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Viruses

Agents of Evolutionary Invention

By (author) Michael G. Cordingley
Format: Hardback
Language: English
Publisher: Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass, United States
Published: 19th Jun 2017
Dimensions: w 156mm h 235mm d 31mm
Weight: 700g
ISBN-10: 0674972082
ISBN-13: 9780674972087
Barcode No: 9780674972087
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Synopsis
Viruses are the most abundant biological entities on Earth, and arguably the most successful. They are not technically alive, but-as infectious vehicles of genetic information-they have a remarkable capacity to invade, replicate, and evolve within living cells. Synthesizing a large body of recent research, Michael Cordingley goes beyond our familiarity with viral infections to show how viruses spur evolutionary change in their hosts, shape global ecosystems, and influence every domain of life. In the last few decades, research has revealed that viruses are fundamental to the photosynthetic capacity of the world's oceans and the composition of the human microbiome. Perhaps most fascinating, viruses are now recognized as remarkable engines of the genetic innovation that fuels natural selection and catalyzes evolution in all domains of life. Viruses have coevolved with their hosts since the beginning of life on our planet and are part of the evolutionary legacy of every species that has ever lived. Cordingley explains how viruses are responsible for the creation of many feared bacterial diseases and the emergence of newly pathogenic and drug-resistant strains. And as more and more viruses jump to humans from other animals, new epidemics of viral disease will threaten global society. But Cordingley shows that we can adapt, relying on our evolved cognitive and cultural capacities to limit the consequences of viral infections. Piecing together the story of viruses' major role within and beyond human disease, Viruses creates a valuable roadmap through the rapidly expanding terrain of virology.

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Michael Cordingley has written an engaging and enlightening description of viruses from a refreshingly different viewpoint, as agents that drive not only their own evolution, but that of their hosts. -- Vincent Racaniello, Columbia University This is a much needed book on a subject that has long been overlooked. The author has done an excellent job of communicating how viruses are core agents in the evolution of life. Anyone interested in the evolution of life should read this book. -- Luis P. Villarreal, University of California, Irvine Michael Cordingley describes the complex life of viruses from the perspective of evolutionary agents. With carefully selected and easily understandable examples, he makes the argument that viruses follow the laws of Darwinian evolution. This book is highly recommended for microbiologists and individuals who care about global health care. -- Peter Sarnow, Stanford University School of Medicine Provides an amazing connection between the multiple scales or dimensions that viruses play at, together with the evolutionary processes and mechanisms...This a fascinating book intended for readers interested in the evolution of microbes, but also for specialists working in the field. The volume provides key systems and examples that allow better comprehension of the complexity of viruses. -- Josep Sardanyes * Quarterly Review of Biology *