outgrowths of lupine (Lupinus), are in some ways identical phenomena and in both
cases the appearance is caused by foreign organisms. Eventually, we learned that
those foreign organisms are microbes which serve by providing fixed nitrogen to the
plant in exchange for products of photosynthesis received from the plant. The fifth
section of this book describes numerous examples, and their underlying mechanisms, of known microbial symbioses that have become established with other
microorganisms, with plants, and with animals.
The sixth section explains the concept of “Microbial symbiosis as a driving force
in evolution.” Perhaps evolution is a game won by competitive cheating, with the
microbes, including viruses, being both master and servant.
The seventh section of this book helps us to remember “The adventure of
microbiology research,” including some reminiscences and perspective on the life
and career of being a microbe hunter.
Together, my colleagues and I have in total spent perhaps a thousand years
studying and researching microbiology. Our journeys have included slogging
through a lot of outdoor environments under conditions that sometimes were
awe-inspiring and at other times nearly unbearable. All of that effort has allowed
us to reach a time point where we could write the essays for this book. That thousand
years is barely a fraction of the time period for which the Foundation Stone has sat
upon Mount Moriah.
My colleagues and I hope that you, our readers, will enjoy the results of our
collective effort as presented in this book. We also hope that you will add your own
individual and collective perspectives to this fascinating story of microbiology.
Cincinnati, OH
Christon J. Hurst
xvi
Volume Preface
cases the appearance is caused by foreign organisms. Eventually, we learned that
those foreign organisms are microbes which serve by providing fixed nitrogen to the
plant in exchange for products of photosynthesis received from the plant. The fifth
section of this book describes numerous examples, and their underlying mechanisms, of known microbial symbioses that have become established with other
microorganisms, with plants, and with animals.
The sixth section explains the concept of “Microbial symbiosis as a driving force
in evolution.” Perhaps evolution is a game won by competitive cheating, with the
microbes, including viruses, being both master and servant.
The seventh section of this book helps us to remember “The adventure of
microbiology research,” including some reminiscences and perspective on the life
and career of being a microbe hunter.
Together, my colleagues and I have in total spent perhaps a thousand years
studying and researching microbiology. Our journeys have included slogging
through a lot of outdoor environments under conditions that sometimes were
awe-inspiring and at other times nearly unbearable. All of that effort has allowed
us to reach a time point where we could write the essays for this book. That thousand
years is barely a fraction of the time period for which the Foundation Stone has sat
upon Mount Moriah.
My colleagues and I hope that you, our readers, will enjoy the results of our
collective effort as presented in this book. We also hope that you will add your own
individual and collective perspectives to this fascinating story of microbiology.
Cincinnati, OH
Christon J. Hurst
xvi
Volume Preface