Bridging the great divide: Biology of the Prokaryotes edited by J.W. Lengeler, G. Drews and H.G. Schlegel

Thieme, 1999. DM148 hbk (xxvii + 955 pages)ISBN 3 131 08411 1The great divide in biology is between the prokaryotes and the eukaryotes, and any biologist ought to have a sound grasp of both. Prokaryotes come in few shapes and sizes, not rivaling eukaryotes in terms of their structural complexity. They compensate for this by a seemingly unlimited spectrum of physiological specializations. Prokaryotes are literally everywhere: from the upper reaches of the atmosphere to the deepest trenches of the oceans; they live on ice and in boiling acid. Biology of the Prokaryotes introduces the reader to their world and takes us on a journey deep into it.Recent years have seen an explosion in the amount of molecular genetic data available on prokaryotes, but this has blurred, rather than clarified, the taxonomist’s view of the prokaryotic world. To date, no one knows just how many different types of bacteria we share this planet with. The book’s section on systematics, probably the most radically new one, takes these difficulties into account and so does not resemble any of the encyclopedic chapters in my textbooks, which are just ten years old.Microbiology is a field in motion. The authors take their readers to the borders of current knowledge, guiding the way into terra incognita. Throughout the journey, great care is taken to leave no one behind. The style is lucid and instructional from the first page to the last. All aspects of prokaryotic life are covered, with emphasis on the limitless variations in metabolism that allow bacteria to survive in habitats that, two decades ago, were thought to be unable to support life.When the road the reader travels down gets rocky, boxes provide important background information and definitions. Shaded boxes sum up newly acquired wisdom into ‘take-home’ messages. Each chapter ends with a literature list of appropriate length, which will guide the curious to publications providing more in-depth information, and the book ends with an extensive index. The flow of the text is logical, from the basics of prokaryotic cell structure and the biochemistry of harnessing energy through advanced biochemical specialities to the ecology of bacteria. Nevertheless, chapters and whole sections can also be read independently. The book does not boast rainbow-colour art but the quality of the figures, matching the quality of the entire book, is superb.Single-author textbooks have become a rarity. Biology of the Prokaryotes has 43 authors from eight countries. Despite this, it is not a patchwork. The editors have done a very good job in moulding all the individual contributions into a coherent final product without obvious breaks. Given the book’s title, it is not surprising that the authors have avoided any mention of fungi and viruses, with the exception of bacterial viruses. The authors have left what are now disciplines in their own right to more specialized treatises. In addition to being the object of academic curiosity, prokaryotes are also of profound practical importance. Some are loaded with biotechnological potential and others threaten human life by causing disease. Applied aspects, from medicine to agriculture, form a tenth of the content.Biology of the Prokaryotes is suitable for beginners and advanced students alike. Students majoring in microbiology will find in it everything they need to know, and more, about prokaryotes. Professionals immersed in their specialized field of work who would like an up-to-date refresher will find a wealth of useful new information. Biology of the Prokaryotes will be enjoyed by anyone with more than a superficial interest in prokaryotes and a penchant for books offering more than the bare essentials needed to pass an exam.At the heart of a scientist’s training are the major text books. The relationship between a scientist and a textbook often lasts longer than interpersonal affairs, and so it has to be chosen with care. Biology of the Prokaryotes has the potential to become a long-term companion for a whole generation and it compares very well with the established leaders on the market.