The Biology of Death

The book is valuable for its encyclopedic scope and impressive information content * Richard A. Richards, The Quarterly Review of Biology *This is an expansive, nearly encyclopedic, review of the end of life, ranging from the life and death of cells to mass extinctions of species. Death is necessary for life to continue, and Gary C. Howard discusses all major categories of organisms, from bacteria, fungi, and plants to human beings. By reading Howard’s book, readers will discover aspects of life they never before appreciated. * John Mayfield, Professor Emeritus, Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology, Iowa State University *This remarkably interesting book explores a series of fascinating questions about life and death. Why do we age and what can we do about it? Gary C. Howard approaches these questions and, most amazingly, discusses how living organisms have evolved to use selective death to their advantage. Biology uses selective cell death to refine our immune system, to give us fingers, to allow fruit to drop from trees and tadpoles to become frogs. * Eric Verdin, CEO and President, The Buck Institute for Research on Aging *

Gary C. Howard was a science editor for Gladstone Institutes for many years until his recent retirement. He received a BA in zoology and an MS in biology from West Virginia University and a PhD in biological sciences from Carnegie Mellon University. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard University and the Johns Hopkins University. Before joining Gladstone, he worked for 11 years at two small biotech companies. He continues to edit and write in the San Francisco Bay Area.