Lessons from nature

Abstract

Terrestrial and marine animals, plants, insects, and microorganisms produce a large variety of compounds for the organism's development, daily survival, self-defence, symbiosis, sexual attraction, etc. Certain of these compounds are discussed here, with emphasis not only on their isolation and structure determination, but also on the question as to why they are active. This requires a multidisciplinary approach, for a better understanding of life's processes and nature's mysteries.