THE MYSTERY OF METAMORPHOSIS: A SCIENTIFIC DETECTIVE STORY
Book ID/图书代码： 07204010B43464
English Summary/英文概要： How does a caterpillar transform into a butterfly, or plankton-feeding larvae grow into gorgeous sea stars? Metamorphosis has captivated our imagination for thousands of years. Yet it remains, largely, a mystery. Award-winning author Frank Ryan delves into that mystery with the keen eye of a scientist, the skill of an expert storyteller, and the tenacity of a detective tracking down one of science’s least-understood phenomena.
What emerges is a brilliant tale of quirky geniuses competing to solve the metamorphosis riddle over the last two centuries. We meet Jean-Henri Fabre, Vincent B. Wigglesworth, and others as they probe deep into the inner workings of insects. We also meet the controversial modern-day scientist Don Williamson, whose studies of marine life led him to the boldest and most controversial theory of evolution since Darwin’s own—one that suggests evolution occurs not just through mutation but also through hybridization. Such a theory could mean that rather than climbing the tree of life, species could possibly jump from branch to branch, and that the origins of metamorphosis might lie in the ancient union of two completely different species.
The Mystery of Metamorphosis is an accurate depiction of a scientific revolution 150 years in the making. Nowhere else will readers find such a sweeping account of this strange and wonderful mystery - or such a thoughtful, balanced presentation of why metamorphosis has landed centre stage in debates over evolution itself.
Chinese Summary/中文概要： 一隻毛毛蟲是如何經歷了破繭成蝶的完美蛻變？以浮游生物為食的幼蟎又是如何成長為絢麗迷人的海星？上千年來，我們的好奇心都被這神秘的生物變形深深吸引著，然而一直以來它似乎永遠都是一個無法破解的謎團，纏繞在我們的心底。而在本書中，以科學家銳利的視角，探秘者執著的精神和小說家擁有的敘事技巧，獲獎作者Frank Ryan將帶您一起探秘鮮為人知的生物變形之旅。 書中呈現了關於生物變形爭論了兩個世紀的大家之言。有Jean-Henri Fabre、Vincent B以及Wigglesworth深入研究的昆蟲內部作用變異，也有Don Williamson，他的生物進化理論使他成為自Darwin之後最飽受爭議的現代科學家，Darwin曾經提出進化不僅僅是通過變異得來，而且還可能通過雜交，此理論一提出就引來頗多爭議。《探秘生物變形之旅》可以說是150年來生物進化科學革命的紀錄片。(兼职翻译FSF)
Awards/获奖情况： 將生物變形神秘歷程的觀點看法網羅其中，悉心鑽研,這難道不是一本生物學研究方面最激動人心的佳作嗎？
“Has this not been THE most exciting story in biology? This deeply informed account delves into the fascinating history of the study of metamorphosis. It’s a saga, and Frank Ryan does it justice.”---Bernd Heinrich, author of The Nesting Season, Winter World, and Mind of the Raven. 成就卓著的科研作家，講述神奇的形體變異，閱讀本作品，共同感受這份激動人心。
“Read this book to experience the feel and excitement of a massive paradigm shift in science as told by a brilliant science writer.”---Stephan Harding, author of Animate Earth: Science, Intuition and Gaia.
從本書中你不僅可以共同見證動物變形的神奇現象，還可以知道，作為一種複雜的人類嘗試活動，新的觀點和理論很少能夠被人們張開懷抱去迎接。
“You not only learn about the rich and fascinating phenomenon of animal metamorphosis, you also learn about science as a complex human endeavor in which new ideas are hardly welcomed with open arms.”---Craig Holdrege, director, The Nature Institute
About the Author/作者介绍： Frank Ryan是英國的一名顧問醫生，還是具有革新精神的進化生物學家，他提出了人類進化中共生現象和染色體創造力的概念。Frank首次提出了共生病毒的概念，由此理論而將病毒進化和共生生物學合併成為一門學科。另外他在謝菲爾德大學動物和植物科學系擔任名譽研究員，倫敦林奈學會會員、紐約科學學會會員。 Frank的暢銷作品經常被引入到電視及廣播紀錄片當中，並且被翻譯成多國語言出版。其中包括《病毒進化》（Virolution）、《大腦飲食》（The Brain Food Diet）、《達爾文的盲點》（Darwin’s Blind Spot）、《X 病毒》（Virus X）、《肺結核》（Tuberculosis）、《愛斯基摩人的飲食》（Eskimo Diet）。有時Frank也會應邀為《紐約時報》寫書籍評論。更多詳情請登陸www.jonathanpegg.com。
Dr Frank Ryan M.D. is a consultant physician in the UK as well as being an innovative evolutionary biologist, who has introduced the concepts of aggressive symbiosis and genomic creativity to the story of human evolution. He pioneered the concept of viruses as symbionts, thus bringing together the disciplines of evolutionary virology and symbiology. His appointment as Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences at Sheffield University is aimed at introducing modern evolutionary concepts of human evolution to medicine. Frank is a Fellow of the Linnaean Society in London, a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Physicians and a Member of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Frank’s multi-bestselling books have been the subject of many TV and radio documentaries and have been translated into many languages. They include Virolution (2009); The Brain Food Diet (2007); Darwin’s Blind Spot (2003); Virus X (1997); Tuberculosis (1992); The Eskimo Diet (1990). Frank is also an occasional reviewer of books for the New York Times. More info at www.jonathanpegg.com
Format:HARDCOVER
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