What are currently the most dynamic areas in the life sciences and where do future challenges lie? In this carefully selected collection of essays, world-class scientists - all of them winners of the Nobel, Lasker or Wolf prizes - describe groundbreaking developments in their particular area of expertise. The selection of topics is as diverse and colorful as life itself: Will advances in molecular biology allow us to learn all about the cells internal workings? What are the prospects of molecular medicine for the treatment of cancer and other diseases? How will agriculture develop in the era of transgenic plants? How will life on our planet be transformed as the human population continues to increase? Founded on hard facts as well as on scientific intuition, each chapter highlights a different aspect of life science and is completely self-contained. It is a fascinating reading for anyone with an active interest in the life sciences, as well as ideal for teaching purposes.