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Our Molecular Nature is a richly illustrated introduction
to the extraordinary world of the molecules that are responsible for life. David
Goodsell -- scientist, artist and author of the highly praised book The Machinery
of Life -- has synthesized a vast amount of technical data and presents it
in a readable and stimulating manner. He examines topics ranging from the molecules
that give cells their shape to the molecules responsible for the immune system,
digestion, and thought. Focusing on the extraordinary
progress in understanding life at the level of molecules, Goodsell guides us through
such discoveries as why cyanide poisons us so quickly, what the single enzyme
is that makes us lactose intolerant, and how cholesterol can be a double-edged
sword: essential in our membranes, but harmful in our blood. This is a remarkable
journey through a world both familiar and mysterious -- our own bodies.
David S. Goodsell is an Assistant Professor in the Department
of Molecular Biology at the Scripps Research Institute. His research combines
computer graphics and rational drug design. He is the author of The Machinery
of Life (Springer-Verlag, 1993), and his illustrations have appeared in numerous
popular and technical publications. More information and examples of his scientific
and artistic work can be found at http://www.scripps.edu/pub/goodsell. |
