The Lives of the Cell (1971) - Lewis Thomas

       One cannot possibly imagine comparing the enormous Planet Earth to a single microscopic cell. Lewis Thomas, however, manages to creatively connect the two seemingly polar opposite matters into one through his brilliant piece, "The Lives of a Cell". Thomas, a former dean of Yale Medical School and New York University School of Medicine, effectively relates man with nature in order to illustrate the biological functions of a cell in an informative, yet comprehensible manner for the general public. By utilizing more figurative language while tying in scientific terms, Thomas creates a distinct and innovative way to explain that all living things are interdependent to one another, similar to the various organelles that make up the cell.
       Throughout his essay, Lewis Thomas exhibits a close relationship between organelles' functions and human activities through the use of metaphors and similes. Due to the lack of scientific knowledge during the 1970's, Thomas purposely uses figurative language to explain biological facts which he exemplifies by stating, "Our genomes are catalogs of instructions from all kinds of sources in nature, filed from all kinds of contingencies." (Thomas 359). By comparing ideas that are relatable to the audience, the author is able to explicitly inform his readers about a unique and revolutionizing concept. Rather than introducing puzzling new facts to prove his point, the author's writing technique allows the readers to comprehend and retain the same information much more effectively.
       In addition to the stylistic language, the author also incorporates scientific diction in order to appeal to his audience. For instance, Thomas adds specific jargon when comparing humans and cells stating, "My centrioles, basal bodies, and probably a good many other more obscure tiny beings at work inside my cell, each with its own special genome, are as foreign, and as essential, as aphids in anthills" (Thomas 359). The use of biological terminologies such as centrioles, genome, and aphids allows the author to not only inform readers, but also builds his credibility as a writer.  Ethos is evident throughout the passage which supports Thomas's claim because the readers trust his expertise in biology. Lewis Thomas balances new concepts with familiar terms as well, which allows his audience to comprehend his claim while seeing the validity of his work. Even during a time when the area of biology was much more vague than today, Thomas was still able to effectively present a revolutionary scientific idea through his eloquent writing style.

http://magazine.jhsph.edu/2007/Spring/features/dna/_images/cell_to_earth.jpg

Thomas compares the different aspects of the cells with human interactions to reveal the similarities between the biological matter and planet earth.