Description
Book Synopsis: Although Charles Darwin's theory of evolution laid the foundations of modern biology, it did not tell the whole story. Most remarkably, The Origin of Species said very little about, of all things, the origins of species. Darwin and his modern successors have shown very convincingly how inherited variations are naturally selected, but they leave unanswered how variant organisms come to be in the first place.
In Symbiotic Planet, renowned scientist Lynn Margulis shows that symbiosis, which simply means members of different species living in physical contact with each other, is crucial to the origins of evolutionary novelty. Ranging from bacteria, the smallest kinds of life, to the largest -- the living Earth itself -- Margulis explains the symbiotic origins of many of evolution's most important innovations. The very cells we're made of started as symbiotic unions of different kinds of bacteria. Sex -- and its inevitable corollary, death -- arose when failed attempts at cannibalism resulted in seasonally repeated mergers of some of our tiniest ancestors. Dry land became forested only after symbioses of algae and fungi evolved into plants. Since all living things are bathed by the same waters and atmosphere, all the inhabitants of Earth belong to a symbiotic union. Gaia, the finely tuned largest ecosystem of the Earth's surface, is just symbiosis as seen from space.
Along the way, Margulis describes her initiation into the world of science and the early steps in the present revolution in evolutionary biology; the importance of species classification for how we think about the living world; and the way "academic apartheid" can block scientific advancement. Written with enthusiasm and authority, this is a book that could change the way you view our living Earth.
Details
Are you fascinated by the mysteries of evolution? Have you ever wondered about the origins of life on Earth? Look no further than the groundbreaking book Symbiotic Planet by renowned scientist Lynn Margulis. While Charles Darwin's theory of evolution set the stage for modern biology, it left one important question unanswered: how do variant organisms come to be in the first place? Margulis has the answer.
In Symbiotic Planet, Margulis unravels the secrets of symbiosis, the phenomenon where members of different species live in physical contact with each other. She convincingly demonstrates that symbiosis is not only crucial to the origins of evolutionary novelty but also responsible for some of the most important innovations in the history of life on Earth.
From the tiniest bacteria to the vast expanse of our living planet, Margulis explores how symbiosis plays a pivotal role in shaping the world around us. Did you know that the very cells that make up our bodies started as symbiotic unions of different kinds of bacteria? Or that sex and death emerged from failed attempts at cannibalism? Symbiotic unions between algae and fungi paved the way for the transformation of barren lands into flourishing forests.
But Symbiotic Planet doesn't stop at explaining the wonders of symbiosis. Margulis also shares her personal journey into the world of science and provides insight into the ongoing revolution in evolutionary biology. She delves into the importance of species classification and raises thought-provoking questions about how we perceive the living world.
If you're ready to challenge your understanding of life on Earth and gain a fresh perspective, Symbiotic Planet is the book for you. Written with enthusiasm and authority, it has the power to reshape your worldview. Don't miss out on this opportunity to explore the fascinating realm of symbiosis and its impact on our living planet.
Experience the paradigm-shifting insights of Symbiotic Planet. Get your copy now!
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