| Author | Herbert S. Jennings |
| Publisher | University of Pennsylvania Press |
| Year | 2017 |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 24 pages |
| Size | 450 KB |
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Summary
*The Beginnings of Social Behavior in Unicellular Organisms* is a seminal work by renowned biologist Herbert S. Jennings, exploring how social behavior originates at the simplest levels of life. Though limited in length, this book carries immense depth, detailing how organisms like protozoa interact with their environment—and each other—through chemical signaling, collective movement, and behavioral adaptation. Jennings carefully describes experiments and observations that point to basic elements of communication and coordination among single-celled organisms. These findings challenge long-held beliefs that social behavior is exclusive to multicellular or more evolved life forms. Instead, Jennings opens the door to understanding how cooperation and response to external stimuli are embedded even in the earliest stages of evolution. This work remains relevant today in fields such as microbiology, evolutionary biology, bioethics, and behavioral science. It invites readers to question what defines social behavior and how life, even in its simplest form, is inherently dynamic and responsive to its environment.
Key Features
- Classic study of protozoan and unicellular behavior
- Early scientific contribution to behavioral biology
- Analyzes environmental responses in unicellular organisms
- Explores implications for the evolution of social behavior
- Accessible to students, researchers, and general science readers
- Reprinted edition maintaining historical accuracy with modern formatting
About Author
Herbert Spencer Jennings (1868–1947) was a pioneering American zoologist and biologist known for his groundbreaking studies on behavior in microorganisms. A professor at Johns Hopkins University, Jennings contributed extensively to the development of experimental biology and early behavioral science. His work on protozoa challenged mechanistic views of life, showing that even unicellular organisms display a range of behaviors once thought to be exclusive to higher animals. His legacy continues to influence scientific thought in biology, philosophy, and ethics.
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