Cellular biology (cytology) Books

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Book SynopsisWhy do the best-known examples of evolutionary change involve the alteration of one kind of animal into another very similar one, like the evolution of a bigger beak in a bird? Wouldn''t it be much more interesting to understand how beaks originated? Most people would agree, but until recently we didn''t know much about such origins. That is now changing, with the growth of the interdisciplinary field evo-devo, which deals with the relationship between how embryos develop in the short term and how they (and the adults they grow into) evolve in the long term. One of the key questions is: can the origins of structures such as beaks, eyes, and shells be explained within a Darwinian framework? The answer seems to be yes, but only by expanding that framework. This book discusses the required expansion, and the current state of play regarding our understanding of evolutionary and developmental origins.Trade Review'Wallace Arthur treats his readers to an eminently readable but still deeply rooted introduction into one of the most significant achievements of evolutionary biology: how evolutionary developmental biology put the organism back into the centre of evolutionary thinking.' Günter P. Wagner, Yale University, USA'Evo-devo deals with the multiple connections that exist between the biological processes of evolution and development. However, as an interface subject, there is a plurality of views on its content and its boundaries. In spite of that, Wallace Arthur has succeeded in writing an extremely clear and highly accessible guide to this fascinating, multifaceted discipline. Using the concept of 'developmental repatterning' as a common thread, the book provides a balanced view of evo-devo, covering its main achievements and future challenges. This is an ideal entry point for the non-specialist, but also a stimulating read for the practitioner who wants to consider her/his research in a wider perspective.' Giuseppe Fusco, University of Padova, Italy'Occasionally I feel that the field of Evolution and Development has lost its way, becoming submerged in myriad examples and details that don't expand our understanding of life. Wallace's book expounds the intellectual underpinnings of Evolution and Development, leads us through the key questions, and finally shows how the details and examples inform our future understanding. This book provides not just a guide to Evolution and Development, but also a spur to refocus and redouble our efforts to use development to help understand the evolution of life on Earth.' Peter Dearden, University of Otago, New ZealandTable of ContentsPreface; Acknowledgements; 1. What is evo-devo and why is it important?; 2. Antecedents of evo-devo; 3. Evolutionary and developmental essentials; 4. Evo-devo essentials; 5. The evolution of variations on a theme; 6. The evolutionary origins of themes and novelties; 7. The evolutionary origins of body plans; 8. Body plan features and toolkit genes; 9. Bringing it all together; Concluding remarks; Summary of common misunderstandings; References; Index.

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Book Synopsis'One of my favourite science writers' Bill Gates 'Hugely important' Jim Al-Khalili 'A profound meditation on metabolism, the Krebs cycle & the origin of life' Anil Seth For decades, biology has been dominated by information - the power of genes. Yet there is no difference in information content between a living cell and one that died a moment ago. A better question goes back to the formative years of biology: what processes animate cells and set them apart from lifeless matter? In Transformer, Nick Lane turns the standard view upside down, capturing an extraordinary scientific renaissance that is hiding in plain sight. At its core is an amazing cycle of reactions that uses energy to transform inorganic molecules into the building blocks of life - and the reverse. To understand this cycle is to fathom the deep coherence of the living world. It connects the origin of life with the devastation of cancer, the first photosynthetic bacteria with our own mitochondria, sulphurous sludges with the emergence of consciousness, and the trivial differences between ourselves with the large-scale history of our planet.Trade ReviewA stone-cold classic -- Adam RutherfordOne of the most creative of today's biologists ... this is a book filled with big ideas, many of which are bold instances of lateral thinking * New Scientist *Bold ... passionate ... a dramatically revisionist account [of the] origins of life * New Yorker *A thrilling tour of the remarkable stories behind the discoveries of some of life's key metabolic pathways and mechanisms. He lays bare the human side of science ... The book brings to life the chemistry that brings us to life ... masterful * Science *Deeply researched and cogently written * Nature *Remarkable * New Humanist *Transformer is a complex yet accessible, illuminating, and thrilling exploration of the vitality and elemental mysteries of our existence * Booklist *Biochemist Nick Lane is one of our boldest thinkers and a key researcher into the origin and deep history of life. -- Peter Forbes * Prospect *Nick Lane challenges us to see life differently ... probably the best book on biology I've ever read -- Brian Clegg * Popular Science *A thrilling journey... the book is a tour de force. -- Laura Eme and Courtney W. Stairs * Nature Ecology & Evolution *In this compulsively readable book, Lane takes us on a riveting journey, ranging from the flow of energy to new ways of understanding cancer. Lane provides a luminous understanding of how scientists, including Lane himself, are rethinking energy and living organisms. -- Siddhartha Mukherjee, author * The Emperor of All Maladies, The Gene: An Intimate History *Nick Lane's exploration of the building blocks that underlie life's big fundamental questions - the origin of life itself, aging, and disease - have shaped my thinking since I first came across his work. He is one of my favourite science writers -- Bill GatesHugely important ... a powerfully persuasive case for life being about energy flow, flux and change. In Transformer, chemistry is quite literally brought to life -- Jim Al-Khalili, author * The World According To Physics *Amazing! Takes science writing to a new level ... with soaring prose but uncompromising on scientific detail, Transformer made me think about life on earth in a completely different way. -- Daniel M. Davis, author * The Secret Body *Hugely ambitious and tremendously exciting ... Transformer shows how a molecular dance from the dawn of time still sculpts our lives today. I read with rapt attention. -- Olivia Judson, evolutionary biologist and authorA thrilling and highly persuasive account of what makes life and how the miracle started, coaxed not by genes but a remarkable cycle of energy and matter - a chemical cycle able to conjure the material of life from the elements of a rocky blue planet. This hugely important book is set to become a landmark, transforming our understanding of how life works. Lane's infectious enthusiasm had me gripped on a tour down the aeons and deep into the inner workings of our cells, to discover the chemistry that gives me the sentience for such fundamental self-knowledge. Marvellous -- Gaia Vince, author * Nomad Century, Adventures in the Anthropocene *Nobody explains the inner secrets of the living cell better than Nick Lane. He clarifies the complexities of the chemistry that drives all life in a most engaging way. The stories of how this hidden world was revealed by remarkable scientists is explored as a series of riveting detective stories, leaving the reader with admiration for the ingenuity and sheer persistence of those who unscrambled the reactions that underlie all life. -- Richard Fortey FRS FRSL, author * Fossils: The Key to the Past *An exhilarating account of the biophysics of life, stretching from the first stirrings of living matter to the psychology of consciousness. I felt as if I was there, every step of the way -- Mark Solms, author * The Hidden Spring: A Journey to the Source of Consciousness *Nick Lane never writes about the living world without offering entirely new perspectives on how life itself works. Transformer is no exception. His subject here - the Krebs cycle - is often seen as one of the driest staples of biochemical textbooks. But in Lane's hands, it becomes a key to life's origins and driving forces, to health, disease and ageing, and even to our awareness of the world. Biochemistry has never looked more exciting. -- Phillip BallNick Lane's marvellously engaging Transformer refocused my astronomer's gaze on the vital chemistry of life on our own planet. Both a scientific adventure story and an original quest to understand life on Earth, Transformer also guides us on how to find life beyond -- John Grunsfeld, former NASA Chief Scientist and AstronautA profound meditation on metabolism, the Krebs cycle & the origin of life. -- Anil Seth, author * Being You: A New Science of Consciousness *

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Book SynopsisIn just a half century, humanity has made an astounding leap in its understanding of life. Now, one of the giants of biological science, Christian de Duve, discusses what we''ve learned in this half century, ranging from the tiniest cells to the future of our species and of life itself. With wide-ranging erudition, de Duve takes us on a dazzling tour of the biological world, beginning with the invisible workings of the cell, the area in which he won his Nobel Prize. He describes how the first cells may have arisen and suggests that they may have been like the organisms that exist today near deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Contrary to many other scientists, he argues that life was bound to arise and that it probably only took millennia--maybe tens of thousands of years--to move from rough building blocks to the first organisms possessing the basic properties of life. With equal authority, De Duve examines topics such as the evolution of humans, the origins of consciousness, the developmentTrade Review"A well-written, engaging scientific tour de force.... de Duve exhibits an extraordinary skill in conveying his deep knowledge of biology.... Both a first-rate scholar and an accomplished popularizer of science...de Duve moves with equal familiarity and eloquence from scientific papers to French poets.... Life Evolving forces the reader to avoid intellectual complacency and to articulate one's own arguments to effectively address his position. These are, in themselves, major reasons to appreciate the book."--Science "This book is addressed to the educated lay person interested in the origin of life, its evolution to the present day and its philosophical implications. The reader is in for a treat of unsurpassed lucid and poetic writing. It is the testament of one of the great biologist-philosophers of our time."--Gunter Blobel, Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine "An original thinker and graceful writer, Christian de Duve is an E.O. Wilson for the cell. In Life Evolving, De Duve lays bare the molecular machinery of life, finding both explanation of our evolutionary past and signs of what it will mean to be human in the twenty-first century."--Andrew H. Knoll, Fisher Professor of Natural History, Harvard University "A well-written, engaging scientific tour de force.... de Duve exhibits an extraordinary skill in conveying his deep knowledge of biology.... Both a first-rate scholar and an accomplished popularizer of science...de Duve moves with equal familiarity and eloquence from scientific papers to French poets.... Life Evolving forces the reader to avoid intellectual complacency and to articulate one's own arguments to effectively address his position. These are, in themselves, major reasons to appreciate the book."--Science "This book is addressed to the educated lay person interested in the origin of life, its evolution to the present day and its philosophical implications. The reader is in for a treat of unsurpassed lucid and poetic writing. It is the testament of one of the great biologist-philosophers of our time."--Gunter Blobel, Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine "An original thinker and graceful writer, Christian de Duve is an E.O. Wilson for the cell. In Life Evolving, De Duve lays bare the molecular machinery of life, finding both explanation of our evolutionary past and signs of what it will mean to be human in the twenty-first century."--Andrew H. Knoll, Fisher Professor of Natural History, Harvard UniversityTable of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. What is Life? (a: Chemistry) ; 2. What is Life? (b: Information) ; 3. Where Does Life Come From? ; 4. How Did Life Arise? (a: The Way to RNA) ; 5. How Did Life Arise? (b: From RNA to Protein-DNA) ; 6. How Did Life Arise? (c: The Birth of Cells) ; 7. The History of Life ; 8. The Invisible World of Bacteria ; 9. The Mysterious Birth of Eukaryotes (a: The Problem) ; 10. The Mysterious Birth of Eukaryotes (b: A Possible Pathway) ; 11. The Visible Revolution ; 12. The Arrow of Evolution ; 13. Becoming Human ; 14. The Riddle of the Brain ; 15. Reshaping Life ; 16. After Us, What? ; 17. Are We Alone? ; 18. How About God in All That?

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Table of ContentsPART I: Biologic and Molecular Basis for Regenerative Medicine PART II: Cells and Tissue Development PART III: Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine PART IV: Therapeutic Applications Section A: Cell Therapy Section B: Tissue Therapy PART V: Regulation and Ethics

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Book SynopsisIntroduction to Protein Structure provides an account of the principles of protein structure, with examples of key proteins in their biological context generously illustrated in full-color to illuminate the structural principles described in the text. The first few chapters introduce the general principles of protein structure both for novices and for non-specialists needing a primer. Subsequent chapters use specific examples of proteins to show how they fulfill a wide variety of biological functions. The book ends with chapters on the experimental approach to determining and predicting protein structure, as well as engineering new proteins to modify their functions.Trade Review"The strength of the book lies in its beautiful art work and its logical dissection of the baffling complexities of protein structures…admirably concise, lucid and accurate presentations of difficult concepts…invaluable for students…" Nature"As an introduction to what proteins look like, how they fold up and how they interact with other molecules, large and small this book has no peer. It will be invaluable to students and research workers." Trends in Biotechnical Sciences"As usual, the distillation is authoritative and breathtaking." Tom Alber, University of California, Berkeley"It is superb. It gives a terrific overview, with great breadth and a proper and fair weight to the subject it treats." Ken Dill, University of California, San FranciscoTable of ContentsPART 1 BASIC STRUCTURAL PRINCIPLES 1. The Building Blocks 2. Motifs of Protein Structure 3. α-Domain Structures 4. α/β Structures 5. β Structures 6. Folding and Flexibility 7. DNA Structures PART 2 STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND ENGINEERING 8. DNA Recognition in Procaryotes by Helix-Turn-Helix Motifs 9. DNA Recognition by Eukaryotic Transcription Factors 10. Specific Transcription Factors Belong to a Few Families 11. An Example of Enzyme Catalysis: Serine Proteinases 12. Membrane Proteins 13. Signal Transduction 14. Fibrous Proteins 15. Recognition of Foreign Molecules by the Immune System 16. The Structure of Spherical Viruses 17. Prediction, Engineering, and Design of Protein Structures 18. Determination of Protein Structures

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Book SynopsisPraise for the prior editionThe author has done a magnificent job this book is highly recommended for introducing biophysics to the motivated and curious undergraduate student.?Contemporary Physicsa terrific text will enable students to understand the significance of biological parameters through quantitative examples?a modern way of learning biophysics. ?American Journal of PhysicsA superb pedagogical textbook Full-color illustrations aid students in their understanding ?Midwest Book ReviewThis new edition provides a complete update to the most accessible yet thorough introduction to the physical and quantitative aspects of biological systems and processes involving macromolecules, subcellular structures, and whole cells. It includes two brand new chapters covering experimental techniques, especially atomic force microscopy, complementing the updated coverage of mathematical and compTable of ContentsI. Introduction, Approach, and Tools 1 Introduction to a New World 2 How (Most) Physicists Approach Biophysics 3 Math Tools: First Pass II. Structure and Function 4 Water 5 Structures: From 0.1 to 10 nm and Larger 6 First Pass at Supramolecular Structures: Assemblies of Biomolecules 7 Putting a Cell Together: Physical Sketch III. Biological Activity: Quantum Microworld 8 Quantum Primer 9 Light, Life and Measurement 10 Photosynthesis 11 Direct Ultraviolet Effects on Biological Systems IV. Biological Activity: (Classical) Microworld 12 Classical Biodynamics and Biomechanics 13 Random Walks, Diffusion, and Polymer Conformation 14 Statistical Physics and Thermodynamics Primer 15 Reactions: Physical View 16 Molecular Machines: Introduction 17 Assembly 18 Preparation for Experimental Biophysics 19 Atomic Force Microscopy

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part 1: The World of the Cell 5 Chapter 1: Exploring the World of the Cell 7 Chapter 2: Take a Tour inside the Cell 13 Chapter 3: Dead or Alive: Viruses 35 Part 2: Molecules: The Stuff of Life 51 Chapter 4: Better Living through Chemistry 53 Chapter 5: Carbohydrates: How Sweet They Are 77 Chapter 6: Proteins: Workers in the Cellular Factory 87 Chapter 7: DNA and RNA: Instructions for Life 103 Chapter 8: Lipids: Waterproof and Energy Rich 113 Part 3: The Working Cell 121 Chapter 9: Hello, Neighbor: How Cells Communicate 123 Chapter 10: Metabolism: Transferring Energy and Matter 139 Chapter 11: Cellular Respiration: Every Breath You Take 159 Chapter 12: Photosynthesis: Makin’ Food in the Kitchen of Life 187 Chapter 13: Splitsville: The Cell Cycle, Cell Division, and Cancer 203 Part 4: Genetics: From One Generation to the Next 219 Chapter 14: Meiosis: Getting Ready for Baby 221 Chapter 15: Genetics: Talkin’ ’Bout the Generations 233 Part 5: Molecular Genetics: How Cells Read the Book of Life 261 Chapter 16: DNA Replication: Doubling Your Genetic Stuff 263 Chapter 17: Transcription and Translation: What’s in a Gene? 273 Chapter 18: Control of Gene Expression: It’s How You Play Your Cards That Counts 291 Part 6: Molecular Biology: Harnessing the Power of DNA 311 Chapter 19: The Book of You: Reading Your Genes 313 Chapter 20: Rewriting the Code of Life: Recombinant DNA Technology and Genome Editing 331 Part 7: The Part of Tens 349 Chapter 21: Ten Important Rules for Cells to Live By 351 Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Improve Your Grade 361 Index 369

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Book SynopsisGet colouring and let yourself be inspired by the marvels of the microscopic world as you make your way through this fascinating and important book.' Professor Luke O'NeillThis distinctive colouring book explores the beauty of microscopic life, from vaccines and viruses to protozoa and algae. Go on a journey of scientific discovery as your colours illuminate a hidden world beyond the limits of our own vision.Bring to life the nucleocapsid protein of the Covid-19 virus, the overlapping frill of the delphinium peregrinum seed and the shell-like carapace of a water-flea as you discover the startling and unexpected beauty of life under the lens.Containing over 60 detailed illustrations from the natural world, including a coronavirus vaccine on the cover and inside, this book is a calming celebration of small science.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Murphy has gathered a huge amount of research material on longevity, giving the book a tone of meticulous authority" * Kirkus Reviews *"[An] informative deep dive into the research behind living longer and the aging process."---Tom Wilk, New Jersey Monthly"Meticulous. . . . [Murphy's] sweep is vast as she discourses on diet, exercise, insulin signaling and the genes that affect longevity. In her final, superb chapters, she takes on the associations between the human microbiome and cognitive deterioration, wrapping up with a look ahead to emerging drug therapies."---Hamilton Cain, Wall Street Journal"In How We Age, geneticist Coleen Murphy provides no silver bullets for remaining youthful. Rather, she offers a scholarly account of the state of ageing research that is both lively and personal. She also gives real insight into the ups and downs of leading a research laboratory. . . . How We Age will be particularly useful to researchers, but it should also appeal to general readers who want to know what it took to arrive at the current understanding of ageing — and the prospects of undergoing it in better shape."---Linda Partridge, Nature

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Book SynopsisCancer cells exist in an ever-changing âœecologyâ and are subject to evolutionary pressures just like any species in nature. This edited book explores the following themes: 1) how the dynamics of mutation, epigenetics, and gene expression noise are sources of genetic diversity; 2) how scarce resources influence cancer therapy resistance; 3) how predator-prey dynamics are mirrored in immune-cancer cross-talk; 4) how cancer cells parallel niche construction theory; 5) how changing fitness landscapes enable cancer growth; and 6) how cancer cells interact within the body. The book is a resource for understanding cancer as a disease of multicellularity grounded in evolutionary principles. By using this knowledge, researchers are starting to exploit these behaviors for treatment paradigms.Key Features Bridges disciplines exemplifying the ways disparate fields create new perspectives when integrated. Offers insights from leading scholars in cancer biology, ecolo

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Book SynopsisThe topic of stem cells has a high profile in the media. We''ve made important advances in our scientific understanding, but despite this the clinical applications of stem cells are still in their infancy and most real stem cell therapy carried out today is some form of bone marrow transplantation. At the same time, a scandalous spread of unproven stem cell treatments by private clinics represents a serious problem, with treatments being offered which are backed by limited scientific rationale, and which are at best ineffective, and at worse harmful. This Very Short Introduction introduces stem cells, exploring what they are, and what scientists do with them. Introducing the different types of stem cells, Jonathan Slack explains how they can be used to treat diseases such as retinal degeneration, diabetes, Parkinson''s disease, heart disease, and spinal trauma. He also discusses the important technique of bone marrow transplantation and some other types of current stem cell therapy, used for the treatment of blindness and of severe burns. Slack warns against fake stem cell treatments and discusses how to distinguish real from fake treatments. He also describes the latest scientific progress in the field, and looks forward to what we can expect to happen in the next few yearsVery Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of ContentsPreface 1: What are stem cells? 2: Embryonic stem cells 3: Personalised pluripotent stem cells 4: Therapy using pluripotent stem cells 5: Tissue-specific stem cells 6: Therapy using tissue-specific stem cells 7: Expectations: realistic and unrealistic Glossary Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisPrinciples of Neurobiology, Second Edition presents the major concepts of neuroscience with an emphasis on how we know what we know. The text is organized around a series of key experiments to illustrate how scientific progress is made and helps upper-level undergraduate and graduate students discover the relevant primary literature. Written by a single author in a clear and consistent writing style, each topic builds in complexity from electrophysiology to molecular genetics to systems level in a highly integrative approach. Students can fully engage with the content via thematically linked chapters and will be able to read the book in its entirety in a semester-long course. Principles of Neurobiology is accompanied by a rich package of online student and instructor resources including animations, figures in PowerPoint, and a Question Bank for adopting instructors.Trade ReviewProf Liqun Luo is the recipient of the 2020 Award for Education in Neuroscience granted by the Society for Neuroscience in recognition of his continuing commitment to both cutting-edge research and neuroscience education. The first edition of his textbook has been adopted by over 150 courses taught by major universities all of the world."This textbook from Dr. Liqun Luo is fantastic for advanced undergraduate courses on neurobiology. The emphasis on experiment-led explanations of neurobiology is critical for students transiting from textbook learning to thinking like modern scientist." - Marla B. Feller, Paul Licht Distinguished Professor in Biological Sciences, Division of Neurobiology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology & Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley"Principles of Neurobiology is a stellar achievement of scholarship - a synthesis of the most interesting and important discoveries in neuroscience, written by a leader in our field who has based his text on a careful reading of thousands of primary research papers. Remarkably, this book does not just describe each 'discovery': it also describes the path to discovery, noting the specific technologies and experimental designs that enabled each key result." - Rachel Wilson, Martin Family Professor of Basic Research in the Field of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute"… what an extraordinary achievement this is – I don’t think there are many out there any longer who can cover the entire field of neuroscience in such a scholarly manner, singlehandedly! The integration that results from this is likely unique to this book." - Edvard Moser, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Founding Director of the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyProf Liqun Luo is the recipient of the 2020 Award for Education in Neuroscience granted by the Society for Neuroscience in recognition of his continuing commitment to both cutting-edge research and neuroscience education. The first edition of his textbook has been adopted by over 150 courses taught by major universities all of the world."This textbook from Dr. Liqun Luo is fantastic for advanced undergraduate courses on neurobiology. The emphasis on experiment-led explanations of neurobiology is critical for students transiting from textbook learning to thinking like modern scientist." - Marla B. Feller, Paul Licht Distinguished Professor in Biological Sciences, Division of Neurobiology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology & Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley"Principles of Neurobiology is a stellar achievement of scholarship - a synthesis of the most interesting and important discoveries in neuroscience, written by a leader in our field who has based his text on a careful reading of thousands of primary research papers. Remarkably, this book does not just describe each 'discovery': it also describes the path to discovery, noting the specific technologies and experimental designs that enabled each key result." - Rachel Wilson, Martin Family Professor of Basic Research in the Field of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute"… what an extraordinary achievement this is – I don’t think there are many out there any longer who can cover the entire field of neuroscience in such a scholarly manner, singlehandedly! The integration that results from this is likely unique to this book." - Edvard Moser, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Founding Director of the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyTable of Contents1. An Invitation to Neurobiology. 2. Signaling within Neurons. 3. Signaling across Synapses. 4. Vision. 5. Wiring the Visual System. 6. Olfaction, Taste, Audition, and Somatosensation. 7. Constructing the Nervous System. 8. Motor Systems. 9. Regulatory Systems. 10. Sexual Behavior. 11. Memory, Learning, and Synaptic Plasticity. 12. Brain Disorders. 13. Evolution of the Nervous System. 14. Ways of Exploring.

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Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. RNA and the Cellular Biochemistry Revisited2. Creating a Ribonuclease-free Environment3. RNA Isolation Strategies4. The Truth about Tissues5. Going Green: RNA and the Molecular Biology of Plants6. Quality Control for RNA Preparations7. cDNA: A Permanent Biochemical Record of the Cell8. RT-PCR: A Science and an Art Form9. Quantitative PCR Techniques10. miRNA11. RNA Interference - Take a RISC: Role the Dicer12. Stringency: Conditions that Influence Nucleic Acid Structure13. Electrophoresis of RNA14. Photodocumentation and Image Analysis15. Northern Analysis16. Nucleic Acid Probe Technology17. Isolation of Polyadenylated RNA18. Quantification of Specific mRNAs by Nuclease Protection19. Analysis of Nuclear RNA20. Non-Array Methods for Global Analysis of Gene Expression21. Genomes, Transcriptomes, Proteomes, and Bioinformatics22. RNA Biomarker Development23. High-Throughput Analysis of Gene Expression24: Functional Genomics and Transcript Profiling25. A Few RNA Success Stories AppendixA. Maintaining Complete and Accurate RecordsB. Converting Mass to MolesC. Disposal of Ethidium Bromide and SYBR Green SolutionsD. DNase I Removal of DNA from an RNA SampleE. RNase Incubation to Remove RNA from a DNA SampleF. Useful Stock Solutions for the Molecular BiologistG. Silanizing Centrifuge Tubes and GlasswareH. Dot Blot AnalysisI. Electrophoresis: Principles, Parameters, and SafetyJ. Polyacrylamide Gel ElectrophoresisK. Centrifugation as a Mainstream Tool for the Molecular BiologistL. Trypsinization Protocol for Anchorage-Dependent CellsM. Isolation of High-Molecular-Weight DNA by Salting-OutN. Phenol PreparationO. Deionization of Formamide, Formaldehyde, and GlyoxalP. Selected Suppliers of Equipment, Reagents, and ServicesQ. Useful SI UnitsR. Common AbbreviationsS. Trademark Citations

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Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. Functional principles and regulation of molecular chaperones Johannes Buchner 2. Chaperones and retinal disorders Nikolai O. Artemyev 3. Protein misfolding and degradation in genetic diseases Rasmus Hartmann-Petersen 4. Chaperone dysfunction in hereditary myopathic diseases Andreas Roos 5. Diseases caused by functional disorder of molecular chaperones residing in the endoplasmic reticulum Masafumi Sakono 6. Structural and functional insights on the roles of molecular chaperones in the mistargeting and aggregation phenotypes associated with primary hyperoxaluria type I Angel Luis Pey 7. Inflammatory response and its relation to sphingolipid metabolism proteins: Targeting inflammation with molecular chaperones Elif Ozkirimli 8. When safeguarding goes wrong: impact of oxidative stress on proteins homeostasis in health and neurodegenerative disorders Dana Reichmann 9. Computational approach to unravel the misfolding mechanism of Glucosylceramidase mutations in Gaucher Disease George Priya Doss P. C 10. Cytosolic quality control proteins, SGTA and the Bag6 complex, in disease Rivka L. Isaacson

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Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. Biological oxidation of iron sulfides Mathilde Monachon, Magdalena Albelda Berenguer and Edith Joseph 2. Microbes associated with fresh produce: Sources, types and methods to reduce spoilage and contamination Maciej Kaczmarek, Simon V. Avery and Ian Singleton 3. Toward rational selection criteria for selection of probiotics in pigs Weilan Wang and Michael Gänzle 4. Mucoid switch in Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria: Triggers, molecular mechanisms and implications in pathogenesis Mirela R. Ferreira, Sara C. Gomes and Leonilde M. Moreira 5. Phenotypic instability in fungi Philippe Silar

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPART I – Foundations Chapter 1 – Introduction Bedir Tekinerdogan, Dominique Blouin, Hans Vangheluwe, Miguel Goulão, Paulo Carreira, Vasco Amaral Chapter 2 An Ontological Foundation for Understanding Multi-Paradigm Modeling for Cyber-Physical Systems R. Paige, M. van den Brand Chapter 3 Feature-based Survey of Cyber-Physical Systems B. Akesson, J. Hooman, R. Dekker, W. Ekkelkamp, B. Stottelaar PART II - Techniques Chapter 4 Current standards and best practices used in CPSG. Orhan & M. Aksit Chapter 5 Tools and techniques used in different disciplines for CPS development: Modeling languagesS. Schuster, I. Schaefer, C. Seidl Chapter 6 Tools and techniques used in different disciplines for CPS development: Interfaces for InteroperabilityO. Al-wadeai, A. García-Domínguez, A. Bagnato, A. Abhervé, K. Barmpis Chapter 7 Tools and techniques used in different disciplines for CPS development: ProcessesY. Luo, J. Mengerink, M. van den Brand, R. Schiffelers Chapter 8 Requirements for future MPM4CPS modelling tools and techniquesB. Tekinerdogan, D. Blouin PART III – Application Domains Chapter 9 Case Study: Alarm Detection and Monitoring of Smart Factory Environment using Hybrid Sensor Network L. Banjanovic-Mehmedovic, D. Blouin, F. Mehmedovic, M. Zukic Chapter 10 Case Study: Embedded Devices Constantin-Bala Zamfirescu and Peter Larsen Chapter 11 Case Study: SmartLab Cloud System for IoT H. Vangheluwe Chapter 12 Automated Analysis of Model-Driven Artifacts in Industry – Big Data Analytics Y. Luo, J. Mengerink, M. van den Brand, R. Schiffelers PART IV – Education Chapter 13 On a MPM4CPS CurriculaV. Amaral, M. Goulão Chapter 14Developing a mutually-recognized cross-domain study program in cyber-physical systems Paulo Carreira Glossary Author Index Subject Index

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Book SynopsisDeath, for bacteria, is not inevitable. Protect a bacterium from predators, and provide it with adequate food and space to grow, and it would continue living--and reproducing asexually--forever. But a paramecium (a slightly more advanced single-cell organism), under the same ideal conditions, would stop dividing after about 200 generations--and die. Death, for paramecia and their offspring, is inevitable. Unless they have sex. If at any point during that 200 or so generations, two of the progeny of our paramecium have sex, their clock will be reset to zero. They and their progeny are granted another 200 generations. Those who fail to have sex eventually die. Immortality for bacteria is automatic; for all other living beings--including humans--immortality depends on having sex. But why is this so? Why must death be inevitable? And what is the connection between death and sexual reproduction? In Sex and the Origins of Death, William R. Clark looks at life and death at the level of the cell, as he addresses such profound questions as why we age, why death exists, and why death and sex go hand in hand. Clark reveals that there are in fact two kinds of cell death--accidental death, caused by extreme cold or heat, starvation, or physical destruction, and programmed cell death, initiated by codes embedded in our DNA. (Bacteria have no such codes.) We learn that every cell in our body has a self-destruct program embedded into it and that cell suicide is in fact a fairly commonplace event. We also discover that virtually every aspect of a cell''s life is regulated by its DNA, including its own death, that the span of life is genetically determined (identical twins on average die 36 months apart, randomly selected siblings 106 months apart), that human tissue in culture will divide some 50 times and then die (an important exception being tumor cells, which divide indefinitely). But why do our cells have such programs? Why must we die? To shed light on this question, Clark reaches far back in evolutionary history, to the moment when inevitable death (death from ageing) first appeared. For cells during the first billion years, death, when it occurred, was accidental; there was nothing programmed into them that said they must die. But fierce competition gradually led to multicellular animals--size being an advantage against predators--and with this change came cell specialization and, most important, germ cells in which reproductive DNA was segregated. When sexual reproduction evolved, it became the dominant form of reproduction on the planet, in part because mixing DNA from two individuals corrects errors that have crept into the code. But this improved DNA made DNA in the other (somatic) cells not only superfluous, but dangerous, because somatic DNA might harbour mutations. Nature''s solution to this danger, Clark concludes, was programmed death--the somatic cells must die. Unfortunately, we are the somatic cells. Death is necessary to exploit to the fullest the advantages of sexual reproduction. In Sex and the Origins of Death, William Clark ranges far and wide over fascinating terrain. Whether describing a 62-year-old man having a major heart attack (and how his myocardial cells rupture and die), or discussing curious life-forms that defy any definition of life (including bacterial spores, which can regenerate after decades of inactivity, and viruses, which are nothing more than DNA or RNA wrapped in protein), this brilliant, profound volume illuminates the miraculous workings of life at its most elemental level and finds in these tiny spaces the answers to some of our largest questions.Trade ReviewAnyone who reckons that science writing is dry stuff may find their outlook broadened by this little book about the biology of death. * New Scientist *

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Book SynopsisIn Life Itself, Boyce Rensberger, science writer for The Washington Post, takes readers to the frontlines of cell research with some of the brightest investigators in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. Virtually all the hottest topics in biomedical research are covered here, such as how do cells and their minute components move How do the body''s cells heal wounds? What is cancer? Why do cells die? And what is the nature of life? The solutions to the most pressing challenges facing scientists today -- from the efforts to conquer disease to the quest to understand life itself -- will be found in the innermost workings of the cell.In Life Itself, Rensberger paints a colourful and fascinating portrait of modern research in this vital area, an account which will enthrall anyone interested in state-of-the-art science or the incredible workings of the human body.Trade ReviewLife Itself is a wonderfully readable digest of everything currently known about the mechanisms by which living cells perform their myriad tasks. * The New York Times Book Review *An elegant, authoritative, yet felicitously written book that will appeal to anyone who is interested in how cells work....a compelling portrait of terrestrial life in its many guises. * New Scientist *Table of Contents1. A Particle of Life ; 2. Molecular Motors ; 3. Animation ; 4. The Living-Room Cell ; 5. How Genes Work ; 6. One Life Becomes Two ; 7. Two lives Become One ; 8. Constructing a Person ; 9. Pumping Protein ; 10. Heal Thyself ; 11. In Self-Defense ; 12. Revolution ; 13. The Immortality Within

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Book SynopsisWhat is life? Fifty years after physicist Erwin Schrodinger posed this question in his celebrated and inspiring book, the answer remains elusive. In The Way of the Cell, one of the world''s most respected microbiologists draws on his wide knowledge of contemporary science to provide fresh insight into this intriguing and all-important question. What is the relationship of living things to the inanimate realm of chemistry and physics? How do lifeless but special chemicals come together to form those intricate dynamic ensembles that we recognize as life? To shed light on these questions, Franklin Harold focuses here on microorganisms - in particular, the supremely well-researched bacterium E. coli - because the cell is the simplest level of organization that manifests all the features of the phenomenon of life. Harold shows that as simple as they appear when compared to ourselves, every cell displays a dynamic pattern in space and time, orders of magnitude richer than its elements. It integrates the writhings and couplings of billions of molecules into a coherent whole, draws matter and energy into itself, constructs and reproduces its own order, and persists in this manner for numberless generations while continuously adapting to a changing world. A cell constitutes a unitary whole, a unit of life, and in this volume one of the leading authorities on the cell gives us a vivid picture of what goes on within this minute precinct. The result is a richly detailed, meticulously crafted account of what modern science can tell us about life as well as one scientist''s personal attempt to wring understanding from the tide of knowledge.Trade Review"The work is like a breath of fresh air in a scientific world otherwise obsessed with excessive reductionism."--BioEssays"Witty and erudite, this scientific book hails as a literary achievement. Comprehensive and up to date, Franklin Harold traces the roots--historical, thermodynamic, and biochemical--of today's biological revolution."--Lynn Margulis, co-author (with Dorion Sagan) of both What is Life? and What is Sex?"This book helps us understand why the search for answers to the riddle 'What is life?' is a noble quest."--Howard C. Berg, author of Random Walks in Biology

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Book SynopsisNeural network research often builds on the fiction that neurons are simple linear threshold units, completely neglecting the highly dynamic and complex nature of synapses, dendrites, and voltage-dependent ionic currents. Biophysics of Computation: Information processing in single neurons challenges this notion, using richly detailed experimental and theoretical findings from cellular biophysics to explain the repertoire of computational functions available to single neurons. The author shows how individual nerve cells can multiply, integrate, or delay synaptic inputs and how information can be encoded in the voltage across the membrane, in the intracellular calcium concentration, or in the timing of individual spikes.Key topics covered include the linear cable equation; cable theory as applied to passive dendritic trees and dendritic spines; chemical and electrical synapses and how to treat them from a computational point of view; nonlinear interactions of synaptic input in passive anTable of Contents1. The membrane equation ; 2. Linear cable theory ; 3. Passive dendritic trees ; 4. Synaptic input ; 5. Synaptic interactions in a passive dendritic tree ; 6. The Hodgkin-Huxley model of action-potential generation ; 7. Phase space analysis of neuronal excitability ; 8. Ionic channels ; 9. Beyond Hodgkin and Huxley: calcium, and calcium-dependent potassium currents ; 10. Linearizing voltage-dependent currents ; 11. Diffusion, buffering, and binding ; 12. Dendritic spines ; 13. Synaptic plasticity ; 14. Simplified models of individual neurons ; 15. Stochastic models of single cells ; 16. Bursting cells ; 17. Input resistance, time constants, and spike initiation ; 18. Synaptic input to a passive tree ; 19. Voltage-dependent events in the dendritic tree ; 20. Unconventional coupling ; 21. Computing with neurons - a summary

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Book SynopsisCryoelectron microscopy of biological molecules is among the hottest growth areas in biophysics and structural biology at present, and Frank is arguably the most distinguished practitioner of this art. CryoEM is likely over the next few years to take over much of the structural approaches currently requiring X-ray crystallography, because one can now get good and finely detailed images of single molecules down to as little as 200,000 MW, covering a substantial share of the molecules of greatest biomedical research interest. This book, the successor to an earlier work published in 1996 with Academic Press, is a natural companion work to our forthcoming book on electron crystallography by Robert Glaeser, with contributions by six others, including Frank. A growing number of workers will employ CryoEM for structural studies in their own research, and a large proportion of biomedical researchers will have a growing interest in understanding what the capabilities and limits of this approachTable of Contents1: Introduction 2: Electron Microscopy of Macromolecular Assemblies 3: Two-Dimensional Averaging Techniques 4: Multivariate Data Analysis and Classification of Images 5: Three-Dimensional Reconstruction 6: Interpretation of Three-Dimensional Images of Macromolecules Appendix 1: Some Important Definitions and Theorems Appendix 2: Profiles, Point-Spread Functions, and Effects of Commonly Used Low-Pass Filters Appendix 2: Bibliography of Methods Appendix 2: Bibliography of Structures Appendix 2: Special Journal Issues on Image Processing Techniques

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Book SynopsisLeaves are among the most abundant organs on earth and are a defining feature of most terrestrial ecosystems. However, a leaf is also a potential meal for a hungry animal and the question therefore arises, why does so much foliage survive in nature? What mechanisms protect leaves so that, on a global scale, only a relatively small proportion of living leaf material is consumed? Leaf survival is in large part due to two processes: firstly, leaf-eating organisms fall prey to predators (top-down pressure on the herbivore); secondly, leaves defend themselves (bottom-up pressure on the herbivore). Remarkably, these two types of event are often linked; they are controlled and coordinated by plants and the molecular mechanisms that underlie this are now beginning to emerge. This novel text focuses exclusively on the leaf, on the herbivorous organisms that attack leaves, and the mechanisms that plants use to defend these vital organs. It begins with an assessment of the scale of herbivory, befTrade ReviewAn essential resource for graduate students and faculty and valuable for upper-division undergraduates. * Choice *Leaf Defence provides an excellent review of the rapidly evolving literature in this field. * Ian T. Baldwin, Nature Review *In a very succinct yet comprehensive format, Farmer explores the remarkably diverse means by which leaves defend themselves against herbivores ... As a guide, Farmer is engaging, authoritative and didactic ... [His] text is an enjoyable read for anyone interested in plant defences with an evolutionary perspective, accessible to a general audience from students studying ecological courses to interested biologists and biochemists. * Maria Jose Endara and Natasha L. Wiggins, Edinburgh Journal of Botany *Leaf Defence ... definitively provides the perfect read for beginners in the field to get up to date and, more importantly, sparks interest that will motivate to follow through with some of the questions. However, it also provides a very helpful overall conceptual framework that integrates and balances the very diverse scientific approaches and views in the field, which will make the volume also valuable to experienced researchers as a guideline and reference. The structure of the book is ingenious in its simplicity and logic. * Andre Kessler, Quarterly Review of Biology *Table of Contents1. Introduction: The leaf and the pressures it faces ; 2. Leaf colour patterning and leaf form ; 3. Structural defences and specialised defence cells ; 4. Chemical defences ; 5. Inducible defences and the jasmonate pathway ; 6. Top-down pressures and indirect defences ; 7. Release and escape from herbivory ; 8. Escape in space : The cliff trees of Socotra

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Book SynopsisA fresh approach to biology centred on a clear narrative, active learning, and confidence with quantitative concepts and scientific enquiry. Designed for flexible learning, it will give you a deeper understanding of the key concepts, and an appreciation of biology as a dynamic experimental science.Table of ContentsLife and its Exploration: Foundational Principles Topic 1: Exploring the science of life Topic 2: The emergence of life on Earth Topic 3: Defining Life Topic 4: Evolutionary processes Topic 5: The diversity, organisation, and classification of life Quantitative Toolkits Quantitative Toolkit 1: Understanding data Quantitative Toolkit 2: Size and scale Quantitative Toolkit 3: Describing data Quantitative Toolkit 4: Ratio and proportion Quantitative Toolkit 5: Understanding samples Quantitative Toolkit 6: Designing experiments Quantitative Toolkit 7: Assessing patterns Quantitative Toolkit 8: Formulae and equations Quantitative Toolkit 9: Rates of change Module 1 LIFE AT THE MOLECULAR LEVEL 1: Building blocks: molecules and macromolecules 2: Energy: powering biochemical processes 3: Information: genes and genomes 4: Mendelian genetics 5: Reading the genome: gene expression and protein synthesis 6: Proteins and proteomes 7: Metabolism: energy capture and release from food 8: Molecular tools and techniques Module 2 LIFE AT THE CELLULAR LEVEL 9: Characteristics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells 10: Cell division in prokaryotes and eukaryotes 11: Microbial diversity 12: The growth, measurement, and visualisation of cells 13: Microbes in life: harnessing their power 14: Microbes as agents of infectious disease 15: Viruses Module 3 THE HUMAN ORGANISM: TISSUES, ORGANS, AND SYSTEMS 16: Physiology overview 17: Communication and control 1: introducing the nervous and endocrine systems 18: Communication and control 2: sensory systems 19: Communication and control 3: controlling organ systems 20: Muscle and movement 21: Cardiovascular system 22: Respiratory system 23: Exercise physiology 24: Renal system 25: Digestive system 26: Reproductive system 27: Immune system

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Book SynopsisWritten primarily for students embarking on an undergraduate bioscience degree, this primer provides a clear introduction to the main aspects of cell signalling in biological systems, demystifying the subject for those new to the field. The primer provides an overview of cell signalling and highlights its importance in all organisms, before going on to describe the main components of cell signalling and examples of signal transduction pathways. The discussion then progresses on to key physiological conditions in which cell signalling has an instrumental role: cancer, apoptosis and diabetes. After getting to grips with the fundamentals of the subject, Cell Signalling opens a discussion on the future of the discipline, including how manipulation of cell signalling pathways is seen as the biggest target for the pharmaceutical industry, and how crop diseases, plant survival during stress, and post-harvest storage are all influenced by cell signalling pathways.Cell Signalling is supported bTable of Contents1: Introduction to cell signalling 2: Signals and their perception 3: Modifications to proteins that control cell signalling 4: Intracellular signals 5: Cell signalling disorders; cancers and apoptosis 6: Stress responses and the changing cell environment 7: Future challenges and perspectives in cell signalling

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Book SynopsisWritten primarily for 16-19-year-old students, this primer introduces the subject of developmental biology through a wide range of organisms, offering insights into the fundamental principles that shape life''s diverse and extraordinary forms. It covers all the essential topics, including cell biology, cell signalling, cell specialization, genomic control of development, evidence for evolution, and cell ageing and death.The author guides students carefully and gradually through the concise contents, providing a robust basis for understanding the molecular and morphological events that occur during embryo development, but that are also important in adult homeostasis, regeneration, and disease. Students will delve into the secrets of stem cells, the marvels of regeneration, and the paradox of how a broadly conserved genome can support the biodiversity we see throughout the natural world. Engaging case studies and ''scientific approach'' boxes challenge the reader to think critically and Table of Contents1: Why aren't we all worms? 2: How and why do cells talk to each other? 3: The secret lives of stem cells 4: Embryo origami 5: Creating diverse and extreme body plans 6: The good, the bad, and the old: developmental principles in regeneration and ageing

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Book SynopsisIntroduction to Glycobiology reveals the true impact of the sugars on biological systems, explaining their function at the molecular, cellular, and organismal level and their clinical relevance.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition This book is an absolute must for all lecturers and students alike of glycobiology ... Wholeheartedly recommended. * Microbiology Today, November 2006 *It covers the breadth of glycobiology very well and provides sufficient depth to provide a platform for further research. * Dr Gavin M. Brown, Lancaster University *Others are not written as clearly or concisely as Taylor and Drickamer. * Prof Y.C. Lee, John Hopkins University *I prefer this book highly above the other text books available. * Prof Dr J.P. Kamerling, Utrecht University *Dr Taylor and Professor Drickamer should be congratulated on writing a textbook that presents the enormous subject of glycobiology with energy and enthusiasm and doing so in a manner that should be accessible to their target audience. * Biochemist e-volution, April 2006 *Table of ContentsPART 1: STRUCTURES AND BIOSYNTHESIS OF GLYCANS; PART 2: GLYCANS IN BIOLOGY

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Book SynopsisSignalling within and between cells is one of the most important aspects of modern biochemistry and cell biology. An understanding of signalling pathways is vital to a wide range of biologists, from those who are investigating the causes of cancer, to those who are concerned about the impact of environmental pollutants on the ecosystem. The way cells adapt to changing environments, and the way cell dysfunction causes disease, is underpinned by cell signalling events. Cell Signalling presents a carefully structured and highly accessible introduction to this intricate and rapidly growing field. Starting with an overview of cell signalling and highlighting its importance in many biological systems, the book goes on to explore the key components of extracellular and intracellular signalling mechanisms, before examining how these components come together to create signalling pathways. A focus on common components and concepts, rather than mechanistic detail, allows the reader to gain a thorough understanding of the principles that underpin cell signalling. Online Resource CentreThe Online Resource Centre to accompany Cell Signalling features:For students:- Links to useful websitesFor registered adopters of the text:- Journal Clubs: suggested research papers and discussion questions linked to topics featured in the book- Figures from the book in electronic format for use in lecturesTrade ReviewA good overview of the key underlying concepts and principles, allowing students to gain a solid grounding in the subject. I like the Case Study sections which link to research findings; these provide relevant context and help students to understand the key message in complex scientific articles. * Dr Andrew Chantry, University of East Anglia *It is really the best specialist text for undergraduates on this topic I have seen. * Dr Fergus Doherty, University of Nottingham *Review from previous edition: John Hancock's Cell Signalling is a straightforward introduction to a rapidly expanding field of biology. Its unintimidating writing style, simple and uncluttered figures, and competitive price make it a wonderful introductory text for undergraduates. * Dr Laura K. Palmer, Penn State University *Review from previous edition: Complexity and specificity are the hallmarks of cell signalling, yet Hancock in this third edition has gone a long way to simplify these complicated processes. His signalling examples are clever and well-conceived, his writing descriptive and his passion for his subject infectious ... this is marvellous value for money and is a worthy companion to an undergraduate/postgraduate reference library. * John P. Phelan, Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland in The Biochemist *Table of ContentsPART 1: AN OVERVIEW OF SIGNALLING; PART 2: COMPONENTS THAT COMPRISE SIGNALLING PATHWAYS; PART 3: SELECTED EXAMPLES OF SIGNALLING PATHWAYS AND EVENTS; PART 4: FINAL THOUGHTS

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Book SynopsisThe Fourth Edition of The Neuron features newly updated chapters and scores of full-color figures, making it an ideal first course in the cell and molecular biology of nerve cells.Trade ReviewThe text is impressively modern, with up-to date information on the trendiest areas of neurobiology . . .the book is highly visual, with figures on virtually every page. The figures deserve special comment because they are a teacher's dream: simple and uncluttered, but conceptually powerful. Frankly, although the recommendation is often absurd, The Neuron is one of those books that really does belong on every shelf. * Nature *The format of each chapter is ideally suited for easy, enjoyable, and almost effortless learning . . . This is a superbly written and well-illustrated text covering all of the major aspects of neuroscientific knowledge . . . every neuroscientist should keep a copy handy. * Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience *This is a first-rate textbook for a course in cellular neurobiology for upper-level university students. My colleagues and I took it out on a shakedown cruise with a class of 250 undergraduates. The wind really caught their sails, and we sped quickly through it in the ten weeks of the academic quarter. The students appreciated the consistent clarity and the uniformity of style. The illustrations are highly conceptual and were easily understood . . . The up-to-date presentation of many exciting recent findings is a great strength. General principles are illustrated with a useful blend of data from vertebrate and invertebrate systems. * William S Messer, Jr., in The Quarterly Review of Biology *An outstanding, easily readable, and quite up-to-date overview of fundamental neurobiology. * Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences *Table of ContentsPreface to the Fourth Edition ; I. Introduction ; 1. Signaling in the Brain ; 2. Form and Function in Cells of the Brain ; II. Electrical Properties of Neurons ; 3. Electrical Signaling in Neurons ; 4. Membrane Ion Channels and Ion Currents ; 5. Ion Channels Are Membrane Proteins ; 6. Ion Channels, Membrane Ion Currents, and the Action Potential ; 7. Diversity in the Structure and Function of Ion Channels ; III. Intercellular Communication ; 8. Intercellular Communication: How Neurons Communicate: Gap Junctions and Neurosecretion ; 9. Synaptic Release of Neurotransmitters ; 10. Neurotransmitters and Neurohormones ; 11. Receptors and Transduction Mechanisms I: Receptors Coupled Directly to Ion Channels ; 12. Receptors and Transduction Mechanisms II: Indirectly Coupled Receptor/Ion Channel Systems ; 13. Sensory Receptors ; IV. Behavior and Plasticity ; 14. The Birth and Death of a Neuron ; 15. Neuronal Growth and Trophic Factors ; 16. Adhesion Molecules and Axon Pathfinding ; 17. Formation, Maintenance, and Plasticity of Chemical Synapses ; 18. Intrinsic Neuronal Properties, Neural Networks and Behavior ; 19. Learning and Memory

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Book SynopsisThe origin of cells remains one of the most fundamental problems in biology, one that over the past two decades has spawned a large body of research and debate. This book offers a comprehensive, impartial take on that research and the controversies that keep the field in turmoil.Trade Review"This book is a rare pleasure: a beautiful, rational, wise, and eloquent framing of life's greatest mysteries, what remains to be known, and how we might get there. It should be read by anyone who wonders, seriously, how we came to be. If it does not provide all the answers, that is because we honestly do not know." (Nick Lane, University College London)"

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisAn analysis of the role of metaphor in shaping the work and findings of science, using cell biology as the central case study.

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Book SynopsisAn analysis of the role of metaphor in shaping the work and findings of science, using cell biology as the central case study.

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Book SynopsisAllometry, the study of the growth rate of an organism's parts in relation to the whole, has produced various results in research on animals. This text applies allometry to studies of the evolution, morphology, physiology and reproduction of plants.Table of Contents1 Growth and Metabolism Introduction Growth and Development/Multicellularity and Modular Construction Size and Shape Scaling Principles/Dimensional Analysis The 2/3-Power Law The 3/4-Power Law Growth and Time Photosynthesis and Two Physical Laws Organs versus Organisms Summary 2 Aquatic Plants Introduction Absorption Coefficients of Water and Plant Cells The Package Effect and the Scaling of Cell Geometry and Shape The Transport Equations and Dimensionless Groupings of Variables Fluid Flow and Mass and Heat Transport: Phytoplankton Self-Propulsion: The Volvocales The Mechanics of Ciliary Motion Hydrodynamic Forces and the Mechanics of Attached Aquatic Plants Summary 3 Terrestrial Plants Introduction Heat and Mass Transfer and Boundary Layer Resistances Stomatal Resistances The Mechanical Scaling of Foliage Leaves Mechanical Design: General Considerations The Mechanical Scaling of Tree Height The Mechanical Scaling of Other Terrestrial Plants The Scaling of Self-Thinning Summary 4 Reproduction Introduction The Scaling of Reproductive Biomass Flowers, Fruits, and Seeds Branches and Reproductive Structures The Scaling of Long-Distance Dispersal Size and Gender Expression Summary 5 Evolution Introduction Heterochrony Heterauxesis and Allomorphosis On Being Small or Large The Scaling of the Plant Life Cycle The Evolution of Plant Life Histories Summary

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