Size limits of very small microorganisms proceedings of a workshop (National Academy Press, 1999)
"Support for this project was provided by Contract NASW 96013 between the National Academy of Sciences and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration"--Title page verso
Includes bibliographical references
Overview / Andrew Knoll. Panel 1. Discussion summarized by Christian de Duve and Mary Jane Osborn -- Metabolism and physiology of conventional bacteria / Dan G. Fraenkel -- A biophysical chemist's thoughts on cell size / Peter B. Moore -- Correlates of smallest sizes for microorganisms / Monica Riley -- Mechanical characteristics of very small cells / David Boal -- Gene transfer and minimal genome size / Jeffrey G. Lawrence. Panel 2. Discussion summarized by Kenneth Nealson -- Can large dsDNA-containing viruses provide information about the minimal genome size required to support life? / James L. Van Etten -- Suggestions from observations on nanobacteria isolated from blood / E. Olavi Kajander, Mikael Björklund, and Neva Çiftçioglu -- Properties of small free-living aquatic bacteria / D.K. Button and Betsy Robertson -- Bacteria, their smallest representatives and subcellular structures, and the purported Precambrian fossil "Metallogenium" / James T. Staley -- Smallest cell sizes within hyperthermophilic Archaea ("Archaebacteria") / Karl O. Stetter -- The influence of environment and metabolic capacity on the size of a microorganism / Michael W.W. Adams -- Diminutive cells in the ocean, unanswered questions / Edward F. DeLong. Panel 3. Discussion summarized by Andrew Knoll -- Fossils and pseudofossils: lessons from the hunt for early life on Earth / J. William Schopf -- Taphonomic modes in microbial fossilization / Jack Farmer -- Investigation of biomineralization at the nanometer scale by using electron microscopy / John Bradley. Panel 4. Discussion summarized by Leslie Orgel and Laura Ost -- Primitive life: origin, size, and signature / James P. Ferris -- Constraints on the sizes of the earliest cells / Jack W. Szostak -- How small can a microorganism be? / Steven A. Benner -- Appendixes. Steering group biographies ; Request from NASA ; Workshop agenda ; Workshop participants