THE HYDRA

by Stanley Shostak ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 13, 1978

A straightforward description, underlined by a frank appreciation of the wonder of it all, of the simple water animal, made up of two cell layers (about 100,000 cells in all), that looks like a small piece of frayed string. The virtually immortal hydra's remarkable powers of cell turnover and regeneration and its ability to maintain a cellular ""steady state"" by adjusting its budding rate to its food intake are of interest to researchers studying both aging and cancer. Shostak ends with advice on keeping and studying ""hydras on your own,"" and the text throughout is abundantly illustrated with scanning-electron-microscope photos.

Pub Date: Jan. 13, 1978

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1978

Categories: NONFICTION