Scientific American The Amateur Biologist [Paperback]

Shawn Carlson (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Scientific American (Wiley)

Are you a passionate amateur naturalist?

Would you like to record videos of the microscopic world?

Detect an insect's heartbeat? Separate molecules with electricity?

Extract and purify DNA . . . in your kitchen?

Now you can do all these things and more with this wonderful compendium of unique and exciting projects. Gathered here, in the most comprehensive, wide-ranging collection of projects available for the amateur biologist, are some of the finest experiments from Scientific American's popular "Amateur Scientist" column. Whether you'd like to find out how to measure the metabolism of an insect, learn museum secrets for preserving plants, or discover how to teach a sow bug to navigate a maze, you'll find the project to suit your needs.

Filled with experiments from a wide range of specialties, including botany, genetics, behavioral studies, cellular biology, microscopy, microbiology, and entomology, this fascinating book also contains helpful hints and clear instructions on how to build experimental apparatus using simple household materials and affordable alternatives to more expensive scientific equipment. Whether you're a student, teacher, or dedicated amateur scientist, you'll find projects here to excite your interest as well as deepen your understanding of-and appreciation for-the natural world.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Are you a passionate amateur naturalist?

Would you like to record videos of the microscopic world?

Detect an insect’s heartbeat? Separate molecules with electricity?

Extract and purify DNA . . . in your kitchen?

Now you can do all these things and more with this wonderful compendium of unique and exciting projects. Gathered here, in the most comprehensive, wide-ranging collection of projects available for the amateur biologist, are some of the finest experiments from Scientific American’s popular "Amateur Scientist" column. Whether you’d like to find out how to measure the metabolism of an insect, learn museum secrets for preserving plants, or discover how to teach a sow bug to navigate a maze, you’ll find the project to suit your needs.

Filled with experiments from a wide range of specialties, including botany, genetics, behavioral studies, cellular biology, microscopy, microbiology, and entomology, this fascinating book also contains helpful hints and clear instructions on how to build experimental apparatus using simple household materials and affordable alternatives to more expensive scientific equipment. Whether you’re a student, teacher, or dedicated amateur scientist, you’ll find projects here to excite your interest as well as deepen your understanding of–and appreciation for–the natural world.

About the Author

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN reaches more than three million readers globally by subscription, on newsstands, and online at www.sciam.com.
SHAWN CARLSON was the author of Scientific American's "Amateur Scientist" column from 1995 to 2001. He is the Executive Director of the Society for Amateur Scientists and a 1999 winner of the prestigious MacArthur Foundation "genius" Fellowship.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (January 4, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471382817
• ISBN-13: 978-0471382812
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,610,163 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For HS and above, October 28, 2006

By 

Raining but Not Pouring - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scientific American The Amateur Biologist (Paperback)

In the Product details section, it says the reading level is for ages 4-8. Do not believe this. These are articles from the magazine "SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN" and are beyond this level. I would recommend it for High School and above. The book has less of step by step experiments and more on creating ways to get you started on whatever project you desire to do. It explains how to create equipment that could cost a lot of money and simplifies advanced techniques so that the projects are easier to do at home. This does not mean you have everything you need for the projects in your home, but that you will be able to improvise and do it cheaper than buying all your materials for a supply house. It also tells you where you can buy some of the more specialized equipment. This book ranges from cultivating algae to fruit flies to electrophoresis to studying metabolism and effects of high altitude. I highly recommended it for people who enjoy puttering in a homemade lab.

5 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Too much engineering!, June 24, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Scientific American The Amateur Biologist (Paperback)

This selection of experiments demands a lot of "building." Admittedly you do build cool things-a machine for measuring insect heart beats, a home electrophoresis set-up, a high altitude chamber, a device for measuring metabolism in small animals, a video microscope system, etc. You spend a lot of time doing device construction. If you like bulding machines, they you will enjoy this book.

Very few of the experiments involve little or no construction--a couple of exceptions being a neat way to extract dna from stuff and a growth inhibitor-plant experimnet. Plus fun slime mold stuff.

I say, where are the fun things to do with bacteria? Or things you can do to your friends or pets without hurting them? There isn't nearly enough variety here.

Great experiments and great machines, but this selection may prove a bit daunting to the beginner or the younger child. Could be useful for some science fair experiments, though.