Al principio de nuestras vidas, todo lo que había de nosotros era una única célula, aproximadamente del mismo tamaño que este punto. Permanecimos así unas veinticuatro horas, antes de dividirnos en dos –el primer paso que conduciría a la creación de los organismos pluricelulares y complejos que somos hoy en día–. ¿Se ha preguntado alguna vez cómo es posible que «usted» pudiera estar contenido en una única célula, y cómo es posible que esa célula «supiera» qué es lo que debía hacer? Si eso no le convence del la importancia y el interés de las células, tómese un momento para pensar en la increíble variedad de procesos y materiales que se dan en el mundo natural. El brillo de una luciérnaga, el crecimiento de una planta hacia la luz, el esqueleto de una ballena azul, el olor corporal, el recuerdo del aroma de una ratatouille, la llamada de un mono aullador, las plantas de interior, el pico de un halcón, el veneno de una serpiente. Todos estos fenómenos son el resultado de la actividad de las células.
Fun to read!! On sighting the book cover, I pretty much judged it as an academic intensive read, which was fine since I was taking a biology course at the moment anyways. I never saw the outstanding eye opening effect the book had on my understanding of cellular operations coming, with the use of rare images and elaborate writing that didn’t make the book feel like some tough science journal to digest. How the author mentions almost, if not all the scientists involved in cellular research in a more personified manner was helpful to bond more to the work. However, as pointed out by another reviewer, It’s not to be taken as a reference for academic work due to the limited information on certain processes within the cell. For instance, the information provided about extremophiles and their cellular structure is very limited. It seemed just like an honorable mention when I read through.
This is a remarkable overview of cells and how they build all living things. The photos will excite any scientists, but it is written to be understood by readers with only a rudimentary understanding of biology.
This book exceeded my expectations. It brought me into a deeper appreciation of the cell and how it functions across all of like. The illustrations and pictures are excellent
Filled with technical information that I had trouble following at times. But I learned things I have always wondered about, like how genes are turned on and how developing fetuses know how to build a baby.
Excellent quick summary of current biological knowledge. Would recommend it for high school level and up. Complex information is summarized in small digestible bites and the illustrations are gorgeous.
This was a fascinating and educational look at cells. I read it aloud to my eldest as part of his biology focus for science, and we both really enjoyed it much more than we thought we were going to.
I am glad I have a Kindle Fire. The pictures and drawings are beautiful and informative. Even a knowledgeable biologist will enjoy the discussion and illustrations
Es un libro profusamente ilustrado de introducción a la biología celular. Tremendamente recomendable para cualquiera con curiosidad acerca de los misterios de la vida.
4.75/5: When biology, diagrammatic cartoons, naturalist illustration, microscopy and photography come together in this gem of a book -- this is one to be continually reread, admired, relearnt. A visually-stunning compendium of all sorts of biological cells, gloriously stained and curated to deep effect, leaving imprints that not only educate and elucidate, but stimulates wonderment and creativity as well -- for example, who knew the insides of a HEPA filter could be beautiful, even in the way they ensnare bacteria and viruses