Life Cycles: Reflections of an Evolutionary Biologist [Paperback]

John Tyler Bonner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 3, 1995 | ISBN-10: 0691001510 | ISBN-13: 978-0691001517

Within a single captivating narrative, John Bonner combines an intensely personal memoir of scientific progress and an overview of what we now know about living things. Bonner, a major participant in the development of biology as an experimental science, draws on his life-long study of slime molds for an understanding of the life cycle-the foundation of all biology. In an age of increasing specialization and fragmentation among subfields of biology, this is a unique work of reflection and integration.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

All living creatures, be they a minute bacteria, a giant sequoia, or a lion, have a life cycle. Bonner, professor emeritus of biology at Princeton University, reviews what the life cycle is, how genes are integral to its operation, what the role of multicellularity and size are in development, and how the mysterious process of evolution contributes to the cycle. Writing in clear, nontechnical language, Bonner draws examples from the animal and plant world, including his own lifelong work with slime molds. Bonner's book has two unique aspects: it sees beyond the organism to the whole world, and it is partly autobiographical by revealing Booner's own development as a biologist. For general science collections.
- Michael D. Cramer, VPI&SU Lib., Blacksburg, Va.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Charming, fascinating, and insightful, this slim volume combines a memoir of a life in science with an accessible distillation of what we know about the workings of living things. Bonner (The Evolution of Complexity by Means of Natural Selection, 1988--not reviewed, etc.) is the professor we all wish we had. There's a vaguely 19th-century air about him--in his love for his work, his gentle sense of humor, his devotion to teaching, and his veneration of the teachers who guided his studies. ``I have devoted my life to slime molds,'' he begins, and after introducing us to the life cycle of the odd little organisms he's specialized in, he makes us a gift of the immensely potent lesson he's gleaned from their study: that an organism isn't just its adult form but its entire life cycle, and that it's the life cycle upon which evolution acts. With this understanding in mind, and with life cycles as his framework (interspersed with engaging anecdotes from his career), Bonner leads us through a variety of biological phenomena, micro and macro, that add up to a thorough overview of current biological thought, including the evolution of sexual reproduction; the mechanics of DNA and RNA; the evolution of size; and the development--instinctual as well as cultural--of self- awareness and of communication between species as well as within them. The best Bio 101 you're likely to find. (Twenty-four line illustrations) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (April 3, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691001510
• ISBN-13: 978-0691001517
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,811,221 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Darwinian Delight, January 3, 2007

By 

L. SAXON - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Life Cycles: Reflections of an Evolutionary Biologist (Paperback)

This book is only 200 pages in length but presents an excellent overview of evolution from the perspective of life cycles interwoven with personal anecdotes from the author's own life and particularly his life-long study of slime molds.
From single cells to multicellularity to complexity and even human culture Bonner explains the spread of the many diverse life-forms and behaviors. As well as slime molds there is much of interest regarding other species, such as insects and birds, and regarding the evolution of signals and responses.
For those outside the subject it is an excellent introduction and for those who are already familiar with most of the subject matter it reminds us how fascinating evolutionary biology is and how Darwinian natural selection has contributed to our understanding of, and delight in, life.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Book, March 23, 2000

By 

Chris McKinstry (South America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life Cycles: Reflections of an Evolutionary Biologist (Paperback)

Now this is a nice book. The life a biologist and the biology of life in a charming and compact 200 pages. Bonner's cellular slime molds are just facinating; I can't wait to get somewhere where there is soil (I live in the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile) so I can find some of these creatures and play with them. If you have any interest in biology or evolution, get youself a copy. It will make you smile. I promise.