The Surprising Archaea

"Although the Archaea comprise one of the three fundamental domains of life, they were only recognized as a group about twenty years ago. They include microorganisms that live in oceanic hydrothermal vents, within the guts of animals, or in concentrated brines. And they are of extremely ancient lineage, having diverged from bacteria very early in the history of life.".

"The Surprising Archaea examines that discovery and the evolutionary and ecological importance of the organisms. In addition to exploring the archaeal rise from obscurity to their current prominent place in molecular and evolutionary biology, this book promotes a wider awareness of the world of microbes."--BOOK JACKET.