This fully updated and revised edition of Professor Postgate's best-selling book provides an inspiring introduction to the fascinating world of microbes and their profound influence on man and the environment we live in. Microbes are everywhere. In the air, in soil, in water, on our skin and hair, in our mouths and intestines, on and in the food we eat. They make the soil fertile; they clean up the environment; they change, often improve, our food; they make vitamins for us inside ourselves; some protect us from less desirable microbes. As 'germs', microbes are regarded as nasty, because a few can cause disease, a few can spoil food, a few can destroy valuable materials. Only when such misfortunes occur are most people conscious of microbes at all. Yet  collectively, microbes present  a fascinating world of invisible, or barely visible, creatures, which together encompass all the processes of which terrestrial life is capable; creatures which have had, and continue to have, profound effects on our lives and surroundings. In this book, John Postgate explains to ordinary non-scientist readers the impact this invisible community has on our everyday lives, and conveys the excitement microbes can generate in those who study them.

Microbes and Man

Science & Math

Postgate, John

Biological Sciences

Penguin??Books

This fully updated and revised edition of Professor Postgate's best-selling book provides an inspiring introduction to the fascinating world of microbes and their profound influence on man and the environment we live in. Microbes are everywhere. In the air, in soil, in water, on our skin and hair, in our mouths and intestines, on and in the food we eat. They make the soil fertile; they clean up the environment; they change, often improve, our food; they make vitamins for us inside ourselves; some protect us from less desirable microbes. As 'germs', microbes are regarded as nasty, because a few can cause disease, a few can spoil food, a few can destroy valuable materials. Only when such misfortunes occur are most people conscious of microbes at all. Yet collectively, microbes present a fascinating world of invisible, or barely visible, creatures, which together encompass all the processes of which terrestrial life is capable; creatures which have had, and continue to have, profound effects on our lives and surroundings. In this book, John Postgate explains to ordinary non-scientist readers the impact this invisible community has on our everyday lives, and conveys the excitement microbes can generate in those who study them.

Cambridge University Press

Nitrogen Fixation

The fixation of nitrogen--the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to a form that plants can use--is fundamental to the productivity of the biosphere and therefore to the ability of the expanding human population to feed itself. Although the existence and importance of the process of biological nitrogen fixation has been recognized for more than a century, scientific advances over the past few decades have radically altered our understanding of its nature and mechanisms. This book provides an introductory-level survey of biological nitrogen fixation, covering the role of the process in the global nitrogen cycle as well as its biochemistry, physiology, genetics, ecology, general biology and prospects for its future exploitation. This new edition has been fully updated to include the most recent developments in the field, providing an up-to-date and accessible account of this key biological process.

Microbes are everywhere. Normally invisible, they are abundant in the air we breathe, in soil, in water, on our skin and hair, in our mouths and intestines, and on and in the food we eat. They make the soil fertile; they clean up the environment; they change, often improve, our food; some protect us from less desirable microbes. Yet most people are scarcely aware that they exist--except when they become ill. Microbes, as "germs", are widely regarded as nasty--unpopular because a few can cause disease and a few can spoil food. Yet collectively microbes present a fascinating world of miniscule creatures, who together encompass all the processes of which terrestrial life is capable: creatures who have profound effects on our lives and surroundings. Extensively updated to include such topics as CJD, genetic manipulation, and gene therapy, this edition describes the extraordinary impact that the microbial community has on our everyday lives in an accessible and easy to read style.

Microbes are everywhere. Normally invisible, they are abundant in the air we breathe, in soil, in water, on our skin and hair, in our mouths and intestines, and on and in the food we eat. They make the soil fertile; they clean up the environment; they change, often improve, our food; some protect us from less desirable microbes. Yet most people are scarcely aware that they exist--except when they become ill. Microbes, as "germs", are widely regarded as nasty--unpopular because a few can cause disease and a few can spoil food. Yet collectively microbes present a fascinating world of miniscule creatures, who together encompass all the processes of which terrestrial life is capable: creatures who have profound effects on our lives and surroundings. Extensively updated to include such topics as CJD, genetic manipulation, and gene therapy, this edition describes the extraordinary impact that the microbial community has on our everyday lives in an accessible and easy to read style.

Nitrogen fixation (The Institute of Biology's Studies in biology ; no. 92)

Hodder

Microbiology and jazz music aren’t a common duet but for Professor John Postgate they are the two subjects that define his lifetime. John Postgate, brother of Oliver Postgate who created the beloved Children’s shows Bagpuss and Clangers, describes his autobiography as “a book about doing science” and describes in entertaining detail the account of his life in the UK and abroad as he rose to international prominence in the field of microbiology. John has notably contributed to the understanding of key microbiology processes including the sulphur cycle and nitrogen fixation and become well-recognised in the world of microbiology. But John has also become prominent in another field, jazz music, having played cornet over the years with many musicians, some of whom who became prominent names in jazz. John also wrote articles and reviews on the subject, many of which were published in popular magazines such as Gramophone and Jazz Journal. John Postgate’s life is defined by his two great loves: science and music. In Microbes, Music and Me – A Life in Science, John looks back on a life filled with a fascination for microbiology and jazz in this entertaining autobiography.

Microbes, Music and Me

Biographies & Memoirs

Professionals & Academics

Mereo Books

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Postgate, John. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Postgate, John

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Postgate, John. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Microbes and Man

Microbes and Man

Microbes and Man

Nitrogen Fixation

Nitrogen Fixation

Microbes and Man

Microbes and Man

Nitrogen fixation (The Institute of Biology's Studies in biology ; no. 92)

Microbes, Music and Me