Research Catalog

Title

Garden of microbial delights : a practical guide to the subvisible world / Dorion Sagan, Lynn Margulis.

Author

Sagan, Dorion, 1959-

Publication

Boston : Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, ©1988.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Margulis, Lynn, 1938-2011

Description

viii, 231 pages : black and white illustrations; 29 cm

Summary

• Gives information on where to find and cultivate microbial organisms.
• "'Garden of Microbial Delights' takes the reader on an excursion of beauty, mystery and splendor through the world of microbes. Microbial organisms, which are neither animal nor plant, are the dominant and oldest forms of life on Earth. Their incessant growth, movement, chemical transformation, and death strongly and pervasively affect human life. These minute creatures are responsible for cleaning the air, making soil fertile, and producing our medicines and many of our foods. In fact, the tiny living organisms produce the exotic flavors and textures of French cheeses, gourmet sauces, yogurt, champagne, fine bread, and wine. Our growing understanding of what life is, including the new techniques of genetic engineering, requires a familiarity with the microbial world. For example, the transfer of portions of DNA and RNA from one microbe to another for medicine, agriculture, and waste removal as well as industrial microbiology, has become a highly developed science with important ramifications. 'Garden of Microbial Delights' also provides easily understood information for amateur naturalists, students, teachers, and museum lovers on where to find and cultivate microbial organisms -- as well as on how to observe and keep microbial pets -- in a context of the new, exciting discoveries of microbiology."--

Subject

• Microbiology > Popular works
• Microbiology
• Mikrobiologie

Genre/Form

Popular works

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 93-95) and index.

Contents

• Descent Into the Microcosm -- Using the Field Guide -- The Guide to the Microcosm. Introduction to the Guide.
• The Realm of the Microbes. A parallel world ; Our bacterial ancestors ; The kinds and kingdoms of life ; Windows to the subvisible : Microscopes and eyes -- Our Ultimate Ancestry. Journey to the center of the cell : From Earth image to a microbe's DNA ; Beginnings : A subvisible heritage ; The energy revolution : Photosynthesis ; The merging bacteria ; A thought experiment -- Biosphere and Biota. Microcosmic habitats ; Microbial mats and stromatolites -- Making a Living and Staying Alive. Nutrition ; Moving around ; Movement inside protoctists and fungi -- Growth, Maturation, and Sex. Multiplication by division ; Multicellular and single cell sex ; Strategies of survival : Spores and cysts ; Sex and genetic recombination -- Microbial Interactions. Predation and defense ; Acquisitions and mergers -- Names. Introduction to the nomenclature ; Taxonomy ; Classifying your organism ; Five kingdoms : Monera, protoctists, fungi, animals, and plants -- Collecting and Keeping Your Microbe. Community living ; A note to the amateur naturalist ; Care and feeding ; Help from the literature ; Biological supply houses -- Viruses -- Bacteria. Introduction to bacteria ; Wall-less bacteria ; Fermenters ; Sulfate reducers ; Spirochetes ; Methanogens ; Sun-loving anaerobes ; Blue-green bacteria ; Nitrogen fixers ; False monads ; Air-breathing spore formers ; Grass-green bacteria ; Micrococci ; Gas eaters ; Omnibacteria ; Actinobacteria ; Slime bacteria -- Protoctists. Introduction to the protoctists ; The giant amebas ; Sea whirlers ; Amebas ; Golden algae ; Chalk makers ; Euglenoids ; Crypters ; Mastigotes ; Yellow-green algae ; Eyespot algae ; Diatoms ; Brown seaweeds ; Red seaweeds ; Green algae ; Ray beings ; Forams ; Ciliates ; Spore parasites ; Polar thread parasites ; Slime nets ; Cellular slime molds ; Noncellular slime molds ; Parasitic slime molds ; Chytrids ; Tinsel chytrids ; Egg molds -- Fungi. Introduction to fungi ; Mating molds ; Ascofungi ; Basidiofungi ; Lichen -- The Macrocosm and Beyond. Visible biota -- Glossary.

ISBN

• 0151342903
• 9780151342907

LCCN

87022708

OCLC

• ocm16680963
• 16680963
• SCSB-14397591

Owning Institutions

Princeton University Library