The Machinery of Life is a journey into the sub-microscopic world of molecular machines. Readers are introduced to the types of molecules built by cells, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides; then, in a series of full-color “watercolor” illustrations, which show a portion of a living cell magnified by 1,000,000 times, the reader is guided through the interior world of cells. The book explores the ways in which molecules work in concert to perform the processes of living, and how vitamins, viruses, poisons, and drugs each have their effects on the molecules in our bodies. The book is a fascinating introduction to biochemistry for the non-specialist, and combines a lucid text with an abundance of drawings and computer graphics that present the world of cells and their components in a truly unique way.
This new edition has been updated to include the many major advances of the past decade, and is richly illustrated in full color throughout.
The cell is the basic unit of life, but most of us have at best a fuzzy, low-power idea of how cells are put together and what they look like. “The microscopic world of molecules is separated from our everyday world by an insurmountable, million-fold difference in size,” says David Goodsell. “I created the illustrations in this book to help bridge this gulf and allow us to look at the molecular structure of cells, if not directly, then in an artistic rendition.” Goodsell has succeeded remarkably. His pictures, mostly line drawings, show the structures of crucial biochemicals and the boggling intricacy of their arrangement in living cells. “A few minutes’ study may be needed to overcome the feeling of claustrophobia,” said Nature, “but will reward the reader with a lasting impression of the density and complexity of this soup of life.” –Mary Ellen Curtin
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