Life at the Limits
Organisms in Extreme Environments

A fascinating account of how organisms are able to live in, or survive, extreme conditions.

David A. Wharton (Author)

9780521039901, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 23 July 2007

320 pages, 53 b/w illus. 4 tables
22.5 x 15.1 x 1.7 cm, 0.48 kg

'Life at the Limits is an excellent description of how (mainly) microorganisms can exist at extremes in the environment … this book is easily understandable and provides fascinating background information for the budding astrobiologist, as well as an excellent account of life in extreme environments on our own planet.' Sky and Telescope

We are fascinated by the seemingly impossible places in which organisms can live. There are frogs that freeze solid, worms that dry out and bacteria that survive temperatures over 100?C. What seems extreme to us is, however, not extreme to these organisms. In this captivating account, the reader is taken on a tour of extreme environments, and shown the remarkable abilities of organisms to survive a range of extreme conditions, such as high and low temperatures and desiccation. This book considers how organisms survive major stresses and what extreme organisms can tell us about the origin of life and the possibilities of extraterrestrial life. These organisms have an extreme biology, which involves many aspects of their physiology, ecology and evolution.

Preface
1. Introduction: extreme life
2. Be it ever so humble …
3. Life without water
4. The hot club
5. Cold Lazarus
6. More tough choices
7. 'It's life, Jim, but not as we know it!'
8. An extreme biology
Bibliography
Glossary
Index.

Subject Areas: Evolution [PSAJ], Popular science [PDZ]