Cosmic Evolution: The Rise of Complexity in Nature (review)

spring 2002 • volume 45, number 2 307 standing of motor proteins has grown directly from studies of larger arrays of proteins filaments found in muscle, but this fact is less apparent from the book. Fortunately, there a many well-written books and reviews on this subject, and it is probably also true that most readers of the present book will have more than a passing familiarity with the study of muscle contraction. To some extent, this book is a “landmark” work in the true sense of the word: it marks a prominent point on the path to our final understanding of biological motors. It does not attempt to review the long-term history leading to this point, and it does not give much indication of what the investigations will reveal next. It does, however, describe the present state of affairs in clear and concise terms, and it will reward the reader with a large store of new knowledge for a comparatively short investment of time.