What are currently the most dynamic areas in the life sciences and where do future challenges lie? In this carefully selected collection of essays, world-class scientists -- all of them winners of the Nobel, Lasker or Wolf prizes -- describe groundbreaking developments in their particular area of expertise. The selection of topics is as diverse and colorful as life itself:
* Will advances in molecular biology allow us to learn all about the cell's internal workings?
* What are the prospects of molecular medicine for the treatment of cancer and other diseases?
* How will agriculture develop in the era of transgenic plants?
* How will life on our planet be transformed as the human population continues to increase?
Founded on hard facts as well as on scientific intuition, each chapter highlights a different aspect of life science and is completely self-contained.
Fascinating reading for anyone with an active interest in the life sciences, as well as being ideal for teaching purposes.