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So Simple a Beginning
How Four Physical Principles Shape Our Living World
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So Simple a Beginning
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
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Description
The form and function of a sprinting cheetah are quite unlike those of a rooted tree. A human being is very different from a bacterium or a zebra. The living world is a realm of dazzling variety, yet a shared set of physical principles shapes the forms and behaviours of every creature in it. So Simple a Beginning shows how the emerging new science of biophysics is transforming our understanding of life on Earth and enabling potentially lifesaving but controversial technologies such as gene editing, artificial organ growth, and ecosystem engineering.
Raghuveer Parthasarathy explains how four basic principles—self-assembly, regulatory circuits, predictable randomness, and scaling—shape the machinery of life on scales ranging from microscopic molecules to gigantic elephants. He describes how biophysics is helping to unlock the secrets of a host of natural phenomena, such as how your limbs know to form at the proper places, and why humans need lungs but ants do not. Parthasarathy explores how the cutting-edge biotechnologies of tomorrow could enable us to alter living things in ways both subtle and profound.
Featuring dozens of original watercolours and drawings by the author, this sweeping tour of biophysics offers astonishing new perspectives on how the wonders of life can arise from so simple a beginning.
'Deft and engaging. Parthasarathy constantly finds the metaphors that best illuminate his subject. And what a subject—a perfect mix of the latest exciting new work with classic results needed to understand it. Every chapter gives an original view from a wide-ranging intellect, and unifies ideas that are rarely presented together.' - Philip Nelson, author of From Photon to Neuron: Light, Imaging, Vision
'Parthasarathy presents an accessible yet scientifically accurate picture of modern biology, and it's a pleasure to read.' - Sonia Contera, author of Nano Comes to Life
'Parthasarathy has given readers a delightful narrative guide to the exciting and important ways in which physics and biology come together to help us understand living matter. I found myself learning something new in every chapter and loved the fun case studies, constant insights, and captivating illustrations.' - Rob Phillips, author of The Molecular Switch: Signaling and Allostery
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
i>So Simple a Beginning by Raghuveer Parthasarathy is praised for its captivating exploration of the intersection between biology and physics. The engaging writing style and supportive illustrations enhance the reader's understanding, emphasising the significance of scientific discovery in modern society. The book is recognised for providing an insightful journey through biophysics, illustrating how physical laws underpin biological wonders.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780691200408
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 08 February 2022
Country: United States
Imprint: Princeton University Press
Illustration: 119 color illus. 1 table.
Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Width: 156.0mm
Height: 235.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 336
About the Author
Raghuveer Parthasarathy is the Alec and Kay Keith Professor of Physics at the University of Oregon, where he is a member of the Institute of Molecular Biology and the Materials Science Institute. He lives in Eugene, Oregon. Website eighteenthelephant.com Twitter @RParthasarathy7
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