Human Wildlife by Robert Buckman
Your body has 100 trillion cells, but only 10 trillion are human. The rest belong to the bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites that live on or in us. Some of these tenants are actually beneficial, aiding in the digestion process, for example. The majority of them neither help nor hurt us, but simply coexist with us. A few species, however, from the cholera bacilli to tapeworms and lice, can be dangerous, and sometimes deadly. In Human Wildlife, Dr. Robert Buckman takes readers on a safari through the human body, pointing out the long-term residents, the itinerant visitors, the irritating vandals, and the ruthless invaders, carefully distinguishing between helpful friends, harmless acquaintances, and lethal foes. By turns funny, amazing, and alarming, Human Wildlife is an endlessly fascinating journey through our own private biospheres. Along the way, we learn that one-third of the human race is allergic to dust mite feces; that bad breath is caused by bacteria living on the back of our tongues which release sulfur from the protein we eat; that live maggots are being successfully used to treat drug-resistant infections; that fresh sweat is odorless (the smell results from the activity of armpit bacteria); and that the average kitchen cutting board has more bacteria than the top of a toilet seat. Accompanied by stunning, full-color and high-magnification images of these myriad organisms, Dr. Buckman's informative and engrossing text is leavened with a delightful sense of humor.
[A]n authoritative and inherently fascinating study of the bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites that live within and upon human beings.. Full-color photographs (many of the magnified pictures of microscope viewings) add a stunningly effective touch to this accessible informational resource for biology studentsa nd non-specialist general readers alike. Wisconsin Bookwatch 2003 Kids (and curious adults) will love this bestiary of ugly little creatures... Written with humor and a light touch. -- Christy Karras Salt Lake Tribune This is a book that just about everyone will find in some measure fascinating, disturbing, engaging, repulsive and funny... buy it for a friend who worries about 'germs.' American Scientist 2003
Dr. Robert Buckman is a medical oncologist at Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Center in Toronto and a professor of medicine at the University of Toronto. He is the author of numerous books, including How to Break Bad News and What You Really Need to Know about Cancer, both available from Johns Hopkins.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780801874079 |
| ISBN 10 | 0801874076 |
| Title | Human Wildlife |
| Author | Robert Buckman |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Johns Hopkins University Press |
| Year published | 2003-02-14 |
| Number of pages | 208 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |