Of all the sciences, biology doubtless touches our lives in the most
direct way. With new developments in recombinant DNA, cloning,
new reproductive technologies, and environmental concerns, biology
has taken on a significance perhaps greater than at any point in
history.

Over the past one hundred fifty years or so, science has become
increasingly subdivided. Correspondingly, the myth has appeared
that it has become increasingly arcane and impenetrable to all but a
handful of specialists. True, there have been a number of popular and
accessible books on, for example, physics. The complexities of phys-
ics are, however, easily matched by the myriad subtleties and com-
plexities of biology. Further, the history of biology is so immense that
it is well-nigh impossible to cover all within the space limits set by the
publisher. For these reasons, difficult decisions had to be made. I
have spent more time on molecular biology, for example, than a clas-
sical biologist perhaps might like. I have all but passed over the Ori-
ent, since the history of eastern biology is a complete story in itself.

-v-