Christopher J Paradise
Author
Series
Publisher
Momentum Press
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
This book describes how evolutionary history is studied using several well-known examples and also using evolutionary trees. Evolutionary trees are analyzed and used to explain adaptive radiations of orchids and the diversification of bats over geologic time. Evolutionary trees and genetic evidence is used to infer when and from what ancestors terrestrial plants evolved and invaded land. Specific adaptations of early land plants led to the evolution...
Author
Series
Publisher
Momentum Press
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
One of the overarching themes in nature is that form meets function, meaning that the shape of an object determines how well the object can perform its function. This book begins with some basics about specificity of shapes and the four increasing levels of protein structure. Most of this book examines how epinephrine (adrenaline) can cause the liver to release glucose when a person experiences a fight or flight response. Whenever someone gets scared,...
Author
Series
Publisher
Momentum Press
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
Perhaps the most important chemical reactions on the planet take place inside a plant's chloroplasts. In this tiny green organelle, plants have the capacity to capture the energy in light and use that energy to convert CO2 gas into building blocks used to produce all four categories of biological molecules-- lipids, carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids. Animals could not survive if plants did not exist. Not only do they provide us with oxygen...
Author
Series
Publisher
Momentum Press
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
This book examines four examples of animal physiology that illustrate emergent properties in whole organisms. The first example shows how mammals coordinate the activity of all their cells using a daily rhythm. The second case explains an apparent contradiction that happens every time a woman gets pregnant and delivers a healthy baby--how the immune system tolerates a foreign tissue such as the fetus. The next case study in this book shows how bodies...
Author
Series
Publisher
Momentum Press
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
This book examines three ways plants respond to their changing environment. The first example can be found in all plants. Despite the extreme changes in weather, plants have to stay where they are and respond to whatever nature produces. Plants have the capacity to respond quickly and yet they can evolve in a single generation. The second example addresses how an individual leaf has to respond rapidly and repeatedly to maintain the proper balance...