Microbial Responses to Light and Time (Society for General Microbiology Symposia, Series Number 56) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521622867 ISBN 13: 9780521622868

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1998

Synopsis

Light and time are key environmental components for the majority of organisms. Biologically, time operates at various scales: the annual cycle of seasons, the daily cycle of the sun or the potentially rapid cycle of cell division. What is apparently fundamental to all organisms is the ability to respond in a manner predictive of time. Time-dependent changes in physiology, morphology and ecology are responsive to various environmental cues, the most prominent of which is light. The ability of organisms to perceive, harvest and protect themselves from light is also of fundamental importance leading to a variety of biological responses including phototaxis and photosynthesis. This volume, which concentrates primarily but not exclusively on microorganisms both prokaryotic and eukaryotic, provides a series of chapters which explore various aspects of the underlying biology, providing a wide ranging and up-to-date review of this fundamental area of biology, currently advancing at an exhilarating pace.

About this title

Review

'... this book is probably of vital importance only to those working in the field. However, the casual reader will find a wealth of interesting 'stories', backed up by persuasive molecular detail obtained from a variety of microbes ... Finally, the book provides fascinating examples of the unity that underlies biological diversity, and as such should appeal to most biologists. Excellent light reading!' Hilary MacQueen, BDSB Newsletter

Book Description

An up-to-date review of the importance of light as an environmental cue and the part which it plays in regulating time-dependent aspects of biology.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521622867
• ISBN 13: 9780521622868
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 334
• Editor: Caddick M. X., Baumberg S., Hodgson D. A., Phillips-Jones M. K.