The Epic History of Biology

Anthony Serafini (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

395 Seiten

1993 | Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1993
Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers (Verlag)
978-0-306-44511-8 (ISBN)

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The search for our elusive human origins and an understanding of the mysteries of the human body have challenged the most inquisitive and imaginative thinkers from Egyptian times through the twentieth century. In The Epic History of Biology, Anthony Serafini - a distinguished philosopher and historian of science - regales the reader with the triumphs and failures of the geniuses of the life sciences. The subtleties of the animal kingdom - anatomy, zoology, and reproduction - along with the complexities of the plant kingdom, have fascinated humanity as far back as 5000 years ago. Astounding ancient knowledge of the arcane curing powers of herbs as well as early experimentation with different chemical combinations for such purposes as mummification led to today's biological technology. Innovative pioneers such as Aristotle, Galen, Hippocrates, and Vesalius challenged the limits of knowledge and single-mindedly pursued their work, often in the face of blind superstition. In superb, lyrical prose Serafini recreates the ideas and theories of these revolutionaries from ancient times through today, against the backdrop of the dogma and prejudices of their time.
He explores the inspired revelations that gave birth to such discoveries as the controversial theory of evolution, the humble origins of genetics, the fantastic predictions of quantum mechanics, and the infinite promise of computer technology. Even today the biological sciences are undergoing rapid and kaleidoscopic changes. Every new insight gives rise to a myriad of new ethical questions and responsibilities. The Epic History of Biology confronts these issues head on and predicts the wondrous new directions biology will follow.

The Beginnings; Mesopotamia; Greek Medicine; Rome; The Middle Ages; The Renaissance; Pestilence in the Renaissance; The Age of Vesalius; The Harvey Era; The Age of Newton; The Microscope and Leeuwenhoek; The Meeting of Biology and Chemistry; Ray and the Emergence of Cell Theory; The Age of Linnaeus and the Enlightenment; Lamarck and His System; The Rise of Paleontology; Biology in the Victorian Era; Darwin and His Age; Embryology and Biochemistry in the Darwinian Era; The Age of Pasteur and the Development of the Microscope; Biology in the Twentieth Century; T. H. Morgan and the Rise of Genetics; On the Trail of DNA; Evolution and Genetic Engineering; Epilogue; Endnotes; Index

Zusatzinfo	11 Illustrations, black and white; XI, 395 p. 11 illus.
Verlagsort	New York
Sprache	englisch
Maße	140 x 216 mm
Themenwelt	Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Natur / Technik ► Naturwissenschaft
	Schulbuch / Wörterbuch ► Lexikon / Chroniken
	Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie
	Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie
	Technik
ISBN-10	0-306-44511-5 / 0306445115
ISBN-13	978-0-306-44511-8 / 9780306445118
Zustand	Neuware