Parasites: Tales of Humanity's Most Unwelcome Guests

Parasites: Tales of Humanity's Most Unwelcome Guests

Hidden away within living tissues, parasites are all around us--and inside us. Yet, despite their unsavory characteristics, as we find in this compulsively readable book, parasites have played an enormous role in civilizations through time and around the globe. Parasites: Tales of Humanity's Most Unwelcome Guests puts amoebae, roundworms, tapeworms, mites, and others at the center of the action as human cultures have evolved and declined. It shows their role in exploration, war, and even terrorist plots, often through an unpredictable ripple effect. It reveals them as invisible threats in our food, water, and luggage; as invaders that have shaped behaviors and taboos; and as unexpected partners in such venues as crime scene investigations. Parasites also describes their evolution and life histories and considers their significant benefits. Deftly blending the sociological with the scientific, this natural and social history of parasites looks closely at a fascinating, often disgusting group of organisms and discovers that they are in fact an integral thread in the web of life.
Country USA
Brand University of California Press
Manufacturer University of California Press
Binding Paperback
ReleaseDate 2010-08-10
UnitCount 1
EANs 9780520269774

Country	USA
Brand	University of California Press
Manufacturer	University of California Press
Binding	Paperback
ReleaseDate	2010-08-10
UnitCount	1
EANs	9780520269774

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