Microcosm: E. Coli and the New Science of Life

To me and I'm sure to most others E. coli was a deadly pathogen that one heard about periodically. It's what can happen when food is improperly cooked or prepared. But as this book brilliantly demonstrates that is only a very small part of a much larger and infinitely more interesting tale.I heard of this book when the author was interviewed on the Skeptic's Guide to the Universe podcast. The book went immediately on to my Kindle wish list. My interests are more in the physical sciences rather than the biological sciences but I always thought I had an adequate grounding in the latter. Be that as it may the book demonstrated how completely out of touch I had become with current biological progress.Briefly, the book provides an exhaustive look at the relationship between man and E. coli. Not only does the the latter form colonies in the intestines of all humans it has played a central role as a research tool in man's understanding of evolution, genetics, molecular biology, genetic engineering, and more. Author Zimmer lays it all out in fascinating detail.I did have a few problems. The illustrations provided were helpful but more were needed. Some of the descriptions of various experiments had to be read multiple times before they became clear and the conclusions drawn from them made sense. A glossary would have been welcome although the Kindle's dictionary made up for the lack.One thing that does distract is the constant anthropomorphizing. E. coli, their components, genes, enzymes, proteins, etc are constantly referred to in such a way that makes one think they are sentient beings. The author might have spent some more time explaining what is really going on.The Kindle edition is first rate; everything works exactly as it should. There is a notes section that references the text by sentence instead of numbered superscripts. These aren't linked on the Kindle; it would have been awkward perhaps if they were. As it stands, while this unusual arrangement might have worked for the print edition, for the Kindle it's inadequate. There is also an exhaustive bibliography.I'm not sure if this book can be fully appreciated by the average man on the street. It seems to assume a solid grasp of at least high school biology so it might not be accessible to everyone. But highly recommended otherwise.

This book is a fascinating story about how we have learned about how genetics and cells work within our own bodies by studying one of the simplest forms of life, a bacteria called E, Coli. This bacteria is present in all of us and by studying it, we are learning about ourselves. As other reviewers have said, this could be a very boring and dry account of science, but it is far from it. It gives the history of mankind's study of the bacteria, what we have learned from it, and how we have applied that knowledge to other fields of study.This is the kind of science book that should come out every 5 to 10 years to help keep the lay person up to date on what is going in the fields of scientific discovery, particularly the life sciences, to see what we are discovering and how it applies to us as persons. This is the type of book which explains the field so the common person can understand without having to have a college degree in life sciences.I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about science and is curious about how all the microorganisms that are contained in our bodies work. Also the discussion about how scientists determined how genes affect certain traits and how this was determined is good for those interested in genetics.

First, Carl Zimmer is an excellent writer. He seems to have done his homework thoroughly. The book is rich and rewarding, and much appreciated.I will make two suggestions. One, a glossary would be very helpful. The lay reader (his intended audience) is not very familiar with the arcane biological types that are continuously bantered about. A glossary would not be difficult to produce, or too lengthy to add. I'm really curious as to why a glossary was not added because it seems such an obvious thing to do.Two, along the same lines, a chart or diagram to display major kinds of microcosms, maybe a sort of tree branching. It would let a lay reader visualize the different branches of bacteria, viruses, e-coli and variations (perhaps evolutionary branching, and a time scale - that would be wonderful), etc.I write this review after having read about 90% of the book, but continue to be frustrated by the above two absences.Nevertheless, a very worthwhile book. I highly recommend it, especially if Mr. Zimmer and his publisher would make the two additions on the next printing. Microcosm: E. coli and the New Science of Life

Carl Zimmer is a terrific writer. I picked this book up because I enjoy his blog and online articles so much. Although I majored in Biology as an undergrad, I have to admit I was never terribly fired up about anything that was smaller than I could see with the naked eye. Too bad this book wasn't around back then, or I might have gone on to grad work in microbiology, genetics, or cell biology!Along with a most facinating study of E. coli, Zimmer takes us from the micro to the macro, explaining how E. coli fits into the grander scheme of life among the animals it inhabits (including us), and into evolution. So this is probably not a good book for ID folks -- but I have to say that, unless you are truly firm in your ID beliefs this book might very well convince you of the veracity of evolution.Overall, I highly recommend this book. It flows really well, it's logical, it's simple enough for a science novice to understand, yet Zimmer never talks down to the reader in a way that might offend those of us who have some science background. It will give you new or renewed respect for E. coli and its kin.

科学で重宝される生物は、人気や知名度がないものが多い。哺乳類最大の種族のコウモリや、ショウジョウバエ（fruit fly）やモルモット（Guinea pig）。大腸菌（E. Coli）もその仲間である。しかし、科学への貢献度からすれば、大腸菌がトップかも知れない。大腸菌は他の生物に先駆け全ゲノムが解析され（1997年）、現在もバクテリア研究の足掛かりとなっているが、この地位は、1922年にスタンフォード大学の研究所で分離されて以来であり、無害なこと・管理が楽なことなどがその理由となっている。バクテリアは基本的に20種類のアミノ酸からタンパク質を作り出し、これらのタンパク質の働きは人間でも同じである。バクテリアの中でも扱いやすい大腸菌を研究することで、本書にある通り、「大腸菌に言えることは、象にも言える」という結論に辿り着けることが、大腸菌研究の成果の汎用性の高さと言える。また、大腸菌がご先祖であるサルモネラ菌から分離したのは、哺乳類や鳥類など常に生暖かい体温を提供できる恒温動物が繁栄を始めたタイミングと同じ時期である。これらの生物が体温を保つためのエネルギーは、大腸菌などのバクテリアが高エネルギーの食物を分解する能力に依存しており、人間とも切っても切り離せない間柄である。個人的に驚いたこととしては、大腸菌が生息しているのは大腸だけではないことである。動物の排泄物と共に体外に出た大腸菌は、川を下り、海に流れ、漂っていく。私は、体内のバクテリアは一様に酸素を嫌い（嫌気）動物の腸内に潜んでいるのかと思っていたが、大腸菌は嫌気的・好気的両方の空間で生活できるそうだ。むしろ、腸内では大腸菌が酸素を使うことで、他の嫌気的なバクテリアが活動しやすくなる。いずれにしても、世に出た大腸菌は、自然界でも生活できるから、抗生物質の多用により耐性を持った大腸菌が、都市と物理的に離れた原住民の腸内からも出てくるという結果になるそうだ。細胞やDNAの研究、衛生学や薬学の観点。大腸菌の一部であるO-157や赤痢菌の話など、今まで知らなかった重要な世界が知れるという点で本書は秀逸なのだが、最後の章の後味が悪かった。気になるのは、Richard Dawkinsなど他の高名な学者のポピュラーサイエンスの本にもたまに登場するのであるが、反進化論者への冷ややかなコメントである。多くの人は科学の知見から遠い生活をし、思い込みなど多々ある。アメリカではキリスト教に解決を求め、日本ではアミニズム的な内容で説明を始めるのかも知れない。大衆の無知を真っ向から嘲笑うような印象がどうしても残ってしまい後味が悪くなる。その点星を一つ落とし★★★★

Same review as a gave Parasite Rex. One of my favorites science books, from one of my favorites science writers. A view of the world from a new perspective. Detailed and informative, yet highly readable.

one of the good science writer's production.I love the literature be written in such a smooth and understandable layman term, encouraging the public to enhance their knowledge in Science.

Very instructive. One of the few books I finished and re-read, multiple times.

大腸菌のアップに魅かれて表紙買いしました。　昔のことかなと思ったら、非常に今日的な話でした。　コンピュータ上で大腸菌のすべて（回路？）をシュミレーション。（ああ、今のことだ。）　「投資の両がけでリスク回避」「オープンソースでソフト開発」等。（へえ、大腸菌って昔から、人間に通じるようなことをやってたんだ。）　なかなか面白くて、大腸菌に愛着さえ湧いてきます。　人体細胞に病原性大腸菌O-157や赤痢菌が働きかけるメカニズム。（はあ、こういう仕組みだったのか！）　なかなか興味深いです。　今日では、大腸菌は人間の利潤追求に使われる道具でもあるんですね。大腸菌に別の生物の遺伝子の一部を押し込んで（組み込んで）キメラにし、目的の物質を大量生産させているんですね。カタログで何かの部品を買うように目的に合った状態になっている大腸菌をオーダーする時代もきているようです。　非常に役にも立っているけれど、一歩間違えば、どんな災厄が起こるか分からない怖さも感じます。　SILENT SPRINGやFRUITLESS FALLと同じように、ここでも人間のあり方を考えさせられてしまいます。　薄めの本ですが、中味は濃いです。文章は、癖がなくて読みやすいです。著者の他の本も読みたくなりました。