Archetypes of Sex

Unmasking Algae’s Innocence, the Nathanael Pringsheim Revolution

Andreas Deutsch

Algae have shaped our planet and our understanding of life in remarkable ways. In the nineteenth century, botanist Nathanael Pringsheim (1823–1894) made a revolutionary discovery: by studying algae under the microscope, he revealed sexuality in organisms that had previously been 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 wider development 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 into the history of biology – and a new perspective on algae, sexuality and the origins of modern life sciences.

English edition

246 pages · published in 2026 ·  129 figures · Paperback
ISBN 978-3-86225-143-8
€30.00