The Machinery of LifeImagine that we had some way to look directly at the molecules in a living organism. An x-ray microscope would do the trick, or since we’re dreaming, perhaps an Asimov-style nanosubmarine (unfortunately, neither is currently feasible). Think of the wonders we could witness firsthand: antibodies atta- ing a virus, electrical signals racing down nerve fibers, proteins building new strands of DNA. Many of the questions puzzling the current cadre of sci- tists would be answered at a glance. But the nanoscale world of molecules is separated from our everyday world of experience by a daunting million-fold difference in size, so the world of molecules is completely invisible. I created the illustrations in this book to help bridge this gulf and allow us to see the molecular structure of cells, if not directly, then in an artistic rendition. I have included two types of illustrations with this goal in mind: watercolor paintings which magnify a small portion of a living cell by one million times, showing the arrangement of molecules inside, and comput- generated pictures, which show the atomic details of individual molecules. In this second edition of The Machinery of Life, these illustrations are presented in full color, and they incorporate many of the exciting scientific advances of the 15 years since the first edition. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 8 | |
The Processes of Living | 29 |
Escherichia coli | 52 |
The Advantages of Compartments | 71 |
The Advantages of Specialization | 83 |
Life and Death | 109 |
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Common terms and phrases
actin actin filaments amino acids antibiotic antibodies atoms ATP synthase attack axon bacteria bacterial cell bind blocks body brain build cancer carbon caspases cell membrane cell surface cell wall cell’s cellular chains collagen composed create cules Cyanide Cytochrome cytoplasm D.S. Goodsell damaged drugs electrons encode environment enzymes Escherichia coli Escherichia coli cells function genes genome hormones human cells hydrogen hydrophobic illustration immune system infection influenza inside instance interact ions lipid bilayer living cells messenger RNA molecular machinery molecular machines motion motor mutated myosin needed neighboring nerve cells nerve signal normal nucleic acids nucleotides organisms oxygen peptidoglycan perform poisons poliovirus polysaccharide protease proteasome protect protein synthesis pumps reaction reactive receptors red blood cells rhinovirus ribosomes RNA polymerase RNA strands sarcomere shape shown Springer Science+Business Media structure sugar surrounding tasks tissues toxin transfer RNA transport ubiquitin vaccine vesicles viral RNA virus viruses vitamin