Genomes 3

tists. Immediately striking is the editors’clear argument for studying protists: 1) Protists are complex organisms involved in all forms of biodiversity on Earth, from the oceanic diatom (Thalassiosira pseudonana) to the human malaria parasite (Plasmodium falciparum); and 2) Protists have inhabited the earth for hundreds of millions of years, which provides a wealth of evolutionary data to be analyzed upon sequencing their genomes. Divided into three main sections and numerous subsections revolving around the evolution and genomic analyses of several different protists, the editors have invited experts of microbial eukaryotes to contribute their extensive knowledge on the most recent developments in their respective fields. Intended for a wide scientific audience by requiring only a fundamental understanding of basic biological processes, the book succeeds in compelling the reader to continue exploring the exciting world of microbial eukaryotes in the clear and simple, yet still scientific, language in which the authors write. The authors also graciously provide extensive literary references at the end of their sections for the reader to explore future reading. For those whomay doubt the importance of microbial eukaryotes, let us not forget the initial Nobel prize-winning experiments demonstrating the catalytic ability of RNA were first conducted after studying the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila. Genomics and Evolution of Microbial Eukaryotes leaves the reader with hopes that more basic research will uncover additional interesting and novel phenomena to further our current understanding of essential biological processes.