from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Biology, also referred to as the biological sciences, is the study of living organisms utilizing the scientific method.
Biology examines the structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, and distribution of living things.
It classifies and describes organisms, their functions, how species come into existence, and the interactions they have with each other and with the natural environment.
Four unifying principles form the foundation of modern biology: cell theory, evolution, genetics and homeostasis.
Biology as a separate science was developed in the nineteenth century, as scientists discovered that organisms shared fundamental characteristics.
Biology is now a standard subject of instruction at schools and universities around the world, and over a million papers are published annually in a wide array of biology and medicine journals.
Physicists like to say that, if you look deeply into any branch of science, you'll find physics at its core. Not every chemist, biologist or psychologist may agree with.
Most biological sciences are specialized disciplines.
Traditionally, they are grouped by the type of organism being studied: botany, the study of plants; zoology, the study of animals; and microbiology, the study of microorganisms.
The fields within biology are further divided based on the scale at which organisms are studied and the methods used to study them: biochemistry examines the fundamental chemistry of life; molecular biology studies the complex interactions of systems of biological molecules; cellular biology examines the basic building block of all life, the cell; physiology examines the physical and chemical functions of the tissues and organ systems of an organism; and ecology examines how various organisms interrelate.
Applied fields of biology such as medicine and genetic research involve many specialized sub-disciplines.
A central organizing concept in biology is that life changes and develops through evolution and that all lifeforms known have a common origin.
Charles Darwin established evolution as a viable theory by articulating its driving force, natural selection (Alfred Russel Wallace is recognized as the co-discoverer of this concept).
Darwin theorized that species and breeds developed through the processes of natural selection as well as by artificial selection or selective breeding.
Genetic drift was embraced as an additional mechanism of evolutionary development in the modern synthesis of the theory.
Biological form and function is created from and is passed on to the next generation by genes, which are the primary units of inheritance.
Physiological adaption to an organism's environment cannot be coded into its genes and cannot be inherited by its offspring.
Remarkably, widely different organisms, including bacteria, plants, animals, and fungi, all share the same basic machinery that copies and transcribes DNA into proteins.
For example, bacteria with inserted human DNA will correctly yield the corresponding human protein.
Note: The above text is excerpted from the Wikipedia article 'Biology', which has been released under the GNU Free Documentation License.
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(Foundation (Publication Order) #1)
For twelve thousand years the Galactic Empire has ruled supreme. Now it is dying. But only Hari Seldon, creator of the revolutionary science of psychohistory, can see into the future -- to a dark age of ignorance, barbarism, and warfare that will last thirty thousand years. To preserve knowledge and save mankind, Seldon gathers the best minds in the Empire -- both scientis...more
Published June 1st 2004 by Bantam (first published 1951)
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Popular Answered Questions
TonyStop thinking of it as a modern day book. There is very little character development, which so many people swear by. Don't try to connect to any of…moreStop thinking of it as a modern day book. There is very little character development, which so many people swear by. Don't try to connect to any of his characters. They aren't meant to be connected with. Try reading it as if you were listening to your grandfather tell you a tale. Isaac Asimov's ability to tell an extremely compelling story without the use of dynamic characters is quite literally mind blowing.(less)
Ann LitzI recommend reading the original trilogy, then the preludes. I found
this order very satisfying:
Foundation
Foundation and Empire
Second Foundation
Prelude…moreI recommend reading the original trilogy, then the preludes. I found
this order very satisfying:
Foundation
Foundation and Empire
Second Foundation
Prelude to Foundation
Forward the Foundation
Don't even bother with 'Foundation's Edge' or 'Foundation and Earth' unless you like saying 'WTF Asimov?!?!' a lot.(less)
Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Booksthis order very satisfying:
Foundation
Foundation and Empire
Second Foundation
Prelude…moreI recommend reading the original trilogy, then the preludes. I found
this order very satisfying:
Foundation
Foundation and Empire
Second Foundation
Prelude to Foundation
Forward the Foundation
Don't even bother with 'Foundation's Edge' or 'Foundation and Earth' unless you like saying 'WTF Asimov?!?!' a lot.(less)
6,625 books — 21,041 voters
Best Science Fiction 2,772 books — 4,710 voters
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Rating details
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Sep 29, 2007Christy rated it it was ok Shelves: readinglist2-sf, science-fiction-and-fantasy
Honestly, I don't get why this book/series is so popular. There are some interesting elements to it (for instance, the use of religion as a tool of mass control and the implicit resultant argument that religion is no more than a fraud, 'the opiate of the people,' after all), but the book gave me little to enjoy or dig into. The forces of the novel are broad, historical, dealing with masses of people; this means that there is little to no room for individual characters here and little to be done...more
Feb 24, 2013Kevin Kelsey rated it it was ok · review of another edition
A great story, told in a terribly boring fashion. One-dimensional characters engaged in various trade negotiations, political upheavals and general planning. Dry beyond belief. The concepts are very engaging--religion as a means of control, psychohistory, etc--but the telling of the story leaves much to be desired. Some sections are much better than others, particularly 1 & 3. There is a really good story between the lines here; one that I think would work much, much better as a television s...more
Feb 16, 2018Luca Ambrosino rated it liked it · review of another edition
English (Foundation)/ Italiano«HARI SELDON... born in the 11,988th year of the Galactic Era; died 12,069»
The life of the brilliant mathematician Hari Seldon, protagonist of the two prequels to Foundation series, draws to a close. However, thanks to 'psychohistory', the complex discipline founded by himself to predict the behaviours of the masses over time, he timed it all perfectly. He leaves to future generations precise instructions in order to avoid several millennia of intergalactic barbaris
...moreApr 20, 2016Sean Barrs the Bookdragon rated it really liked it Shelves: reviewed-for-fantasy-book-review, sci-fi, 4-star-reads
This is the most ambitious thing I’ve ever read.
The scope of this is just hugely imaginative. The idea is to create the new, and perfect, galactic empire. The old one is dying. But new empires don’t just pop up overnight; it takes years for the right circumstances to arise; it takes years for all the pieces to slot perfectly into place. The brightest mind of the age has used his incredibly farfetched, yet incredibly brilliant, psychohistory to predict the exact date the empire will fall. He has...more
The scope of this is just hugely imaginative. The idea is to create the new, and perfect, galactic empire. The old one is dying. But new empires don’t just pop up overnight; it takes years for the right circumstances to arise; it takes years for all the pieces to slot perfectly into place. The brightest mind of the age has used his incredibly farfetched, yet incredibly brilliant, psychohistory to predict the exact date the empire will fall. He has...more
Jul 13, 2017Adina rated it liked it
2.5* rounded up to 3 for the idea.
I postponed writing the review as I was hoping that something would click in my head and I would realize just how magnificent this novel is. It did not happen, unfortunately.
First of all, I was made to believe that this is a SF book. It isn’t. Not really. It is more of a socio-political one. It is not even a novel, but a set of stories who present a series of political, sociological, psychological and religious ideas all based on the famous Psychohistory conce...more
I postponed writing the review as I was hoping that something would click in my head and I would realize just how magnificent this novel is. It did not happen, unfortunately.
First of all, I was made to believe that this is a SF book. It isn’t. Not really. It is more of a socio-political one. It is not even a novel, but a set of stories who present a series of political, sociological, psychological and religious ideas all based on the famous Psychohistory conce...more
I read this again after about a thirty year hiatus. I remember as a high schooler liking it, and I read and liked some of the sequels, but not entirely getting the full ideas presented.
After some time to grow up and mature, I think I can appreciate Asimov's vision better than before. Maybe it was the lack of much action that hindered my enjoyment as a teenager, but as an adult I really liked the concepts approached and the ideas put forth.
Great science fiction and very influential on the works...more
After some time to grow up and mature, I think I can appreciate Asimov's vision better than before. Maybe it was the lack of much action that hindered my enjoyment as a teenager, but as an adult I really liked the concepts approached and the ideas put forth.
Great science fiction and very influential on the works...more
Foundation. The name is apt.
Isaac Asimov's sprawling scifi tale is the rock on which much of today's space opera is built. Truer scifi historians than me would cite the late 1920s and pulp magazines such as Amazing Stories and E. E. 'Doc' Smith as the DNA donors that spawned a thousand space operas. They would be right, but Asimov's fame towers above all others. His 1952 story of the decline and fall of the Galactic Empire is space opera's... foundation.
Unfortunately, the analogy continues. Fou...more
Mar 26, 2013Bradley rated it it was amazingIsaac Asimov's sprawling scifi tale is the rock on which much of today's space opera is built. Truer scifi historians than me would cite the late 1920s and pulp magazines such as Amazing Stories and E. E. 'Doc' Smith as the DNA donors that spawned a thousand space operas. They would be right, but Asimov's fame towers above all others. His 1952 story of the decline and fall of the Galactic Empire is space opera's... foundation.
Unfortunately, the analogy continues. Fou...more
Shelves: fanboy-goes-squee, top-one-hundred, sci-fi, history, economics, 2016-shelf
From my first reading of this Foundation Trilogy when I was fourteen to my latest reading today, I still put these in my top ten books of all time. No question.
Why?
So many reasons. And even though the characters and the short-story-like presentation of the different times are quite fine and memorable, it isn't these that I point to.
It's the ideas.
It's also how our history is writ large as SF.
It's the social exploration. It's the re-establishment of civilization, one building block at a time. It...more
Oct 06, 2010Ahmad Sharabiani rated it it was amazing · review of another editionWhy?
So many reasons. And even though the characters and the short-story-like presentation of the different times are quite fine and memorable, it isn't these that I point to.
It's the ideas.
It's also how our history is writ large as SF.
It's the social exploration. It's the re-establishment of civilization, one building block at a time. It...more
Shelves: 1001-book, science, fiction, 20th-century
527. Foundation (Foundation, #1), Isaac Asimov
The Foundation series is a science fiction book series written by American author Isaac Asimov. For nearly thirty years, the series was a trilogy: Foundation, Foundation and Empire, and Second Foundation. It won the one-time Hugo Award for 'Best All-Time Series' in 1966. Asimov began adding to the series in 1981, with two sequels: Foundation's Edge, Foundation and Earth, and two prequels: Prelude to Foundation, Forward the Foundation. The additions m...more
The Foundation series is a science fiction book series written by American author Isaac Asimov. For nearly thirty years, the series was a trilogy: Foundation, Foundation and Empire, and Second Foundation. It won the one-time Hugo Award for 'Best All-Time Series' in 1966. Asimov began adding to the series in 1981, with two sequels: Foundation's Edge, Foundation and Earth, and two prequels: Prelude to Foundation, Forward the Foundation. The additions m...more
Nov 04, 2016Trish rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Not my first work by Asimov but I was told that this trilogy, together with his robot stories (that I've read), are his finest work and some of the most important works in science fiction. I now understand why.
Asimov does not only have an extremely amiable writing style, he is a master in phrasing complex matter in a simple, unassuming way that immediately transports you tens of thousands of years into the future. Any concept, no matter how alien to us, becomes 'normal' within only a few lines.
I...more
Asimov does not only have an extremely amiable writing style, he is a master in phrasing complex matter in a simple, unassuming way that immediately transports you tens of thousands of years into the future. Any concept, no matter how alien to us, becomes 'normal' within only a few lines.
I...more
Feb 11, 2015Sanjay Gautam rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Absolutely Loved it! Hail Asimov! He is brilliant! His writing is enchanting and filled with awe inspiring genius. Work of sheer Ingenuity! Height of Inventiveness!
........................................................
Recommended to Thomas by: Mats Henriksson
The Foundation trilogy (three first books) and the Foundation series (all seven) are often regarded as the greatest set of Science Fiction literature ever produced. The Foundation series won the one-time Hugo Award for 'Best All-Time Series' in 1966. Isaac Asimov was among the world's best authors, an accomplished scientist, and he was also a genius with an IQ above 170, and it shows in the intelligently concocted but complex plots and narrative. There are already 331 reviews for this Science Fi...more
May 03, 2014Apatt rated it it was amazing
Yes, I have read Foundation before, chances are you have too! However, for some reason I missed out on the later Foundation books from Foundation's Edge, I can barely remember who Hari Seldon is or why “Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent”. So reread the series from the beginning it is then; no great hardship really, a fun time is already guaranteed, and the three volumes combined are shorter than a single book by Peter F. Hamilton.
The very first Foundation story was published in 1942...more
The very first Foundation story was published in 1942...more
Jun 24, 2017mark monday rated it liked it
psychohistory - 'that branch of mathematics which deals with the reactions of human conglomerates to fixed social and economic stimuli' - says that the patterns and cycles of human societies can be accurately predicted.
Hari Seldon - that genius psychohistorian whose homely visage speaks to his followers hundreds of years after his death - says that the Empire must fall and that thousands of years of barbarism must follow.
The Foundation - that secretive colony of scientists established by Seldon...more
Hari Seldon - that genius psychohistorian whose homely visage speaks to his followers hundreds of years after his death - says that the Empire must fall and that thousands of years of barbarism must follow.
The Foundation - that secretive colony of scientists established by Seldon...more
Isaac Asimov's Foundation is a good start to a great series! Really like the idea of Hari Seldon, the psychohistorian at the heart of the Foundation Series. Even though he largely disappears after the book's beginning, much of the subsequent action is based on his predictions. Seldon predicts the collapse of the 12,000 year galactic empire and what it will take to preserve the knowledge of mankind so that the period of barbarism between civilized life is shortened. That beacon of hope is the Fou...more
Feb 07, 2017Markus rated it really liked it
”Now that the Empire had lost control over the farther reaches of the Galaxy, these little splinter groups of planets became kingdoms – with comic-opera kings and nobles, and petty, meaningless wars, and a life that went on pathetically among the ruins.
A civilization falling. Nuclear power forgotten. Science fading to mythology – until the Foundation had stepped in.”
After twelve thousand years of peace, prosperity and expansion, the Galactic Empire is crumbling. Its vain aristocracy is ignorant...more
A civilization falling. Nuclear power forgotten. Science fading to mythology – until the Foundation had stepped in.”
After twelve thousand years of peace, prosperity and expansion, the Galactic Empire is crumbling. Its vain aristocracy is ignorant...more
Sep 14, 2011Simona Bartolotta rated it liked it · review of another edition
3.5
'Call it idealism. Call it an identification of myself with that mystical generalization to which we refer by the term, 'humanity.'
I have read exactly fourteen novels and countless short-stories written by this genius of a man (because people, he's a genius. Don't even start looking for a more fitting word, because you won't find any. He's a genius, period) and this is only the third time I rate one of his works less than four stars. The fact that this is happening with the first installment...more
'Call it idealism. Call it an identification of myself with that mystical generalization to which we refer by the term, 'humanity.'
I have read exactly fourteen novels and countless short-stories written by this genius of a man (because people, he's a genius. Don't even start looking for a more fitting word, because you won't find any. He's a genius, period) and this is only the third time I rate one of his works less than four stars. The fact that this is happening with the first installment...more
Mar 27, 2009Ken-ichi rated it liked it · review of another edition
An amusing read, but I think I still prefer Brin and Simmons when it comes to epic space opera. Probably the most interesting thing about this book (and, I assume, the rest of the series) is the millennia-spanning time scale of its narrative, which Asimov handles by establishing Hari Seldon's statistical prophesy, and then dropping in at critical junctures to investigate how individuals contrive to fulfill that prophecy. It's kind of a fun model, always knowing the general direction of the plot...more
Aug 19, 2018Manuel Antão rated it really liked it
If you're into stuff like this, you can read the full review.
The Dead Hand: 'Foundation' by Isaac Asimov
If I remember rightly, Asimov's robots do indeed find a cunning way around the three laws - they invent a Zero-th Law which states that 'no robot can injure humanity or through inaction allow humanity to come to harm' which doesn't directly contradict the First Law, so their brains will accept it, but has the interesting effect in moral philosophical terms of turning them from Kantians to util...more
Jan 15, 2008Tom rated it it was amazingThe Dead Hand: 'Foundation' by Isaac Asimov
If I remember rightly, Asimov's robots do indeed find a cunning way around the three laws - they invent a Zero-th Law which states that 'no robot can injure humanity or through inaction allow humanity to come to harm' which doesn't directly contradict the First Law, so their brains will accept it, but has the interesting effect in moral philosophical terms of turning them from Kantians to util...more
Recommends it for: Anyone who has a grain of interest in Sci Fi
I highly recommend Foundation to anyone who professes to have a grain of interest in Sci-Fi. The political intrigue, religious undertones, innovative sci-fi thoeories, world building, and epic scope make Foundation one of the most worthy reads of speculative fiction.
The premise is that the genius, Harry Seldon, has created and perfected a new science, phychohistory, a form of advanced statistics, to the degree that he can mathematically predict and guide the future of extremely large population...more
Nov 11, 2014Denisse rated it it was amazingThe premise is that the genius, Harry Seldon, has created and perfected a new science, phychohistory, a form of advanced statistics, to the degree that he can mathematically predict and guide the future of extremely large population...more
Shelves: favorites, best-adult-books
Buddy Read at:Emma's Tea Party
The Foundation trilogy is considered to be the best Science Fiction series of all time. And with reason. This first book is what we can call a huge introduction to what is in my opinion andlittle experience the best sociological study ever put in fiction.There is no problem exposed in Foundation that cannot be transposed to our reality or history. As a warning I must say the book doesn’t have any kind of character development. It doesn’t even have a main characte...more
Jun 12, 2012Penny rated it it was amazingThe Foundation trilogy is considered to be the best Science Fiction series of all time. And with reason. This first book is what we can call a huge introduction to what is in my opinion and
Shelves: scifi-fantasy-club-2014challenge, adventure, highly-recommended, books-they-say-i-should-read, bookclub, classics, science-fiction, favourites, military-scifi, philosophical
There's a reason everyone recommends this trilogy. It really is that good. I flew through this (granted it really isn't long) and loved every second! It's essentially 5 short stories that follow one another and need to be read in order. I'm very keen to read the rest of the Foundation novels when I'm finished with my 2014 challenge.
The investigation of science, religion and trade, and how they can work together and against one another is remarkably well done. It was unusual to read Asimov sans...more
Aug 06, 2013Adrian rated it it was amazing · review of another editionThe investigation of science, religion and trade, and how they can work together and against one another is remarkably well done. It was unusual to read Asimov sans...more
Shelves: zz-owned-books, read-again, favorites, sci-fi, sf-robot-stories, sf-golden-age
One of my all time favourite books, I first read this many years ago and as books have been added to the original trilogy I have re-read the whole series. I feel that IA pulled the stories together well, so the Robot novels all join with the Empire novels, what a master.
Well I re-read it again (2nd time GR officially, umpteenth time un-officially) and realise (yet again) what a marvellous book it is. Yes it is split as a collection of stories but Asimov is such a master story-teller it all hangs...more
Well I re-read it again (2nd time GR officially, umpteenth time un-officially) and realise (yet again) what a marvellous book it is. Yes it is split as a collection of stories but Asimov is such a master story-teller it all hangs...more
This is where Science Fiction especially Space Opera first started. Any fan of Science Fiction has to read this, this is the father of all Science Fiction. Its why its called Foundation. It is the Foundation of science fiction.
Apr 10, 2011Steven Harbin rated it it was amazingRecommends it for: fans of classic science fiction
I just re-read this for about the 5th or 6th time, although this was probably the first time I've gone back to this volume in over a decade or even two. Asimov still holds up for me, though I can't say how much of that is nostalgia. Still, he's probably not for everyone, a little wordy at times, not much action. Even so the whole Foundation series was a major great concept when it first came out and I still recommend it to anyone who loves science fiction, especially 'classic' science fiction. T...more
This is a very interesting book full politics and intrigue. Actually not a lot really happens but the author provides a lot of food for thought. Some times I felt the writing was just a bit too dry and the characters a bit too bland. Overall however it is a classic piece of science fiction and I am happy I have read it.
Mar 08, 2013Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition Shelves: favorites, science-fiction, stole-from-dad
$1.99 Kindle sale, July 23, 2017. One of my very favorite old Golden Age SF novels. The old empire is dying, says one Hari Selden, a brilliant historian and statistician, even though hardly anyone believes him. Can he and his followers use their knowledge of history and human behavior to build a better galactic society when the current empire collapses? A quick and absorbing read that's great fun.
I cut my science fiction-lovin' teeth on this trilogy. Asimov was brilliant.
Read count: I dunno, 4 o...more
I cut my science fiction-lovin' teeth on this trilogy. Asimov was brilliant.
Read count: I dunno, 4 o...more
Sep 21, 2011Nandakishore Varma rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Alongside the Robots, the Foundation must be the most endearing (and enduring) thing that Asimov has created. Being the mathematics nut that I am, I enjoyed the whole concept of being able to predict human behaviour accurately statistically, given the size of the population was big enough. The discipline of psychohistory is presented with just enough uncertainty to make it credible. A terrific read!
Feb 20, 2010Stephen rated it it was amazing Shelves: humans-rule-the-galaxy, ebooks, award-nominee-hugo, locus-all-time-science-fiction-poll, science-fiction, award-winner-hugo, 1930-1953, galactic-civilizations
6.0 stars. On my list of 'All Time Favorite' novels. The epic scope of this series (e.g., a Galactic Empire spanning 25 million worlds and containing over a quadrillion people), the great characters, the fun story and the concept of psychohistory, which I think is one of the coolest concepts ever, make this an absolute must read for SF fans. It is just loads of fun. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!
Winner: Hugo Award for Best All Time Series (The Foundation Trilogy) (1966)
Voted onto the Locus Li...more
Winner: Hugo Award for Best All Time Series (The Foundation Trilogy) (1966)
Voted onto the Locus Li...more
Jul 10, 2012Scott rated it it was amazing
Confession: This is one of my favorite books and I've probably read it 20-25 times, I usually read it at least once a year.
The first book in the Foundation series (this series won the Hugo award for best all-time series) as we follow the path of Foundation set out by Hari Seldon and his psychohistory.
Galaxy spanning - huge cast of characters - hundreds of years are covered - most epic, most awesome.
Highest possible recommendation
If you're one of the five people left who haven't read this book ju...more
The first book in the Foundation series (this series won the Hugo award for best all-time series) as we follow the path of Foundation set out by Hari Seldon and his psychohistory.
Galaxy spanning - huge cast of characters - hundreds of years are covered - most epic, most awesome.
Highest possible recommendation
If you're one of the five people left who haven't read this book ju...more
topics | posts | views | last activity |
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The Great America...:Foundation #1 Pre-read, No spoiler thread | 1 | 5 | Jun 16, 2019 07:02AM |
Catching up on Cl...:Foundation - Spoilers | 44 | 61 | May 21, 2019 07:44PM |
Catching up on Cl...:Foundation - No Spoiler | 28 | 65 | May 14, 2019 08:42PM |
Reading 1001:Foundation - Isaac Asimov | 2 | 8 | May 03, 2019 07:56PM |
The Evolution of ...:Asimov's Foundation Series & others that tie-in | 6 | 32 | Mar 17, 2019 01:28PM |
The Evolution of ...:June 2018 Group Read - Foundation | 78 | 62 | Feb 21, 2019 02:24AM |
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Isaac Asimov was a Russian-born, American author, a professor of biochemistry, and a highly successful writer, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books.
Professor Asimov is generally considered one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards. He has works published in nine o...more
Professor Asimov is generally considered one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards. He has works published in nine o...more
Foundation (Publication Order)(7 books)
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