. 8
Size and scale	p. 10
Under the microscope	p. 12
Smaller and smaller	p. 14
Life from nowhere?	p. 16
The building blocks of life	p. 18
Summary	p. 20
Microscopic Organisms	p. 21
Viruses	p. 22
Bacteria	p. 24
Protists	p. 26
Fungi	p. 28
Mini animals	p. 30
Summary	p. 32
Inside the Microworld	p. 33
Virus alert	p. 34
Bacteria-enemies or friends?	p. 36
Fungi at work	p. 38
Infection and defense	p. 40
Great epidemics	p. 42
Microbe fighters	p. 44
Microbes as partners	p. 46
Persistent parasites	p. 48
Life on humans	p. 50
Natural cycles	p. 52
Ocean life	p. 54
Living in extremes	p. 56
Summary	p. 58
Glossary	p. 59
Index	p. 62
Acknowledgments	p. 64
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