The Biology of Death: How Dying Shapes Cells, Organisms, and Populations

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Gary C. Howard (Former Science Editor, Former Science Editor, Gladstone Institutes)

The Biology of Death

How Dying Shapes Cells, Organisms, and Populations

Gary C. Howard (Former Science Editor, Former Science Editor, Gladstone Institutes)

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English

Oxford University Press Inc
27 January 2022

Taxonomy & systematics; Bio-ethics; Developmental biology; Molecular biology; Cellular biology (cytology)

"How does death help us understand the living? Death is more than the last event of life; it is interwoven into our growth, development, protection against disease, and more. It influences the direction of entire species via the cycle of a lifespan, and it involves asking many fascinating questions. How do we differentiate between life and death, though? How do we know when a person, animal, or cell is really dead? How much grey area is there in the science? Why do we age? Can we do anything about it? Scientifically, there's much we can learn about a living thing from its cells. In all living things, cells seem to carry ""death"" gene programs. Some living organisms have created systems to use these to their own advantage. Humans, for example, use the death of specific cells to hone our immune system and to give us fingernails and hair. Perhaps the most dramatic use occurs during the metamorphosis of insects and frogs. Even single-celled organisms use ""quorum sensing"" to eliminate some cells to ensure the overall survival of their colony in harsh environments. Thus, there is more to death than just dying.

This latest book from science writer Gary C. Howard ties together the many ways that death helps us understand life. He synthesizes the involvement and relation of cells, tissues, organisms, and populations, explaining what happens at the end of life. Between discussions about popular topics such as the ethics of extending life and cell regeneration, Howard also answers fascinating questions about life and death. The resulting book examines how the end of life is determined and what we can learn from this process."

By: Gary C. Howard (Former Science Editor Former Science Editor Gladstone Institutes)
Imprint: Oxford University Press Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 163mm, Width: 241mm, Spine: 22mm
Weight: 1g
ISBN: 9780190687724
ISBN 10: 019068772X
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 27 January 2022
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Preface Chapter 1: Death in Life Chapter 2: Defining Life and Death Chapter 3: What Kills Humans Chapter 4: Aging and Senescence Chapter 5: Dying Chapter 6: Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Dust Chapter 7: Genetics of Life and Death Chapter 8: Death of Cells Chapter 9: Programmed Cell Death in Humans Chapter 10: Death in Plants Chapter 11: Death in Bacteria, Fungi, and Protista Chapter 12: Death on a Grand Scale Chapter 13: Last Hominid Standing Chapter 14: Bioethics Chapter 15: Future of Death Chapter 16: Death Is More than Dying Glossary References Index

Gary C. Howard was a science editor for Gladstone Institutes for many years until his recent retirement. He received a BA in zoology and an MS in biology from West Virginia University and a PhD in biological sciences from Carnegie Mellon University. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard University and the Johns Hopkins University. Before joining Gladstone, he worked for 11 years at two small biotech companies. He continues to edit and write in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Reviews for The Biology of Death: How Dying Shapes Cells, Organisms, and Populations

The book is valuable for its encyclopedic scope and impressive information content * Richard A. Richards, The Quarterly Review of Biology * This is an expansive, nearly encyclopedic, review of the end of life, ranging from the life and death of cells to mass extinctions of species. Death is necessary for life to continue, and Gary C. Howard discusses all major categories of organisms, from bacteria, fungi, and plants to human beings. By reading Howard's book, readers will discover aspects of life they never before appreciated. * John Mayfield, Professor Emeritus, Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology, Iowa State University * This remarkably interesting book explores a series of fascinating questions about life and death. Why do we age and what can we do about it? Gary C. Howard approaches these questions and, most amazingly, discusses how living organisms have evolved to use selective death to their advantage. Biology uses selective cell death to refine our immune system, to give us fingers, to allow fruit to drop from trees and tadpoles to become frogs. * Eric Verdin, CEO and President, The Buck Institute for Research on Aging *