Light and Life: An Engrossing Exploration of Biological Clocks, Ancient Sun-Gods, and Creatures That Glow in the Dark

Gross, Michael

ISBN 10: 0198564805 / ISBN 13: 9780198564805

Edité par Oxford University Press, 2003

A propos de cet article

The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

N° de réf. du vendeur GOR008195936

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: Light and Life: An Engrossing Exploration of Biological Clocks, Ancient Sun-Gods, and Creatures That Glow in the Dark
• Éditeur: Oxford University Press
• Date de parution: 2003
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN à 10 chiffres: 0198564805
• ISBN à 13 chiffres: 9780198564805
• Reliure: Hardback
• État de l'article: Very Good

A propos de ce titre

Synopsis

Light, like no other physical phenomenon, is linked in a wide variety of ways with the biological phenomenon of life. We can read this page because light is reflected from it, and carries the information to the retina; the oxygen we breathe was produced by photosynthesis; our sense of alertness relies on our biological clock, set using the cues of light and dark. Michael Gross explores the symbiotic relationship of light and life in this intriguing and entertaining book. Starting with astronomy and our relationship with the Sun and dependence on photosynthesis, he then turns to some of the stranger outcomes of the relationship - bioluminescent creatures, and their evolutionary significance. Finally he looks at the influence of light on biological time-keeping, the focus of much current scientific research. Life would not be here without light, and it would not have evolved as it has done had it not made the best possible use of light's energy and information content for using photosynthesis, biological clocks, and vision. This book explores all these aspects of the fascinating interplay of these two phenomena in a lively manner using many intriguing examples.