Why Worms Matter to the Story of Life

Worms in Motion reveals how some of the simplest animals on Earth can answer some of the biggest questions in biology. Nora F. Mercer shows how worm-like bodies help scientists trace the evolution of movement, body plans, and the ancient ancestry shared across animal life.

Far from being a biological side note, worms offer a clear view of how evolution works. Their forms make it easier to see how muscles, nerves, symmetry, and support structures come together, and how crawling and burrowing shaped early animal life.

Readers will discover:

Accessible, scientific, and engaging, this book is an ideal introduction for curious general readers, biology enthusiasts, and students who want to understand why worms matter to evolutionary science.