Paul S. Agutter Poradie kníh

Our previous book, About Life, concerned modern biology. We used our present-day understanding of cells to ‘define’ the living state, providing a basis for exploring several general-interest the origin of life, extraterrestrial life, intelligence, and the possibility that humans are unique. The ideas we proposed in About Life were intended as starting-points for debate – we did not claim them as ‘truth’ – but the information on which they were based is currently accepted as ‘scientific fact’. What does that mean? What is ‘scientific fact’ and why is it accepted? What is science – and is biology like other sciences such as physics (except in subject m- ter)? The book you are now reading investigates these questions – and some related ones. Like About Life, it may particularly interest a reader who wishes to change career to biology and its related subdisciplines. In line with a recommendation by the British Association for the Advancement of Science – that the public should be given fuller information about the nature of science – we present the concepts underpinning biology and a survey of its historical and philosophical basis.

Exploring the fundamental question "What is life?", this book delves into contemporary cell and molecular biology, aiming to connect various aspects of biology for readers with basic knowledge. It examines the distinctions between living organisms and inanimate matter, providing a cohesive framework to discuss evolution, the origin of life, extraterrestrial existence, intelligence, and the evolution of the human brain and mind. The journey through these topics promises to unify disparate pieces of biological knowledge into a comprehensive understanding.

The means by which proteins and RNAs are exchanged between cytoplasm and nucleus have interested cell biologists for many years, and the field has seen a number of exciting recent advances. Much has been learned about the intricate architecture of the nuclear pore-complex, the mechanisms by which transport substrates are sorted, and the supply of energy for exchange processes. This book attempts a general review of the growing body of knowledge. However, the authors challenge the presumptions implicit in some interpretations of the evidence, re-examining the concept of „transport“ within cells, and suggesting that lessons learned from nucleocytoplasmic transport studies can elucidate wider aspects of cell biology.