The Cell: Evolution of the First Organism

by Joseph Panno

Examines the building block of organic matter, from its first appearance three million years ago in the ancient Earth's oceans to the rise of multicellular organisms and the technologies of the late twentieth century including cloning and stem cell therapy.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Biology

186 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2004

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Cell" was really a mixed bag. Some chapters had some of the clearest explanations on the mechanisms and structures of the cell that I've ever read, suitable for anyone with a middle-school education. However, the material covering the subtitle "Evolution of the First Organism" was very shallow, providing a simple just-so story rather than attempting to cover the diversity of theories concerning the emergence of life. On the other side, the last chapter covering techniques and instrumentation were much more technical and explained not nearly as clearly. Overall, the middle chapters, covering the structure and operation of prokaryotes, eukaryotes, the cell cycle, and genes, seemed exceptionally clear. Readers looking to understand the basics of the cell, as they are currently understood, will find this a good resource. However, to really understand the evolution of the first organisms, the reader will probably be better served elsewhere (such as "The Vital Question" by Nick Lane).

[Beau · Rating 2 out of 5]

Might be a good book, but it was way too technical for me without providing a proper foundation for understanding and without providing sufficient explanation. I should read a general biology book first (it's been decades). But I did get some useful overall impressions.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book on a whim while browsing through the public library. I picked it up because I am teaching cells and life systems to my class. Even though I am up on what my 5th graders need to know, this book looked interesting. I haven't learned about cells at this level since I was in college, some 20 years ago. I picked this book up and couldn't put it down. I'm barely in the middle of Chapter 1, but I am very intrigued.