Living in a Microbial World

__Living in a Microbial World__ is a textbook written for students taking a general microbiology or microbiology-themed course for non-science majors. It teaches the essential concepts of microbiology through practical examples and a conversational writing style intended to make the material accessible to a wide audience. In order to make the science relevant to students, every chapter of the book contains a series of cases intended to motivate learning the microbiology concepts. The cases present microbiology in the news, in history, in literature, and in scenarios of everyday life. Each case ends with several questions intended to pique student interest, and those questions are answered in the next section of the chapter. By clearly and succinctly explaining the fundamentals of microbiology through practical examples, the book provides a scientific framework through which students can understand critical issues about microorganisms and disease that they will encounter throughout their lives. They will learn the role that microorganisms play not only in our health but also in ecosystem processes, our diet, industrial production, and human history. Topics that we hear about every day, from global warming to energy independence to bioterrorism, all have a microbial angle. This text is designed to provide the reader with the background needed to understand and discuss such topics with a genuine understanding rooted in science. Supplements: * Online Glossary. * Online Student Flash Cards. * Animations and videos. This book "is a textbook written for students taking a general microbiology or microbiology-themed course for non-science majors. It teaches the essential concepts of microbiology through practical examples and a conversational writing style intended to make the material accessible to a wide audience. In order to make the science relevant to students, every chapter of the book contains a series of cases intended to motivate learning the microbiology concepts. The cases present microbiology in the news, in history, in literature, and in scenarios of everyday life. Each case ends with several questions intended to pique student interest, and those questions are answered in the next section of the chapter."--Product description Living in the microbial world The chemistry of life The cell : where life begins A field guide to the microorganisms The microbiology of history and the history of microbiology Microbial genetics Metabolism and growth Microbial evolution : the origin and diversity of life An ecologist's guide to microbiology The nature of disease : a pathogen's perspective Host defense Control of microbial growth Epidemiology : who, what, when, where, and why? The future is here. microorganisms and biotechnology Guess who's coming to dinner : microorganisms and food Better living with microorganisms : industrial and applied microbiology. Living in the microbial world The chemistry of life The cell : where life begins A fieldguide to the microorganisms The microbiology of history and the history of microbiology Microbial genetics Metabolism and growth Microbial evolution : the origin and diversity of life An ecologist's guide to microbiology The disease process : a pathogen's perspective Host defense Control of microbial growth Epidemiology : who, what, when, where and why? The future is here. microorganisms and biotechnology Guess who's coming to dinner : microorganisms and food Better living with microorganisms : industrial and applied microbiology.