About this item
A comprehensive, reader-friendly introduction to the world of bacteriaWhen most people hear the word "bacteria" they think of food poisoning; infections; and acute, debilitating, or fatal diseases. Yet, while E. coli, strep, and other bacterial pathogens certainly cause their share of misery in the world, they are only a tiny portion of a vast universe of microorganisms—the most basic of life forms. Without them, nothing else could live or grow on Planet Earth. Bacteria: The Benign, the Bad, and the Beautiful introduces you to this diverse, microscopic world and explains the fundamental microbiological concepts you need to explore the life and behavior of bacteria. Even if you have no previous background in the subject, the book's clear, jargon-free language tells you what you need to know about:The origins and evolution of bacteriaSome of the fundamental ways in which bacteria have shaped the worldBacteria commonly found in the healthy human bodyAntibiotics and the growing problem of resistanceMarine microbiology, bacterial toxins, and enzymesBacterial genetics and genomicsBacteria that survive in extreme environments, such as boiling waterAnd much moreThis comprehensive guide features custom-drawn, black-and-white illustrations by artist Karoly Farkas, and it illuminates its points through real-world examples and engaging stories.
About the Author
Trudy Wassenaar started her career as a molecular biologist at the Free University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. She studied biochemistry at the University of Wales, College of Swansea (UK) and did her Ph.D. in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands. She then worked for several years at the Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Mainz, Germany, before she founded her own company, "Molecular Microbiology and Genomics Consultants" (short, MMGC) which is based in Germany. On a part-time basis she holds an associate professorship at the Danish Technical University, working in the group of Microbial Genomics Group.Trudy has worked and consulted in various fields of microbiology, including veterinary and human microbiology. She is an editor of two applied microbiology journals and collaborated on projects in fundamental as well as applied science.
