A Short History of Biology"In 400 B.C., when Hippocrates wrote a book claiming that epilepsy, the 'sacred disease, ' was a natural disorder and not a visitation of demons, the science of biology may be said to have begun. Since then, curious naturalists have studied animals and plants, doctors have sought answers to very practical questions. The science of biology has grown -- slowly at first, stopping and starting again, and building in the last century to a crescendo that has not yet reached its peak. This concise, authoritative book traces the exciting development of the science of life, from the ancient Greeks through the monumental achievement of Charles Darwin to the explosive growth of molecular biology that is resulting in today's great breakthroughs in genetics and medicine. Written by Isaac Asimov, Associate Professor of Biochemistry at Boston University and author of numerous books on science, this is a highly readable, vivid introduction to the history and concepts of biology."--Back cover |
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American amino acids anatomists anatomy ancient animals antibodies Aristotle arteries Avicenna bacteria bacterium began biochemist biologists biology blood botanist brain called carbon dioxide cell changes characteristics chemical chemist chemistry Christian chromosomes compounds cowpox creatures Cuvier Darwin detail developed discovered discovery disease dissection dwarf enzyme evolution evolutionary existed fact ferments fossils Galen germ German gland Greek words meaning grew groups Harvey's heart heat Herophilus Hippocrates hormone human body inanimate inherited insects Italian juice known Lamarck Linnaeus living organisms matter meat mechanist Mendel microorganisms microscope modern molecule muscle named natural history naturalist nerve neuron neuron theory nineteenth century nitrogen nonliving nucleic acid nucleic acid molecule oxygen particular Pasteur pea plants physician physiologist possible produced protein protein molecule protozoa pyrimidines remained scholars seemed showed spontaneous structure substances sugar tall plants technique theory tiny tion tissue veins Vesalius vessels virus vitalist vitamin yeast