The Amoeba in the Room: Lives of the Microbes

Writing passionately about a subject he clearly loves, Money, professor of botany at Miami Univ. (Ohio), explains the critically important, but largely overlooked, roles microbial organisms play in the world. He points out, for example, the amazing role that marine diatoms play in moderating climate change: “By absorbing 20 billion tons of carbon per year—about one fifth of the global total—they are a greater refrigerant on this warming planet than tropical rainforests.” Money goes on to note that the number of individuals and species of microorganisms is staggering: the average gram of human feces contains 40 billion bacteria, a full 90% of the living matter in the oceans are microscopic, and “we have characterized only one millionth” of the viruses inhabiting the soil. His passion, however, will not be enough to fully engage most readers. His topic is so vast he writes as if he hasn’t time to take a breath. While the big picture is made clear, the details—of which he presents a multitude—come too quickly and in too abbreviated a form to be grasped in a meaningful manner. Additionally, Money so regularly criticizes biologists for predominately studying and teaching about larger organisms that his very real concern becomes a prolonged moan. (Apr.)