Live Long and Evolve

An engaging journey into the biological principles underpinning a beloved science fiction franchise In Star Trek, crew members traveled to unusual planets, met diverse beings, and encountered unique civilizations. Throughout these remarkable space adventures, has Star Trek reflected biology and evolution as we know it? What can the science in the science fiction of Star Trek teach us? In Live Long and Evolve, biologist and die hard-Trekkie Mohamed Noor takes readers on a fun, fact-filled scientific journey into biological concepts - particularly evolution and genetics - by voyaging through multiple Star Trek series and movies. With a plethora of scenes, examples, and in-depth explanations, Noor offers Trekkies, science fiction fans, and anyone curious about how life works a cosmic gateway into introductory biology, including the definitions and origins of life, DNA, reproduction, and evolutionary processes, such as natural selection and genetic drift. For instance, in the episode "Evolution, he shows how the rapid change in a population of nanite robots follows basic principles of natural selection that apply to species on Earth. With the well-known "The Trouble with Tribbles, Noor explains how the fertile creatures are bisexual and not asexual, and what evolutionary advantage that difference provides. And through the segments "Melora, "Demons, and "Terra Prime, he considers the biological issues of interspecies mating. Noor further discusses the importance of research and how Star Trek has influenced scientists to engage in cutting-edge work. Live Long and Evolve gives readers an irresistible, entertaining vehicle to deconstruct some of the powerful science behind one of the longest-running science fiction series in popular culture.