Microbial Responses to Light and Time

Light and time are key environmental components for the majority of organisms. Biologically, time operates at various scales, ranging from the annual cycle of seasons, to the daily cycle of the sun, to the potentially rapid cycle of cell division. What is apparently fundamental to all organisms is the ability to respond in a manner predictive of time. Time-dependent changes in physiology, morphology, and ecology are responsive to various environmental cues, the most significant of which is light. The ability of organisms to perceive, harvest, and protect themselves from light is also of fundamental importance, leading to a variety of biological responses including phototaxis and photosynthesis. This volume, which concentrates primarily but not exclusively on both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms, provides a series of chapters that explore various aspects of the underlying biology of organisms' reactions to light and time. The volume provides a wide-ranging and up-to-date review of this fundamental area of biology, which is currently advancing at a rapid pace.