Archetypes of Sex

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Archetypes of Sex

Unmasking Algae’s Innocence: The Nathanael Pringsheim Revolution

Andreas Deutsch

How the study of algae helped reveal one of biology’s most fundamental secrets: sex.

Algae have shaped our planet — and our understanding of life — in remarkable ways. In the nineteenth century, botanist Nathanael Pringsheim (1823–1894) made a groundbreaking discovery: studying algae under the microscope, he revealed sexuality in organisms then regarded as “lower” forms of life.

Archetypes of Sex tells the fascinating story of Pringsheim’s life and scientific work and places his discoveries in the emergence of modern biology. It also explores the remarkable Pringsheim family, the beginnings of marine biological research on Helgoland, and Pringsheim’s extraordinary scientific illustrations of the microscopic world.

A richly illustrated journey through the history of biology — and a new perspective on algae, sexuality, and one of the great biological discoveries of the nineteenth century.

English Edition

246 pages · 129 figures · Paperback/E-Book · 2026
€30.00