On Mon, 24 Nov 2003 23:30:56 +0000 (UTC), Joachim Pense
 wrote:

>r norman wrote:
>
>> 
>> But this stuff fills several chapters of textbooks and I really can't
>> go through all that stuff in a news group posting.  Get a good book
>> and read about it!
>
>Can you recommend one for an educated layman?
>
>Joachim

Assuming that if you are interested in that one subject, you would
probably also be interested in many areas of biology, I would
recommend a standard introductory textbook of biology "for the biology
major".  The "major's" book tend to be much more thorough and
encyclopedic in scope, but have an awful lot of stuff in them.  They
also tend to be hideously expensive.  Some standards are
    Biology, 5th ed., Solomon, Berg, and Martin, Saunders Publishing
    Biology 6th ed., Raven and Johnson, McGraw Hill
    Biological Science, Freeman, Prentice-Hall
    Biology, 6th ed. Campbell and Reece, Benjamin Cummings

The texts for "non-majors" tend to be much more readable and go much
more into applications to everyday life, but often skirt over the
harder technical points.  One I have used is
    Inquiry into Life, 10th Ed., Mader, McGraw Hill

I suggest visiting the bookstores in or near a local college or
unversity.  See what text they are using.  Often you can buy used
copies at somewhat of a discount.  You could also visit the faculty
members who are involved in teaching the introductory courses.  Very
often they have copies of texts, either older editions or review
copies of texts they are not using.  They may be willing to give  you
a copy when you explain your interest.
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