Writing the recent history of life sciences is an exciting but demanding undertaking. Some disciplines are emerging while others are disappearing; above all, they are now intertwined and overlapping, constantly shifting their boundaries. However, despite the resulting complexity, certain fundamental cross-disciplinary concepts continue to structure research, giving biology a coherent overall identity.

History of Life Sciences and Medicine 3 takes a conceptual approach to history, aiming to reflect the contemporary constitution of the field of life sciences. It thus addresses some of the most representative concepts from a historical and epistemological perspective, for example, those that have particularly structured the field of life sciences since the 19th and 20th centuries. Ten key biological concepts are analyzed: the origin of life, evolution, the ecosystem, the cell, metabolism, the gene, development, immunity, the brain and pathology.

Jean-Claude Dupont is Professor Emeritus of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Picardie Jules Verne (Amiens), France. He is a specialist in the history of life sciences and medicine.