The Dynamics of Living Protoplasm provides an overview of the state of knowledge in the colloid chemistry of protoplasm that can help to interpret and explain some of the most puzzling and intriguing problems that physiologists have had to face. The book shows that there is now definite knowledge about the protoplasmic colloid, knowledge that provides a basis for an understanding of the mechanisms underlying vital activity. This knowledge is primarily of theoretical interest, but eventually it will help to solve problems of practical importance in the fields of human physiology, pharmacology, and pathology. The book opens with an introductory chapter on the study of protoplasm. This is followed by separate chapters on protoplasmic viscosity, protoplasmic gels, electrochemistry of the cell, the surface precipitation reaction, protoplasmic clotting, and muscular contraction. Subsequent chapters deal with the excitation of nerve, conduction and transmission, cell division and its suppression, stimulation and anesthesia, the colloidal theory of stimulation and anesthesia, and cellular homeostasis.

The Origin, Nature and Evolution of Protoplasmic Individuals and their Associations explores living beings of all levels of complexity in relation to each other and to the various ambient sources that they use to survive: protoplasmic individuals and their associations, cells and their associations, animals, and man. The book considers the concepts of evolution and of living beings; the main stages in biological evolution; the organisms' individuality, nature, way of formation, phylogenetic, and ontogenetic origin; essential property of the organisms of living beings; and creature modeling. The text also discusses the phylogenesis, ontogenesis, and the nature of the soma; the spatial and temporal environment connecting biological and geological evolution; and concepts of feeding and nutrition. Three separate sections describe phylogenetic origin of the first protoplasmic individuals; the protoplasmic individual as defined by its action and experience; and evolution in protoplasmic level.

This book collects the publications of Shinya lnoué, pioneering cell biophysicist and winner of the 2003 International Prize for Biology. The articles cover the discovery, and elucidate the behavior in living cells, of the dynamic molecular filaments which organize the cell and play a central role in cell division. Other articles report on the development of microscopes, especially those using polarized light and digital image enhancement, which make possible studies of the ever-changing molecular architecture directly in living cells. This book also contains many high quality photo-micrographs as well as an appended DVD with an extensive collection of video movies of active living cells. After training in Tokyo and at Princeton University, Dr Inoué has held teaching positions at the University of Washington, Tokyo Metropolitan University, University of Rochester, Dartmouth Medical School, and University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and currently holds the title of Distinguished Scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.