Concepts of Symbiogenesis: A Historical and Critical Study of the Research of Russian Botanists (Bio-Origins Series) [Hardcover]

Liya Nikolaevna Khakhina (Author), Robert Coalson (Editor), Dr. Lynn Margulis (Editor), Professor Mark McMenamin (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 23, 1992 | Series: Bio-Origins Series

"Symbiogenesis", a term first coined by the Russian botanist K.S. Merezhkovsky in the late 19th century, is the evolution of new life forms, from the physical union of different, once-independent partners. In this book Liya Khakhina traces the development of the concept in Russian and Soviety scientific literature, reviewing the contributions of Merezhkovsky, A.S. Famintsyn, B.M. Kozo-Polyansky and other prominent Russian scientists, to theories of symbiosis in evolution. This book provides further information to English-speaking scientists on the history of the early development of symbiosis theory. The editors have written an introduction to Khakhina's book (published in the Soviet Union in 1979) and have also included an appendix by Donna Mehos about the American anatomist Ivan E. Wallin, whose theory of symbionticism - species origin by the acquisition of microbial symbionts - resembled the theories of the Russians.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Russian

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; First Edition edition (December 23, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300048165
• ISBN-13: 978-0300048162
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,754,442 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Come Together, July 12, 2008

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This review is from: Concepts of Symbiogenesis: A Historical and Critical Study of the Research of Russian Botanists (Bio-Origins Series) (Hardcover)

This book fills a big gaping hole in Western science. The Cyrillic alphabet has been a barrier to scientists in the West but, fortunately, this is a translation of the theoretical and practical work by Russian biologists' work, of the late 1800s and early 1900s, on how and which organisms successfully join together to form a new viable one (such as lichens). It is quite fascinating and we can be grateful to Margulis for its availability in the West.