Molecular biology Books

Book SynopsisGeoffrey West's research centres on a quest to find unifying principles and patterns connecting everything, from cells and ecosystems to cities, social networks and businesses.Why do organisms and ecosystems scale with size in a remarkably universal and systematic fashion?Is there a maximum size of cities? Of animals and plants? What about companies?Can scale show us how to create a more sustainable future?By applying the rigour of physics to questions of biology, visionary physicist Geoffrey West found that despite the riotous diversity in the sizes of mammals, they are all, to a large degree, scaled versions of each other. This speaks to everything from how long we can expect to live to how many hours of sleep we need. He then made the even bolder move of exploring his work's applicability to cities and to the business world. These investigations have led to powerful insights about the elemental natural laws that bind us together in profound ways, and how all complex systems are dancing to the same simple tune, however diverse and unrelated they may seem.Trade Review'The sort of big-ideas book that comes along only every few years . . . This is a book full of thrilling ideas' * Sunday Times *'Magisterial . . . you reach the end of this profound, revealing book rewarded. West shows how scientific method helps to peel back the hidden reality of our world. The concepts of physics dominated the last century. It is the concepts of biology - of networks, evolution and feedback dynamics - that are going to dominate the next' -- Matthew Syed * The Times *'Quite dazzling . . . The book proceeds by introducing one mathematical concept in each chapter (power laws, fractals and so on), and explaining it vividly through numerous examples drawn from biology, history, urban planning, and many other fields . . . written with great joy and a disarming humility' -- Steven Poole * The Spectator *'An absolutely riveting read. Like the best detective story, West lays out the amazing challenge of understanding why animals, cities and companies all scale so uniformly and then skilfully lets us into the secrets that his detective work has uncovered. This book captures the spirit of science in the twenty-first century, revealing the deep connections not just across physics and biology but society and life. The book is a perfect balance between the big scientific story and West's own personal narrative. We accompany the author on his quest to face up to his own mortality while at the same time being exposed to the theoretical discoveries that West has pioneered in his groundbreaking work' -- Marcus du Sautoy, Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University and author of The Great Unknown 'This is an important and original book, of immense scope. Geoffrey West is a polymath, whose insights range over physics, biology and the social sciences. He shows that the sizes, shapes and lifetimes of living things - despite their amazing diversity - display surprising correlations and patterns, and that these follow from basic physical principles. He then discovers, more surprisingly, the emergence of similar 'scaling laws' in human societies - in our cities, companies and social networks. This fascinating book deserves a very wide readership' -- Lord Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal'Scaling is the most important yet most hidden and rarely discussed attribute -- without understanding it one cannot possibly understand the world. This book will expand your thinking from three dimensions to four. Get two copies, just in case you lose one' -- Nassim Nicholas Taleb'I can think of no more exciting thinker in the world today than Geoffrey West. By bringing a physicist's razor-sharp mind to wonderfully surprising questions - "Why Aren't There Mammals the Size of Tiny Ants?" or "Are Cities and Companies Just Very Large Organisms?" - West forces us to see everything anew, from our own bodies to the mega-cities our species increasingly chooses to inhabit. Scale is a firework display of popular science' -- Niall Ferguson'Trees, brains, hallucinogenics and even imaginary monsters are considered in this joyous, mind-boggling study of scientific methods' * Telegraph, Top 50 Best Books of 2017 *'An enchanting intellectual odyssey . . . also a satisfying personal and professional memoir of a distinguished scientist whose life's work came to be preoccupied with finding ways to break down traditional boundaries between disciplines to solve the long-term global challenges of sustainability . . . Mr West manages to deliver a lot of theory and history accessibly and entertainingly . . . Provocative and fascinating' * New York Times *'It's rare in the history of science that someone has a big, bold, beautiful, stunningly simple new idea that also turns out to be right. Geoffrey West had one. And Scale is its story' -- Steven Strogatz, Professor of Mathematics, Cornell University and author of The Joy of X 'Geoffrey West's Scale is a revelation. Based on his path-breaking theory and research on super-linear scaling, it provides powerful new insights into the basic scientific laws that power our modern society and economy, its start-up companies, large corporations and cities. The book is a must-read for CEOs, technologists, mayors, urban leaders and anyone who wants to understand the simple laws that shape the complex, self-organizing world in which we live' -- Richard Florida, author of THE RISE OF THE CREATIVE CLASS and a senior editor at THE ATLANTIC'Scale is filled with brilliant insights. West illuminates the laws of nature underlying everything from tiny organisms and humans to cities and companies, and provides a quantitative framework for decoding the deep complexity of our interconnected world. If you want to know why companies fail, how cities persist and what is needed to sustain our civilization in this era of rapid innovation, read this amazing book' -- Marc Benioff, founder and CEO of Salesforce'If there were a Nobel Prize for transdisciplinary science Geoffrey West would have won it for the work covered in Scale. This is a book of great originality and deep importance, containing startling insights about topics as seemingly unrelated as aging and death, sleep, metabolism, cities, energy use, creativity, corporations, and even the sustainability of our existence. If you are curious about how the world really works, you must read this book' -- Bill Miller, LMM Investments'This spectacular book on how logarithmic scaling governs everything is packed with news - from the self-similar dynamics of cells and ecosystems to exactly why companies always die and cities don't. I dog-eared and marked up damn near every page' -- Stewart Brand, creator of the WHOLE EARTH CATOLOG'When Geoffrey West, a brilliant theoretical physicist, turned his lens to the study of life spans, biological systems or cities he stumbled onto a game-changing universal insight about growth and sustainability. Scale is dazzling and provocative and West proves himself to be a compelling and entertaining writer - this is a book we will be talking about for a long time' -- Abraham Verghese, author of CUTTING FOR STONEThis book is breathtaking in its scope and vision! It represents the culmination of exciting theoretical work addressing critical questions in life. Written by a clever physicist and one of the most influential thinkers of the time, Geoffrey West, this volume elaborates on the author's intriguing discovery that the growth, organisation and dynamics of humans, animals and plants scale with their size. .....It is really an enjoyable readthat takes readers on a journey of fresh insights and illuminating perspectives. -- Walid El-Sharoud * SCIENCE PROGRESS *In this "grand unified theory of sustainability", physicist Geoffrey West explores underlying laws that link society and nature, called scaling theory. Insights (into city size and walking speed, for instance) abound -- Mary Craig * NATURE *

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom Nobel Prize winner Venki Ramakrishnan ‘Beyond superb’ Bill Bryson ‘A wonderful book’ Ian McEwan Everyone knows about DNA, the essence of our being, the molecule where our genes reside. But DNA by itself is useless without a machine to decode the genetic information it contains. The ribosome is that machine. Venki Ramakrishnan tells the story of the race to uncover its enormously complex structure, a fundamental breakthrough that resolves an ancient mystery of life itself.Trade Review'Invitingly witty' * Nature *‘A must-read for anyone interested in a glimpse of the messy business – rivalries, failed experiments, the frustration of mistakes – of how science happens.’ * The Times *‘If someone had told me that one of the most witty and enthralling books I’d read this year would be on the quest to understand ribosomes, I believe I would have laughed in his face, but I would have been quite wrong. Gene Machine is beyond superb.’ -- Bill Bryson, author of A Short History of Nearly Everything‘An engaging and witty memoir…that highlights how science actually works… This profoundly human story is written with honesty and humility… Anyone who is captivated by an absorbing story well told will find much to appreciate in this fascinating book.’ * Forbes *‘This is not an objective history of the field, but a highly personal account. As such, anyone who wants to know how modern science really works should read it. It’s all here: the ambition, jealousy and factionalism — as well as the heroic late nights, crippling anxiety and disastrous mistakes — that underlie the apparently serene and objective surface represented by the published record.’ * Nature *‘Discovering the structure of the ribosome was a truly incredible moment in the history of humankind… For students of how science actually happens, this is a book to be treasured and pored over.’ -- Matt Ridley, author of Genome‘It is [Ramakrishnan’s] full embrace of the role of the antihero that makes Gene Machine so much fun to read and also serves as a reminder to us all of the beating human heart that lies at the center of every advance in science.’ * Wall Street Journal *‘The ribosome, a structure of astonishing complexity, “lies at the crossroads of life” and Venki Ramakrishnan played a key role in revealing its biological mysteries. His superb account lays out the science with great lucidity, but he also grants us the human face of science – the hard work and brilliant insights, of course, but also the role of luck, of personalities, jealousy, money, the roulette of major awards, and the further rewards heaped upon the fortunate. Science, in his glorious telling, becomes “a play, with good and bad characters”. Competition and collaboration can appear inseparable, crucial figures get overlooked. It’s a wonderful book and a great corrective to the notion of science as dispassionate, untainted objectivity.’ -- Ian McEwan‘[Ramakrishnan's] meticulously detailed and generous memoir has the same disarming frankness as The Double Helix. His personal honesty about the competitive ambition that drove him is tempered by his deeply thoughtful reflections on the potentially corrupting effect of big prizes. Gene Machine will be read and re-read as an important document in the history of science.’ -- Richard Dawkins‘An enchanting and invigorating work, Gene Machine casts a many-angled light on the world of science, the nature of discovery, and on one of the deepest mysteries of twentieth-century biology. Ramakrishnan, one of the key players in deciphering the molecular basis of protein translation, gives us both a rollicking scientific story and a profoundly human tale. In the tradition of The Double Helix, Gene Machine does not hesitate to highlight the process by which science advances: moving through fits and starts, often underscored by deep rivalries and contests, occasionally pitching towards error and misconception, but ultimately advancing towards profound and powerful truths. An outsider to the world of ribosome biology – an Indian immigrant, a physicist by training – Ramakrishnan retains his “outsider’s” vision throughout the text, reminding us about the corrosive nature of scientific prizes, and the intensity of competition that drives researchers (both ideas, I suspect, will have a munificent effect on our current scientific culture). Ramakrishnan’s writing is so honest, lucid and engaging that I could not put this book down until I had read to the very end.’ -- Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of The Emperor of All Maladies and The Gene‘Quite a ride. This is a riveting personal account of the race to decipher the structure of the ribosome, one of the most complex and fundamental machines in the cell… Ramakrishnan’s telling is laced with wisdom spun from a remarkable life story and the sharp lab anecdotes that are the lifeblood of everyday science.’ -- Nick Lane, author of The Vital Question‘This book is dynamite. Like no science book ever before, this is an honest, frank and simply jaw-dropping account of how a relative outsider ended up winning a Nobel Prize.’ -- Daniel M. Davis, author of The Beautiful Cure‘This exhilarating account of the race to understand the molecular machine that turns genes into flesh and blood is remarkable for its candid insights into the way science is really done, by human beings with all their talents and foibles. Venki Ramakrishnan, an outsider in the race, gives an insider’s view of the decades-long quest to map the million atoms in the machine to fathom the fundamentals of life, pave the way for new antibiotics, and share the glory of the Nobel Prize.’ -- Roger Highfield, Director of External Affairs, Science Museum Group‘In Gene Machine one of the world’s leading scientists reveals the reality of scientific discovery and the rivalry, collaboration and thrills that are involved. The result is a brilliant under-the-hood account of what it takes to win the Nobel Prize. Exciting and brutally honest, Venki’s book explains the dramatic turns in the race to describe the structure of the ribosome – an essential component of every cell that has ever lived. I laughed out loud, I shouted in disbelief, and I learned so much from reading this book.’ -- Matthew Cobb, author of Life’s Greatest Secret

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisSeventy years ago, Erwin Schrödinger posed a profound question: ''What is life, and how did it emerge from non-life?'' This problem has puzzled biologists and physical scientists ever since. Living things are hugely complex and have unique properties, such as self-maintenance and apparently purposeful behaviour which we do not see in inert matter. So how does chemistry give rise to biology? What could have led the first replicating molecules up such a path? Now, developments in the emerging field of ''systems chemistry'' are unlocking the problem. Addy Pross shows how the different kind of stability that operates among replicating molecules results in a tendency for chemical systems to become more complex and acquire the properties of life. Strikingly, he demonstrates that Darwinian evolution is the biological expression of a deeper, well-defined chemical concept: the whole story from replicating molecules to complex life is one continuous process governed by an underlying physical principle. The gulf between biology and the physical sciences is finally becoming bridged.This new edition includes an Epilogue describing developments in the concepts of fundamental forms of stability discussed in the book, and their profound implications.Oxford Landmark Science books are ''must-read'' classics of modern science writing which have crystallized big ideas, and shaped the way we think.Trade ReviewIn this inspiring book, Pross provides an engaging account of the view that systems chemistry can bridge the hitherto unassailable abiogenic/biogenic divide. In a carefully constructed, almost forensic, analysis, he confronts crucial issues, such as the conceptual gulf between the biochemist's chicken and egg problem...and the fundamental role of dynamic kinetic stability in the process of life. * Ben Mepham, The Biologist *Table of ContentsPrologue 1: Living things are so very strange 2: Historic quest for a theory of life 3: Understanding 'understanding' 4: Stability and instability 5: The knotty origin of life problem 6: Biology's crisis of identity 7: Biology is chemistry 8: What is Life? References and Notes Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisFirst published in 1966, THE CHEMISTRY OF LIFE has held its own as a clear and authoritative introduction to the world of biochemistry. This fourth edition has been fully updated and revised to include the latest developments in DNA and protein synthesis, cell regulation, and their social and medical implications.

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis fully revised second edition of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Viruses leads students on an exploration of viruses by supporting engaging and interactive learning. All the major classes of viruses are covered, with separate chapters for their replication and expression strategies, and chapters for mechanisms such as attachment that are independent of the virus genome type. Specific cases drawn from primary literature foster student engagement. End-of-chapter questions focus on analysis and interpretation with answers being given at the back of the book. Examples come from the most-studied and medically important viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, HIV, and influenza. Plant viruses and bacteriophages are also included. There are chapters on the overall effect of viral infection on the host cell. Coverage of the immune system is focused on the interplay between host defenses and viruses, with a separate chapter on medical applications such as antiviral drugs and vaccine develop

Read more less

Book SynopsisAuthored by leading experts in the enzymology of natural product biosynthesis, this completely revised and updated edition provides a description of the types of natural products, the biosynthetic pathways that enable the production of these molecules, and an update on the discovery of novel products in the post-genomic era. Although some 500 000 – 600 000 natural products have been isolated and characterized over the past two centuries, there may be a 10-fold greater inventory awaiting immediate exploration based on biosynthetic gene cluster predictions. The approach of this book is to codify the chemical logic that underlies each natural product structural class as they are assembled from building blocks of primary metabolism. This second edition integrates many new findings into the sets of principles of the first edition that parsed categories of natural product chemistries into the underlying enzymatic mechanisms and the catalytic machinery for building the varied and complex end product metabolites. New chapters include evaluation of a core set of thermodynamically activated but kinetically stable metabolites that power both primary and secondary metabolic pathways. Also, after decades of uncertainty about the existence of various pericyclase classes, a series of genome mining, heterologous expression, and enzymatic activity characterization have validated a plethora of pericyclases over the past decade. The several types of pericyclases are involved in biosynthetic complexity generation of almost every major category of natural products. This text will serve as a reference point for chemists of every subdiscipline, including synthetic organic chemists and medicinal chemists. It will also be valuable to bioinformatic and computational biologists, pharmacognocists and chemical ecologists, and bioengineers and synthetic biologists.Table of ContentsMajor Classes of Natural Product Scaffolds and Enzymatic Biosynthetic Machinery; The Chemical Logic for Major Reaction Types; Polyketide Natural Products; Peptide Natural Products I: RiPPs; Peptide Natural Products II: Nonribosomal Peptides; Isoprenoids/Terpenes; Alkaloids I; Purine- and Pyrimidine-derived Natural Products; Phenylpropanoid Natural Product Biosynthesis; Alkaloids II: Indole Terpenes; Natural Product Oligosaccharides and Glycosides; Oxygenases, Thwarted Oxygenases, and Oxygen-dependent Halogenases; S-Adenosylmethionine; Pericyclases in Natural Product Biosynthesis; Natural Products Isolation and Characterization: Gene-independent Approaches; Natural Products in the Post Genomic Era

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow does the chemical description of a protein relate to its three-dimensional structure? How does the three-dimensional structure relate to the machinery that brings about a chemical reaction? How does the sequence of a gene encode not only the sequence of a protein but, more importantly, the architecture and function of that protein?Protein Structure and Function provides a clear and critical survey of our current understanding of the structure and function of proteins to answer questions such as these. Opening with a consideration of the link between protein sequence and structure, it goes on to explore the structural basis of protein function and how this function is controlled. Finally, it examines a range of case studies that illuminate the range of roles performed by proteins, and the diverse structures these proteins exhibit.Protein Structure and Function combines articulate prose with striking full colour illustrations, while the unique Primers in Biology modular structure intTrade ReviewA really good book provides a wealth of information in a manner that the reader remembers what he/she has read. This book does just that. The contents just pop into mind from time to time. This book will be a winner. * Tom Bruice, University of California, Santa Barbara *This treatment and focus is much needed. It will be essential reading by students and faculty alike, and will serve as a crucial reference book for everyone in the biosciences. * James Spudich, Stanford University School of Medicine *It is well-written, makes for interesting reading and contains a number of excellent examples. The whole book appears to be an important, useful and timely one. * Roman Laskowski, European Bioinformatics Institute *Table of Contents1. From Sequence to Structure ; 2. From Structure to Function ; 3. Control of Protein Function ; 4. From Sequence to Function: Case Studies in Structural and Functional Genomics ; 5. Structure Determination

Read more less

Book SynopsisIncreasing population and industrialization are the key pollutant contributors in water bodies. The wastes generated by industries are highly hazardous for humans and the ecosystem and require a comprehensive and effective treatment before being discharged into water bodies. Over the years, many up gradations have been introduced in traditional water treatment methods which were expensive and ineffective especially for removal of toxic pollutants. Phycoremediation has been gaining attention due to its mutual benefit in wastewater treatment and for valuable algae biomass production. Wastewater, especially sewage and industrial effluents, is rich in pathogenic organisms, organic and inorganic compounds and heavy metals that adversely affect human and aquatic life. Microalgae use these inorganic compounds and heavy metals for their growth. In addition, they also reduce pathogenic organisms and release oxygen to be used by bacteria for decomposition of organic compounds in a secondary tTable of ContentsChapter 1: Addressing the Strategies of Algal Biomass Production with Wastewater TreatmentChapter 2: Recent progress of phytoremediation-based Technologies for industrial wastewater treatmentChapter 3: Microalgae as Biological cleanser for waste water treatmentChapter 4: Phycoremediation of Toxic Metals for Industrial Effluent TreatmentChapter 5: Algal Biomass Production Coupled to Wastewater TreatmentChapter 6: Photobioreactor in Waste Water Treatment: Design and Operational featuresChapter 7: Genetic Engineering of AlgaeChapter 8: Immobilized Micro Algae For Removing Waste Water Pollutants And Ecotoxicological View Of Adsorbed Nanoparticles – An OverviewChapter 9: Tailoring Microalgae for Efficient Biofuel Production

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis classic text continues to provide the basis for understanding genetic principles behind quantitative differences, and extends these concepts to the segregation of genes that cause genetic variation in quantitative traits.Table of Contents Genetics Constitution of a Population Changes of Gene Frequency Small Populations: I Changes of Gene Frequency Under Simplified Conditions Small Populations: II Less Simplified Conditions Small Populations: III Pedigreed Populations and Close Inbreeding Continuous Variation Values and Means Variance Resemblance Between Relatives Heritability Selection: I The Results of Experiments Selection: III Information from Relatives Inbreeding and Crossbreeding: I Changes of Mean Value Inbreeding and Crossbreeding: II Changes of Variance Inbreeding and Crossbreeding: III Applications Scale Threshold Characters Correlated Characters Metric Characters under Natural Selection Quantitative Trait Loci

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs with the much-praised prior editions, the third edition of Strelkauskas'' Microbiology: A Clinical Approach remains a comprehensive introductory textbook written specifically for pre-nursing, nursing and allied health students. Clinically relevant throughout, it uses the theme of infection as its foundation, fitting closely with the ''One Health'' approach that is considered increasingly central to the effective control of zoonoses and to combatting antimicrobial resistance. The third edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect the latest developments, including the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and associated COVID-19 pandemic. The book is accompanied by a robust instructor ancillary package that allows educators to incorporate readily the book's unique approach into their lectures and includes additional materials for students to supplement classroom learning and encourage and support study and self-reflection.Key Features:Student-foTrade Review"The easily navigable chapters are enriched with outstanding illustrations and informative tables, and finished with salient summary points. In fact, the learning aids presented far exceeded my expectations for a textbook!.The opening pages of the book contain a wealth of guidance on how to use these features, with further complimentary resources available on-line and in the form of accompanying software for those who wish to apply for them!.it is an interesting book that has been well researched and the format makes it fun to read." Microbiology Today, June 2010 Table of ContentsPreface. Acknowledgments. Instructor and Student Resources. Learning Skills. Foundations. What Is Microbiology and Why Does It Matter? Fundamental Chemistry for Microbiology. Essentials of Metabolism. An Introduction to Cell Structure and Host–Pathogen Relationships. Disease Mechanisms. Requirements for Infection. Transmission of Infection, the Compromised Host, Epidemiology, and Diagnosing Infections. Principles of Disease. Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases. Characteristics of Disease-Causing Microorganisms. The Clinical Significance of Bacterial Anatomy. Bacterial Growth. Microbial Genetics and Infectious Disease. The Structure and Infection Cycle of Viruses. Viral Infection. Parasitic and Fungal Infections. Host Defense. The Innate Immune Response. The Adaptive Immune Response. Failures of the Immune Response. Control and Treatment. Control of Microbial Growth. Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Drugs. Antibiotic Resistance. Microbial Infections. Infections of the Respiratory System. Infections of the Digestive System. Infections of the Genitourinary System. Infections of the Central Nervous System. Infections of the Blood and Lymph. Infections of the Skin and Eyes. Epilogue. Multiple Choice Answers. Glossary. Pathogen List. Figure Acknowledgments. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisProteins are the workhorses of cells, performing most of the important functions which allow cells to use nutrients and grow, communicate among each other, and importantly, die if aberrant behavior is detected. How were proteins discovered? What is their role in cells? How do dysfunctional proteins give rise to cancers? Landmark Experiments in Protein Science explores the manner in which the inner workings of cells were elucidated, with a special emphasis on the role of proteins. Experiments are discussed in a manner as to understand what questions were being asked that prompted the experiments and what technical challenges were faced in the process; and results are presented and discussed using primary data and graphs.Key Features Describes landmark experiments in cell biology and biochemistry. Discusses the How and Why of historically important experiments. Includes primary, original data and gTable of ContentsChapter 1: Prelude to Biology: A History of Chemistry Chapter 2: The Cell and Heredity Chapter 3: Discovery of Proteins and Enzymes Chapter 4: Protein and DNA Subunits Chapter 5: The Energy of Cells: Glycolysis and the Krebs Cycle Chapter 6: Protein and DNA Structure Chapter 7: Protein Synthesis Part I: Localization of Protein Translation Chapter 8: Protein Synthesis Part II: The Mechanism of Protein Translation Chapter 9: The Energy of Cells: Oxidative Phosphorylation Chapter 10: The Energy of Cells: The Mechanism of ATP Synthesis Chapter 11: Techniques Chapter 12: Cell Signaling Part I: The role of Phosphorylation Chapter 13: Cell Signaling Part II: G-protein-coupled Receptors Chapter 14: The Secretory Pathway Chapter 15: The Mechanism of Cell Death Chapter 16: The Biology of Cancer Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis popular textbook, now in its third edition, provides a theoretical framework for understanding why cancers arise, how they develop and how they can be treated.Particular attention is devoted to the origins of cancer and the application of evolutionary theory to explain how mutant cell populations tend to expand and spread. Focused on the genes and signaling pathways involved in the most common tumors, Principles of Cancer Genetics is a highly readable account that will be of interest to anyone who would like to attain a basic understanding of cancer biology. Students who have completed introductory coursework in genetics, biology and biochemistry, medical students and medical house staff will find this book to be a useful starting point toward mastery of this complex but fascinating topic. This updated edition delves into the critical interactions between growing tumors and the immune system, and introduces the concepts of T cell activation, immunoediting and immune evasion. Novel strategies for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, including new roles for next-generation sequencing and liquid biopsies, as well as established and emerging therapeutic modalities are now described in detail.For laypersons, students and researchers in other fields with a general interest in cancer, this book provides an accessible overview, enriched with many easy-to-understand illustrations. For advanced students considering future study in the field of oncology and cancer research, this concise book is a useful guide to the basic principles that underlie our understanding of cancer.Table of Contentssee attachment

Read more less

Book SynopsisAnalytical methods are the essential enabling tools of the modern biosciences. This book presents a comprehensive introduction into these analytical methods, including their physical and chemical backgrounds, as well as a discussion of the strengths and weakness of each method. It covers all major techniques for the determination and experimental analysis of biological macromolecules, including proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. The presentation includes frequent cross-references in order to highlight the many connections between different techniques. The book provides a bird's eye view of the entire subject and enables the reader to select the most appropriate method for any given bioanalytical challenge. This makes the book a handy resource for students and researchers in setting up and evaluating experimental research. The depth of the analysis and the comprehensive nature of the coverage mean that there is also a great deal of new material, even for experienced experimentalists. The following techniques are covered in detail: - Purification and determination of proteins - Measuring enzymatic activity - Microcalorimetry - Immunoassays, affinity chromatography and other immunological methods - Cross-linking, cleavage, and chemical modification of proteins - Light microscopy, electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy - Chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques - Protein sequence and composition analysis - Mass spectrometry methods - Measuring protein-protein interactions - Biosensors - NMR and EPR of biomolecules - Electron microscopy and X-ray structure analysis - Carbohydrate and lipid analysis - Analysis of posttranslational modifications - Isolation and determination of nucleic acids - DNA hybridization techniques - Polymerase chain reaction techniques - Protein sequence and composition analysis - DNA sequence and epigenetic modification analysis - Analysis of protein-nucleic acid interactions - Analysis of sequence data - Proteomics, metabolomics, peptidomics and toponomics - Chemical biologyTable of ContentsPreface XV Introduction XIX Part I Protein Analytics 1 1 Protein Purification 3 2 Protein determination 23 3 Enzyme Activity Testing 35 4 Microcalorimetry 47 5 Immunological Techniques 63 6 Chemical Modification of Proteins and Protein Complexes 107 7 Spectroscopy 131 8 Light Microscopy Techniques – Imaging 181 9 Cleavage of Proteins 207 10 Chromatographic Separation Methods 219 11 Electrophoretic Techniques 243 12 Capillary Electrophoresis 275 13 Amino Acid Analysis 301 14 Protein Sequence Analysis 313 15 Mass Spectrometry 329 16 Protein–Protein Interactions 381 17 Biosensors 419 Part II 3D Structure Determination 431 18 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Biomolecules 433 19 Electron Microscopy 485 20 Atomic Force Microscopy 519 21 X-Ray Structure Analysis 529 Part III Peptides, Carbohydrates, and Lipids 553 22 Analytics of Synthetic Peptides 555 23 Carbohydrate Analysis 571 24 Lipid Analysis 613 25 Analysis of Post-translational Modifications: Phosphorylation and Acetylation of Proteins 645 Part IV Nucleic Acid Analytics 663 26 Isolation and Purification of Nucleic Acids 665 27 Analysis of Nucleic Acids 681 28 Techniques for the Hybridization and Detection of Nucleic Acids 719 29 Polymerase Chain Reaction 755 30 DNA Sequencing 785 31 Analysis of Epigenetic Modifications 817 32 Protein–Nucleic Acid Interactions 831 Part V Functional and Systems Analytics 873 33 Sequence Data Analysis 875 34 Analysis of Promoter Strength and Nascent RNA Synthesis 895 35 Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization in Molecular Cytogenetics 917 36 Physical and Genetic Mapping of Genomes 925 37 DNA-Microarray Technology 945 38 The Use of Oligonucleotides as Tools in Cell Biology 959 39 Proteome Analysis 977 40 Metabolomics and Peptidomics 1023 41 Interactomics – Systematic Protein–Protein Interactions 1033 42 Chemical Biology 1041 43 Toponome Analysis 1057 Appendix 1: Amino Acids and Posttranslational Modifications 1073 Appendix 2: Symbols and Abbreviations 1075 Appendix 3: Standard Amino Acids (three and one letter code) 1081 Appendix 4: Nucleic Acid Bases 1083 Index 1085

Read more less

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.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTable of ContentsUnit 1: Basic Chemical and Biological Principles1. Cells and Organisms2. Basic Genetics3. DNA, RNA, and Protein4. Genes, Genomes, and DNA5. Manipulation of Nucleic Acids Unit 2: The Genome6. The Polymerase Chain Reaction7. Cloning Genes for Analysis8. DNA Sequencing9. Genomics and Systems BiologyNew Chapter to cover metagenomics, symbiosis, epigenomics etc Unit 3: The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology10. Cell Division and DNA Replication11. Transcription of Genes12. Processing of RNA (moved to Unit 4)13. Protein Synthesis14. Protein Structure and Function15. Proteomics: Global Analysis of Proteins Unit 4: Regulating Gene Expression16. Regulation of Transcription in Prokaryotes17. Regulation of Transcription in Eukaryotes12. Processing of RNA (moved from Unit 3)18. Regulation at the RNA LevelNew Chapter on Genome defense (RNAi and CRISPR). Would include their use in genetic analysis and genome editing19. Analysis of Gene Expression (Transcriptome) Unit 5: Subcellular Life Forms20. Plasmids21. Viruses22. Mobile DNA Unit 6: Changing the DNA Blueprint23. Mutations and Repair24. Recombination25. Bacterial Genetics26. Molecular Evolution

Read more less

Book SynopsisNow in its sixth edition, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology provides the perfect balance between detail and conceptual understanding. Maintaining the much-praised clarity of previous editions, this edition incorporates both new techniques and pivotal discoveries in a succinct, easy-to-digest way, using updated figures and diagrams to help explain complex processes.Updated content on the manipulation of DNA and genes reflects the rapid introduction of new methods in contemporary research, and incorporates up-to-date discussions of recent developments such as gene editing. Chapter summaries are logically laid out, forming bulleted lists which provide students with a consolidation of difficult concepts and progressively guide them through the specifics whilst keeping the big picture in mind. Additional ''find out more'' sections provide helpful problem-solving support and the further reading is divided into types to cater for broader learning needs.With an integrated approach covering boTrade ReviewEasy to read with good use of simple figures and plenty of internal cross-references to other chapters or relevant pages. I was impressed with the inclusion of some very up to date findings. * Dr Peter Morris, School of Life Sciences, Heriot-Watt University *I don't know of any other biology/biochemistry book that explains DNA replication as well as this one. * Lynn Rogers, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, Adelaide University *The style is very clear, logical and systematic. The diagrams complement the text well. * Dr Momna Hejmadi, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath *Good entry level biochemistry textbook that gives students an overview of the diversity of biochemistry and that introduces abstract concepts in a well-explained and accessible way. * Dirk Wildeboer, Natural Sciences, Middlesex University *This textbook presents classical biochemistry material with a balanced emphasis on details and conceptual understanding. Explanations are given in a conversational manner so that students are not distracted by an over-whelming amount of new terminology. * Amanda Storm, Biology, James Madison University *Table of ContentsPart 1: Basic concepts of life 1: The basic molecular themes of life 2: Cells and viruses 3: Energy considerations in biochemistryPart 2: Structure and function of proteins and membranes 4: The structure of proteins 5: Methods in protein investigation 6: Enzymes 7: The cell membrane and membrane proteins 8: Muscle contraction, the cytoskeleton, and molecular motorsPart 3: Metabolism and nutrition 9: General principles of nutrition 10: Food digestion, absorption and distribution to the tissues 11: The storage fuels: Mechanisms of transport, storage, and mobilization of carbohydrate and fat 12: Principles of energy release from food 13: Glycolysis, the TCA cycle, and the electron transport system 14: Energy release from fat 15: An alternative pathway of glucose oxidation: The pentose phosphate pathway 16: Synthesis of glucose (gluconeogenesis) 17: Synthesis of fat and related compounds 18: Nitrogen metabolism: amino acid metabolism 19: Nitrogen metabolism: nucleotide metabolism 20: Mechanisms of metabolic control and their applications to metabolic integration 21: Raising electrons of water back up the energy scale: photosynthesisPart 4: Information storage and utilization 22: The genome 23: DNA synthesis, repair and recombination 24: Gene transcription 25: Protein synthesis and controlled protein breakdown 26: Control of gene expression 27: Protein sorting and delivery 28: Manipulating DNA and genesPart 5: Cells and tissues 29: Cell signalling 30: The cell cycle, cell division, cell death and cancerPart 6: Protective mechanisms against disease 31: Blood clotting, xenobiotic metabolism, and reactive oxygen species 32: The immune system

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewPraise for the First Edition:"The style of The Fungi shows that the authors are all experienced teachers, with skills of how to present material in a readable and attractive way...In summary, start using this in your courses if you are not already doing so - it is one of the best two tools around at this time" --David L. Hawksworth for Mycological Research, March 2003"...fills a gap between many textbooks of microbiology, biochemistry, genetics and ecology through covering topics specific to mycology that they often omit." --Meriel Jones for Microbiology Today, May 2002Table of Contents1. Diversity2. Cell biology and development3. Spore production, discharge and dispersal4. Genetics – variation, sexuality and evolution 5. Physiology and adaptation6. Molecular ecology7. Interactions with autotrophs – mutualisms8. Interactions with autotrophs – pathogens 9. Interactions with humans and other animals10. Interactions between fungi and other microbes11. Global change12. Biotechnology

Read more less

Book SynopsisBefore the discovery of insulin, a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes was a death sentence. One hundred years after a milestone medical discovery, ''Insulin - The Crooked Timber'' tells the story of how insulin was transformed from what one clinician called ''thick brown muck'' into the very first drug to be produced using genetic engineering, one which would earn the founders of the US biotech company Genentech a small fortune.Yet when Canadian doctor Frederick Banting was told in 1923 that he had won the Nobel Prize for this life-saving discovery, he was furious. For the prize had not been awarded to him alone - but jointly with a man whom he felt had no right to this honour. The human story behind this discovery is one of ongoing political and scientific controversy.Taking the reader on a fascinating journey, starting with the discovery of insulin in the 1920s through to the present day, ''Insulin - The Crooked Timber'' reveals a story of monstrous egos, toxic career rivalries, and a few Trade Review[uses] a blend of profound research, lively writing and personal knowledge of diabetes * Andrew Robinson, Nature *The lengthy bibliography and endnotes are a testament to the extensive research that has been carried out to produce this fascinating account. * Arpan K. Banerjee, Hektoen International *The story of insulin over the past 100 years, as the historian of science (and former molecular biologist) Kersten Hall shows in this dense and fascinating book, is also a microcosm of developments in science more widely, and of changes in the politics and economics of healthcare.[...] The pleasures of this book lie mainly in the storytelling detail and the gossipy richness of the lives, friendships and feuds glimpsed in the hubbub of decades pursuing the improvement of human health. * Steven Poole, Daily Telegraph *... comprehensive account of the modern medical history of the hormone... * Jerome Groopman, New York Review of Books *A fascinating book by an author with excellent credentials, well written and meticulously researched. * Geoff Gill, University of Liverpool *A timely book, pulling together many interesting stories about the scientific side of insulin. * John Pickup, King's College London School of Medicine *Reviews the events around the discovery of insulin in an original and well-documented manner. * Pierre Lefèbvre, University of Liège *Written in a clear and engaging style, the book provides a fresh take on historic events and also delves into aspects that have not been adequately explored previously. * Jeffrey Friedman, Rockefeller University *It is a good read and scholarly account. * Arpan Banerjee, Hektoen International Journal *Insulin-the Crooked Timber is essential reading for anyone concerned with the history of insulin. * Social History of Alcohol and Drugs. *Hall's The Crooked Timber expertly combines careful attention to the science with thoughtful consideration of its historical and philosophical dimensions. * Neelanjana Ray, History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences *Table of ContentsPreface Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth? Introduction Taming the Tiger 1: The Pissing Evil - a colourful description of diabetes by 17th century English physician Thomas Willis 2: Thick Brown Muck - Canadian scientist Fred Banting wins the Nobel Prize for the discovery of insulin... and is furious 3: The Vision of Ezekiel - clinicians are stunned at the power of insulin to save lives, but it proves to be a double-edged sword 4: A Greek Tragedy - German clinician Georg Zuelzer snatches defeat from the jaws of victory 5: The Wasp's Nest - insulin proves to be a poisoned chalice for its discoverers 6: Be Careful What You Wish For - the case of Romanian scientist Nicolai Paulesco underlines the truth of an old proverb 7: 'In Praise of Wool' - the humble wool fibre sets in motion a revolution in biochemistry 8: A Boastful Undertaking - a discovery made in a fume-filled stable offers the key to unlocking insulin 9: The Blobs That Won a Nobel Prize - or two, all thanks to some coloured spots on a piece of filter paper 10: The Prophet in the Labyrinth - biochemist Erwin Chargaff helps unlock the secrets of DNA, but fears where this may lead 11: The Clone Wars - a conflict in which insulin proves to be a decisive weapon 12: Wall Street Gold - in an act of modern day alchemy, insulin makes stock market history 13: 'Don't You Want Cheap Insulin?' - What is it exactly that we want from science? And does the story of insulin have any lessons for us today? Bibliography Figures List and Acknowledgements for Images Acknowledgements End notes

Read more less

Book SynopsisYeast is humankind's favourite microbe, our partner in brewing, baking, and winemaking. Nicholas P. Money tells the story of this 10,000-year-long marriage, looking at how yeast served as a major factor in the development of civilization, celebrating its importance, and considering its future roles in molecular biology and genetic engineering.Trade ReviewA highly entertaining read ... a fascinating and lucid historical study, rich with biological intrigue. * Timothy James, Current Biology *The Rise of Yeast: How the sugar fungus shaped civilisation is an amazing story, about an amazing people-non-person relationship (and by an amazing writer): Surely, Moneys The Rise of Yeast is destined to be a classic and a thoroughly deserving award-winner! * Nigel Chaffey, Botany One, News and Views on Plant Biology and Ecology *The Rise of Yeast is a neat little book that elegantly covers a lot of ground. * Leon Vlieger, Inquisitive Biologist *Nicholas Money's effervescent tour is packed with delights, such as illustrations by Charles Tulasne, the Audubon of fungi, or the revelation that yeasts and humans share a common ancestor (and hundreds of genes). * Barabra Kiser, Nature *An enjoyable and readable account. * Brewer & Distiller International *Yeast rises our bread, ferments our beer, wine, and spirits, perfumes our fruit, nourishes our bodies, makes us bold in love, foments chaos, powers our cars, and unlocks the soul. We humans tend to think that we rule the earth, but the evidence on our behalf is scant. This fascinating book unlocks the mysteries of our world's true masters, which were here before we walked, will be here when we're gone, and, in the meantime, help make our time on the planet a lot more fun and infinitely more delicious. * Garrett Oliver, Brewmaster of the Brooklyn Brewery, Editor-in-Chief, The Oxford Companion to Beer *Table of ContentsNOTES; BIBLIOGRAPHY; INDEX

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe biological world operates on a multitude of scales - from molecules to cells to tissues to organisms to ecosystems. Throughout all these levels runs a common thread: the communication and onward passage of information - from cell to cell, from organism to organism and, ultimately, from generation to generation. But how does this information - no more than a static repository of data - come alive to govern the processes that constitute life?The answer lies in the concerted action of molecular components which cooperate through a series of carefully-regulated processes to bring the information in our genome to life. These components and processes lie at the heart of one of the most fascinating subjects to engage the minds of scientists today: molecular biology.Molecular Biology: Principles of Genome Function offers a fresh, distinctive approach to the teaching of molecular biology. It is an approach that reflects the challenge of teaching a subject that is in many ways unrecognizable from the molecular biology of the 20th century - a discipline in which our understanding has advanced immeasurably, but about which many questions remain to be answered.It is written with several guiding themes in mind:- A focus on key principles provides a robust conceptual framework on which students can build a solid understanding of the discipline;- An emphasis on the commonalities that exist between the three kingdoms of life, and the discussion of differences between the three kingdoms where such differences offer instructive insights into molecular processes and components, gives students an accurate depiction of our current understanding of the conserved nature of molecular biology, and the differences that underpin biological diversity;- An integrated approach demonstrates how certain molecular phenomena have diverse impacts on genome function by presenting them as themes that recur throughout the book, rather than as artificially separated topicsAt heart, molecular biology is an experimental science, and a central element to the understanding of molecular biology is an appreciation of the approaches taken to yield the information from which concepts and principles are deduced. Yet there is also the challenge of introducing the experimental evidence in a way that students can readily comprehend.Molecular Biology responds to this challenge with Experimental Approach panels, which branch off from the text in a clearly-signposted way. These panels describe pieces of research that have been undertaken, and which have been particularly valuable in elucidating different aspects of molecular biology. Each panel is carefully cross-referenced to the discussion of key molecular biology tools and techniques, which are presented in a dedicated chapter at the end of the book.Beyond this, Molecular Biology further enriches the learning experience with full-colour, custom-drawn artwork; end-of-chapter questions and summaries; relevant suggested further readings grouped by topic; and an extensive glossary of key terms.Among the students being taught today are the molecular biologists of tomorrow; these individuals will be in a position to ask fascinating questions about fields whose complexity and sophistication become more apparent with each year that passes. Molecular Biology: Principles of Genome Function is the perfect introduction to this challenging, dynamic, but ultimately fascinating discipline.Trade ReviewThis is a comprehensive molecular biology textbook that emphasizes biochemical principles and molecular interactions... I believe that overall, it's the best text available for my students. * Donna E Crone, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute *Conveys in-depth material in an easily digestible manner. Makes clear connections between different topics to improve understanding of key concepts. * Scott Bailey, Johns Hopkins University *This book would be excellent for a 300- or 400- level course and provides a nice entrée into using primary literature and experimental results in the lecture. * Harold Olivey, Indiana University Northwest *Table of ContentsGenomes and the flow of biological informationBiological moleculesThe chemical basis of lifeChromosome structure and functionThe cell cycleDNA replicationChromosome segregationTranscriptionRegulation of transcriptionRNA processingTranslationRegulation of translationRegulatory RNAsProtein modification and targetingCellular responses to DNA damageRepair of DNA double-strand breaks and homologous recombinationMobile DNAGenomics and genetic variationTools and techniques in molecular biology

Read more less

Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. DNA damage quantification by the COMET assay Mathias Weyland 2. Immunofluorescence microscopy-assisted quantification of ATM and ATR activation in irradiated cells Ilio Vitale 3. Immunoblotting-based characterization of the DNA damage response Ilio Vitale 4. Assessment of lipid peroxidation in irradiated cells Boyi Gan, Chao Mao, Amber Horbath and Guang Lei 5. A simple method to assess clonogenic survival of irradiated cancer cells Maria Esperanza Rodriguez Ruiz 6. Quantification of beta-galactosidase activity as a marker of radiation-driven cellular senescence Giulia Petroni 7. Cytofluorometric assessment of cell cycle progression in irradiated cells Giulia Petroni, Ai Sato, Aitziber Buqué Martínez and Lorenzo Galluzzi 8. Assessment of transcription inhibition as a characteristic of immunogenic cell death Guido Kroemer, Oliver Kepp, Giulia Cerrato and Allan Sauvat 9. Assessment of eIF2a phosphorylation during immunogenic cell death Guido Kroemer, Oliver Kepp and Lucillia Bezu 10. Quantification of cytosolic DNA species by immunofluorescence and automated image analysis Lorenzo Galluzzi 11. Flow cytometry-assisted quantification of CALR exposure during immunogenic cell death Jitka Fucikova 12. Interference of immunogenic anticancer therapy by artificially controlled calreticulin secretion from tumor cells Guido Kroemer, Oliver Kepp, Peng LIU and Liwei Zhao 13. Assessment of type I interferon responses as a feature of immunogenic cell death. Guido Kroemer, Oliver Kepp, Sabrina Forveille, Allan Sauvat and Liwei Zhao 14. Assessment of immunological memory formation in vivo Guido Kroemer, Oliver Kepp, Liwei Zhao and Peng LIU 15. Characterization of the SASP of cancer cells experiencing DNA damage Francis Rodier 16. ELISA-based quantification of type I IFN secretion by irradiated cancer cells Claire I. Vanpouille-Box 17. RT-PCR-assisted quantification of type I IFN responses by irradiated cancer cells Lorenzo Galluzzi 18. Methods to characterize the exosomal output of irradiated cancer cells Sheila Spada 19. Cytofluorometric assessment of acute cell death responses driven by radiation therapy Lorenzo Galluzzi

Read more less

Book SynopsisGenomes 5 has been completely revised and updated. It is a thoroughly modern textbook about genomes and how they are investigated. As with previous Genomes editions, techniques come first, then genome anatomies, followed by genome function, and finally genome evolution. The genomes of all types of organism are covered: viruses, bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals, including humans and other hominids.Genome sequencing and assembly methods have been thoroughly revised to include new developments in long-read DNA sequencing. Coverage of genome annotation emphasizes genome-wide RNA mapping, with CRISPR-Cas 9 and GWAS methods of determining gene function covered. The knowledge gained from these techniques forms the basis of the chapters that describe the three main types of genomes: eukaryotic, prokaryotic (including eukaryotic organelles), and viral (including mobile genetic elements). Coverage of genome expression and replication is truly genomic, concentrating on the genome-wide implications of DNA packaging, epigenome modifications, DNA-binding proteins, non-coding RNAs, regulatory genome sequences, and protein-protein interactions. Also included are examples of the applications of metabolomics and systems biology. The final chapter is on genome evolution, including the evolution of the epigenome, using genomics to study human evolution, and using population genomics to advance plant breeding. Established methods of molecular biology are included if they are still relevant today and there is always an explanation as to why the method is still important.Genomes 5 is the ideal text for upper-level courses focused on genomes and genomics.Key Features A highly accessible and well-structured book with chapters organized into four parts to aid navigation Superb artwork illustrates the key concepts and mechanisms Each chapter has a set of short-answer questions and in-depth problems to test the readerâs understanding of the material Thoroughly up to date with references to the latest research from the 2020s Trade Review"… a great resource for students wanting to understand genomes and the tremendous advancements in the field …" Ian Gonzales (Yale School of Medicine)"[The book] does exactly what it is supposed to do, describing the current and ever-expanding filed of genomics. I really liked this book and learned so much from reading it thoroughly. It has certainly updated my own knowledge and I would highly recommend it to all, … I am only disappointed I did not have a book as informative as this when I did my undergraduate study many years ago.” Tony Reynolds (The Biologist)Table of ContentsPART 1: HOW GENOMES ARE STUDIED 1. Genomes, Transcriptomes and Proteomes 2. Studying DNA 3. Mapping Genomes 4. Sequencing Genomes 5. Genome Annotation 6. Identifying Gene Functions PART 2: GENOME ANATOMIES 7. Eukaryotic Nuclear Genomes 8. Genomes of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotic Organelles 9. Virus Genomes and Mobile Genetic Elements PART 3: HOW GENOMES ARE EXPRESSED 10. Accessing the Genome 11. The Role of DNA-Protein Interactions in Genome Expression 12. Transcriptomes 13. Proteomes 14. Genome Expression in the Context of Cell and Organism PART 4: HOW GENOMES ARE REPLICATED AND EVOLVE 15. Genome Replication 16. Recombination and Transposition 17. Mutations and DNA Repair 18. How Genomes Evolve

Read more less

Book SynopsisChoice Recommended Title, August 2019 Read an exclusive interview with Professor Vera Kolb here.Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life on Earth. This exciting and significant field of research also investigates the potential existence and search for extra-terrestrial life in the Solar System and beyond.This is the first handbook in this burgeoning and interdisciplinary field. Edited by Vera Kolb, a highly respected astrobiologist, this comprehensive resource captures the history and current state of the field. Rich in information and easy to use, it assumes basic knowledge and provides answers to questions from practitioners and specialists in the field, as well as providing key references for further study.Features:Trade Review"Astrobiology fuses research from many different fields to address questions about life in the universe. Thus, practitioners need to be familiar with research in a diverse set of fields of study. Kolb (Univ. of Wisconsin, Parkside) has gathered experts to review various facets of the field. Handbook of Astrobiology, contains extensive reviews grouped into 12 sections and 54 chapters. In addition to many reviews of studies of the definition of life, the origin of life, and the nature of and evolution of planets, this work includes discussions of education and public outreach and a roadmap for future work in the field from NASA and the European Space Agency. It is an unusually comprehensive volume, which achieves its goal of providing an overview of modern astrobiology. Many of the chapters do an excellent job of reviewing one subfield of astrobiology.Summing Up: Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty and professionals."—C. Palma, Pennsylvania State University, in CHOICE, August 2019"The Handbook of Astrobiology is a comprehensive collection of articles and reviews penned by some of the leading experts in the field. This book provides an in-depth survey of the current status of Astrobiology, through the various fields it encompasses. Spanning various topics related to life, its origins on earth and beyond, and the search for life elsewhere, the handbook’s layout is very logical and is strengthened by the systematic approach to each topic. The chapter on education and outreach activities relating to Astrobiology is well integrated into the flow and narrative of the handbook. It is an enjoyable read and will be a very good and handy reference for Astrobiology novices and enthusiasts alike."—Professor Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, USA"I have been involved in NASA’s efforts in exobiology and astrobiology in one way or the other since 1986, when I was handed NASA’s portfolio and asked to invest wisely and grow it, accordingly. The field was already broadly inter- and multi-disciplinary and a bit daunting as a result, but my work would have been made much easier if there had been an introduction and reference as carefully assembled as Vera Kolb’s Handbook of Astrobiology. It is clearly a work of great scholarship and Vera’s strong affection for the field and her evident command of its breadth have resulted in a highly valuable reference that will serve as a point of departure for much good work and scientific reflection in the future.I particularly like Professor Kolb’s selection of a broad spectrum of experts who represent both long-time astrobiology practitioners and more recent contributors who bring with them fresh perspectives and a remarkable energy that drives the field forward with new discoveries.In astrobiology’s future, I would hope that Professor Kolb’s and her contributing authors will have a regular opportunity to meet, compare results, and plot out scientific strategies to continue the field’s successes. Whether, and how often, those meetings take place in the future is not known, but those authors are all meeting, now, in the pages of Vera’s excellent handbook."— John D. Rummel, PhD, Senior Scientist, SETI Institute and formerly Senior Scientist for Astrobiology, NASA Headquarters (2006-2008) and Exobiology Program Manager and Discipline Scientist, NASA Headquarters (1986-1993)"A handbook on astrobiology has been sorely needed for a while now, and who is better to take on such a daunting task than Vera Kolb who received direct training from three other giants in the field, Leslie Orgel, Stanley Miller, and Joseph Lambert…It is here that multiple award winning Kolb has made her indelible mark on the field, which makes her an all-in-one embodiment of these important astrobiological schools…The number of expert scholars that Kolb has been able to recruit results in a staggering 800-page long summery of what hardworking chemically and mathematically gifted scientists like her know on how life evolved on and possibly outside of earth. The anthology contains 54 contributions that are divided into twelve sections that contain the different chapters…Each one of the contributing scientists demonstrates the mind-blowing advances that have been made in the different subbranches of astrobiology and how the multidisciplinary field has developed into the mature science that it is today…It additionally contains important science philosophical, historical, educational, and even ethical sections on how to define the field of astrobiology and how to educate future astrobiologists.. I can most certainly and very warmly recommend the reading of this volume and I would recommend libraries worldwide to stack up on their copies."—Nathalie Gontier in Science & Education Journal (Springer, March 2021) https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-021-00223-0"Astrobiology fuses research from many different fields to address questions about life in the universe. Thus, practitioners need to be familiar with research in a diverse set of fields of study. Kolb (Univ. of Wisconsin, Parkside) has gathered experts to review various facets of the field. Handbook of Astrobiology, contains extensive reviews grouped into 12 sections and 54 chapters. In addition to many reviews of studies of the definition of life, the origin of life, and the nature of and evolution of planets, this work includes discussions of education and public outreach and a roadmap for future work in the field from NASA and the European Space Agency. It is an unusually comprehensive volume, which achieves its goal of providing an overview of modern astrobiology. Many of the chapters do an excellent job of reviewing one subfield of astrobiology.Summing Up: Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty and professionals."—C. Palma, Pennsylvania State University, in CHOICE, August 2019"The Handbook of Astrobiology is a comprehensive collection of articles and reviews penned by some of the leading experts in the field. This book provides an in-depth survey of the current status of Astrobiology, through the various fields it encompasses. Spanning various topics related to life, its origins on earth and beyond, and the search for life elsewhere, the handbook’s layout is very logical and is strengthened by the systematic approach to each topic. The chapter on education and outreach activities relating to Astrobiology is well integrated into the flow and narrative of the handbook. It is an enjoyable read and will be a very good and handy reference for Astrobiology novices and enthusiasts alike."—Professor Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, USA"I have been involved in NASA’s efforts in exobiology and astrobiology in one way or the other since 1986, when I was handed NASA’s portfolio and asked to invest wisely and grow it, accordingly. The field was already broadly inter- and multi-disciplinary and a bit daunting as a result, but my work would have been made much easier if there had been an introduction and reference as carefully assembled as Vera Kolb’s Handbook of Astrobiology. It is clearly a work of great scholarship and Vera’s strong affection for the field and her evident command of its breadth have resulted in a highly valuable reference that will serve as a point of departure for much good work and scientific reflection in the future.I particularly like Professor Kolb’s selection of a broad spectrum of experts who represent both long-time astrobiology practitioners and more recent contributors who bring with them fresh perspectives and a remarkable energy that drives the field forward with new discoveries.In astrobiology’s future, I would hope that Professor Kolb’s and her contributing authors will have a regular opportunity to meet, compare results, and plot out scientific strategies to continue the field’s successes. Whether, and how often, those meetings take place in the future is not known, but those authors are all meeting, now, in the pages of Vera’s excellent handbook."— John D. Rummel, PhD, Senior Scientist, SETI Institute and formerly Senior Scientist for Astrobiology, NASA Headquarters (2006-2008) and Exobiology Program Manager and Discipline Scientist, NASA Headquarters (1986-1993)"A handbook on astrobiology has been sorely needed for a while now, and who is better to take on such a daunting task than Vera Kolb who received direct training from three other giants in the field, Leslie Orgel, Stanley Miller, and Joseph Lambert…It is here that multiple award winning Kolb has made her indelible mark on the field, which makes her an all-in-one embodiment of these important astrobiological schools…The number of expert scholars that Kolb has been able to recruit results in a staggering 800-page long summery of what hardworking chemically and mathematically gifted scientists like her know on how life evolved on and possibly outside of earth. The anthology contains 54 contributions that are divided into twelve sections that contain the different chapters…Each one of the contributing scientists demonstrates the mind-blowing advances that have been made in the different subbranches of astrobiology and how the multidisciplinary field has developed into the mature science that it is today…It additionally contains important science philosophical, historical, educational, and even ethical sections on how to define the field of astrobiology and how to educate future astrobiologists.. I can most certainly and very warmly recommend the reading of this volume and I would recommend libraries worldwide to stack up on their copies."—Nathalie Gontier in Science & Education Journal (Springer, March 2021) https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-021-00223-0

Read more less

Book SynopsisPhysarum polycephalum, also known more colloquially as ''the blob'', ''acellular slime mould'', or just ''slime mould'', is a unicellular multinucleate protist that has continued to attract the interest of biologists over the past century because of its complex life cycle, unique physiology, morphology, and behaviour. More recently, attention has shifted to Physarum as a model organism for investigating putative cognitive capacities such as decision making, learning, and memory in organisms without nervous systems. The aim of this Element is to illustrate how Physarum can be used as a valuable tool for approaching various topics in the philosophy of biology. Physarum and its behaviour not only pose a challenge to some of the received views of biological processes but also, I shall argue, provide an opportunity to clarify and appropriately sharpen the concepts underlying such received views.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis important book traces the history of genetics and genomics policy in Britain. Detailing the scientific, political, and economic factors that have informed policy and the development of new health services, the book highlights the particular importance of the field of Public Health Genomics.Although focused primarily on events in Britain, the book reveals a number of globally applicable lessons. The authors explain how and why Public Health Genomics developed and the ways in which genetics and genomics have come to have a central place in many important health debates. Consideration of their ethical, social, and legal implications and ensuring that new services that are equitable, appropriate, and well-targeted will be central to effective health planning and policymaking in future.The book features: Interviews with leading individuals who were intimately involved in the development of genetics and genomics policy and Public Health Genomics InsigTable of Contents0.Introduction. 1.Origins. 2.Foundations. 3.Progress. 4.New Directions. 5.Conclusion

Read more less

Book SynopsisMelioidosis is an endemic tropical disease and is fast becoming an emerging global concern. Its clinical mimicry with several other common diseases has made its diagnosis and treatment difficult. This book identifies a gap in the literature and represents the management and diagnosis of this fatal but curable disease. It provides detailed coverage of its history, epidemiology, the latency of the agent, pathogenesis, manifestations, clinical clues for detection, microbiological diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and environmental aspects. This book is for clinicians, infectious disease specialists, microbiologists, and public health professionals in countries where melioidosis is endemic.Key Features:â Provides practical guidance on clinical diagnosis, management, and prevention of melioidosis.â Features high-quality radiological and clinical photographs for clinicians and professionals.â Explores the latest techniques and advancements in laboratory diagnosis.Table of Contents1. Melioidosis in Global Perspective and Challenges for Surveillance2. Epidemiology of Melioidosis3. History of Melioidosis4. Pathogenesis and Virulence of Melioidosis5. Laboratory Diagnosis of Melioidosis6. Melioidosis: Pulmonary and other Systemic Manifestations7. Radiological Imaging in Melioidosis8. Diagnostic Interventional Procedures in Melioidosis9. Drug Management of Melioidosis10. Management of Melioidosis: A surgeon’s perspective11. Neuro-Melioidosis12. Gastrointestinal Melioidosis13. Septicaemic Melioidosis14. Cutaneous Melioidosis15. Cardiac Melioidosis16. Melioidosis of bone and joint17. Prevention of Melioidosis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book is an introductory text that presents fundamental knowledge and recent advances in virology. It provides comprehensive coverage of different aspects like classification, structure, emerging viruses, cancer-causing viruses, and viral vaccines. It covers the basic biology of virus existence, evolution, and reoccurrence. It also incorporates the fundamentals of biophysical and biochemical aspects of viral replication. The book discusses important topics such as immunity to viral infections, bacteriophages, and techniques used in virology. The Textbook of General Virology is meant for undergraduate and postgraduate students of microbiology, immunology, genetics, and medicine.Key Features: Discusses introductory and foundational knowledge of viruses for students of life sciences and medicine Covers the virus history, diversity of its infection strategy, and classification Summarizes the characteristic

Read more less

Book SynopsisProteins are the workhorses of cells, performing most of the important functions which allow cells to use nutrients and grow, communicate among each other, and importantly, die if aberrant behavior is detected. How were proteins discovered? What is their role in cells? How do dysfunctional proteins give rise to cancers? Landmark Experiments in Protein Science explores the manner in which the inner workings of cells were elucidated, with a special emphasis on the role of proteins. Experiments are discussed in a manner as to understand what questions were being asked that prompted the experiments and what technical challenges were faced in the process; and results are presented and discussed using primary data and graphs.Key Features Describes landmark experiments in cell biology and biochemistry. Discusses the How and Why of historically important experiments. Includes primary, original data and gTable of ContentsChapter 1: Prelude to Biology: A History of Chemistry Chapter 2: The Cell and Heredity Chapter 3: Discovery of Proteins and Enzymes Chapter 4: Protein and DNA Subunits Chapter 5: The Energy of Cells: Glycolysis and the Krebs Cycle Chapter 6: Protein and DNA Structure Chapter 7: Protein Synthesis Part I: Localization of Protein Translation Chapter 8: Protein Synthesis Part II: The Mechanism of Protein Translation Chapter 9: The Energy of Cells: Oxidative Phosphorylation Chapter 10: The Energy of Cells: The Mechanism of ATP Synthesis Chapter 11: Techniques Chapter 12: Cell Signaling Part I: The role of Phosphorylation Chapter 13: Cell Signaling Part II: G-protein-coupled Receptors Chapter 14: The Secretory Pathway Chapter 15: The Mechanism of Cell Death Chapter 16: The Biology of Cancer Index

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlan Herbert has played a leading part in discovering the biological roles for a high-energy form of DNA twisted to the left rather than to the right. Both Z-DNA and the Z-RNA sensing proteins are critical for protecting hosts against both viruses and cancers. The proteins also play critical roles in the programmed cell death of aging cells. Other types of flipons exist and alter the readout of transcripts from the genome, encoding genetic information by their shape rather than by their sequence. Many of these flipons are within repeat elements that were previously considered to be just genomic junk. Instead these genetic elements increase the adaptability of cells by flipping DNA conformation. By acting as digital switches, the different flipon types can alter cellular responses without any change to their sequence or any damage to DNA. These highly dynamic structures enable the rapid evolution of multicellular organisms. The junk DNA in repeats also encode peptide patches that ena

Read more less

Book SynopsisDevelopmental biology is seemingly well understood, with development widely accepted as being a series of programmed changes through which an egg turns into an adult organism, or a seed matures into a plant. However, the picture is much more complex than that: is it all genetically controlled or does environment have an influence? Is the final adult stage the target of development and everything else just a build-up to that point? Are developmental strategies the same in plants as in animals? How do we consider development in single-celled organisms? In this concise, engaging volume, Alessandro Minelli, a leading developmental biologist, addresses these key questions. Using familiar examples and easy-to-follow arguments, he offers fresh alternatives to a number of preconceptions and stereotypes, awakening the reader to the disparity of developmental phenomena across all main branches of the tree of life.Trade Review'Developmental biology has been described as the process by which a fertilized egg is transformed into a multicellular organism. But is it? In this thoughtful and erudite book, Alessandro Minelli forces us to step back and reconsider the subject. Using an astonishing range of examples, from pythons to lichens and from sponges to ciliates, Minelli challenges a series of generalizations and preconceptions. We see how development is not only the process of building adults, why development does not have end-points, how development need not start with a fertilized egg, why we must be careful with the concept of developmental genes, and much more. After reading this book, you might not think about developmental biology in the same way again.' Peter Holland, University of Oxford, UK'This is the finest book on the principles underpinning biological development that I have read in a long time. It is succinct, thoughtful and full of examples, offering wise reflection on the diversity of developmental phenomena across the whole tree of life. Understanding Development is especially notable for its organization into 48 sections comprising 8 chapters. Each section subtitle states a key lesson to be learned through brief historical and theoretical expositions, well-chosen examples, and stories of odd-ball and familiar life forms. Every lesson overturns some conventional wisdom or common knowledge that cannot stand up to the wondrous diversity of life on Earth. Minelli's broad, deep knowledge of the field is expressed with an engaging contrarian spirit that serves his larger goal: to prompt a reassessment of the state of contemporary understanding of development in a way accessible to novice and expert alike.' James Griesemer, University of California, Davis, USA'Developmental biology is a highly dynamic area of the life sciences, and it also lacks a unifying theoretical framework and must rely on general principles derived from a small number of well-studied model organisms. In Understanding Development, Minelli channels an encyclopaedic knowledge of biological diversity to convincingly show the need for a more expansive concept of development that can embrace the variability and complexity of life. Minelli surveys the interplay of generalizations and exceptions that arise in the study of development, tracing out important open conceptual challenges facing researchers today. Engagingly written and always insightful, this book is highly recommended to biologists, philosophers of biology, and historians interested in grappling with a fundamental and active problem area in the contemporary landscape of biological thought.' James DiFrisco, KU Leuven, Belgium'The text assumes a basic acquaintance with evolution, genetics, and embryology and is at once well written, entertaining, and loaded with fascinating examples of organisms that defy expectations … Highly recommended.' J. L. Hunt, Choice MagazineTable of Contents1. Defining development, If possible; 2. Cells and development; 3. Development as the history of the individual; 4. Revisiting the embryo; 5. Developmental sequences: sustainability vs adaptation; 6. Genes and development; 7. Emerging form; 8. The ecology of development; Concluding remarks.

Read more less

Book SynopsisJEFFHARDIN received his Ph.D. in Biophysics from the University ofCaliforniaBerkeley. He is the Raymond E. Keller Professor and Chair of theDepartment of Integrative Biology at the University of WisconsinMadison, wherehe has been since 1991. For 18 years he was Faculty Director of the BiologyCore Curriculum, a four-semester honors biology sequence for undergraduates atWisconsin known for its teaching innovations. Jeff 's research focuses on howcells migrate and adhere to one another during early embryonic development.Jeff 's teaching is enhanced by his extensive use of digital microscopy and hisweb-based teaching materials, which are used on many campuses in the UnitedStates and in other countries. Jeff was a founding member of the UW TeachingAcademy, and has received several teaching awards, including a Lily TeachingFellowship, a National Science Foundation Young Investigator Award, and aChancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award. JAMES P.LODOLCE earned his Ph.D. in ImmunologTable of Contents1. A Preview of Cell Biology2. The Chemistry of the Cell3. The Macromolecules of the Cell4. Cells and Organelles5. Bioenergetics: The Flow of Energy in the Cell6. Enzymes: The Catalysts of Life7. Membranes: Their Structure, Function, and Chemistry8. Transport Across Membranes: Overcoming the Permeability Barrier9. Chemotrophic Energy Metabolism: Glycolysis and Fermentation10. Chemotrophic Energy Metabolism: Aerobic Respiration11. Phototrophic Energy Metabolism: Photosynthesis12. The Endomembrane System and Protein Sorting 13. Cytoskeletal Systems14. Cellular Movement: Motility and Contractility15. Beyond the Cell: Cell Adhesions, Cell Junctions, and Extracellular Structures16. The Structural Basis of Cellular Information: DNA, Chromosomes, and theNucleus17. DNA Replication, Repair, and Recombination18. Gene Expression: I. Transcription19. Gene Expression: II. The Genetic Code and Protein Synthesis20. The Regulation of Gene Expression21. Molecular Biology Techniques for Cell Biology22. Signal Transduction Mechanisms: I. Electrical and Synaptic Signaling inNeurons23. Signal Transduction Mechanisms: II. Messengers and Receptors24. The Cell Cycle and Mitosis25. Sexual Reproduction, Meiosis, and Genetic Recombination26. Cancer CellsAppendix: Visualizing Cells and Molecules

Read more less

Book SynopsisBringing this best-selling textbook right up to date, the new edition uniquely integrates the theories and methods that drive the fields of biology, biotechnology and medicine, comprehensively covering both the techniques students will encounter in lab classes and those that underpin current key advances and discoveries. The contents have been updated to include both traditional and cutting-edge techniques most commonly used in current life science research. Emphasis is placed on understanding the theory behind the techniques, as well as analysis of the resulting data. New chapters cover proteomics, genomics, metabolomics, and bioinformatics, as well as data analysis and visualisation. Using accessible language to describe concepts and methods, and with a wealth of new in-text worked examples to challenge students'' understanding, this textbook provides an essential guide to the key techniques used in current bioscience research.Trade Review'After seven editions between 1975 and 2010 this essential textbook has undergone a major update. The new editors, Drs Hofmann and Clokie, recruited many experts to revise individual chapters and added a significant amount of new material, thus making the book even more valuable. This eighth edition is basically a new book that covers the techniques of biochemistry and molecular biology in a very comprehensive manner - it does not go into great detail, but gives the reader a good introduction to all of them. Each chapter contains suggestions for further reading for those in need of a follow-up. Excellent diagrams and illustrations provide help in comprehension of the presented material. Since this text is largely aimed at undergraduate students, it fulfils its role extremely well.' Alexander Wlodawer, National Cancer Institute at FrederickReview from previous edition: 'This book deserves a place in any modern pathology department and brings together a body of information which is traditionally scattered across several texts … it also represents excellent value for money.' Annals of Clinical BiochemistryReview from previous edition: 'It is necessary to have a practical up to date guide to experimental techniques at hand in a laboratory. This book belongs to such kind of texts. It covers all branches of basic as well as advanced techniques. The book represents a fundamental guidebook for work in a laboratory.' PhotosyntheticaReview from previous edition: 'The book is well illustrated, indexed, free of errors and most chapters have problem sets with worked answers. The book is written for 'all bioscience undergraduate students and pre-medical students for whom practical biochemistry, molecular biology and immunology form part of the syllabus' … it is a very good supplement for undergraduate courses in general biochemistry or a text for courses in biochemical techniques. [This book] is also recommended for graduate students and other researchers in applied sciences such as food biochemistry.' Journal of Food BiochemistryReview from previous edition: '… well-written and comprehensive … what truly distinguishes this text from others of its kind are the outstanding chapters on proteins, mass spectrometry and spectroscopic techniques. … a valuable resource for undergraduate or graduate students taking introductory or advanced techniques/laboratory courses in cell/molecular biology, biochemistry or biotechnology.' Microbiology TodayReview from previous edition: 'I found this volume remarkably satisfying in that it answered all those 'why do you do it like this?' type questions. … This book has already received extensive reference value on my bookshelf.' Journal of Biological EducationTable of ContentsForeword Keith Wilson and John Walker; Preface Samuel Clokie and Andreas Hofmann; Tables and resources Andreas Hofmann; 1. Life science studies Samuel Clokie and Andreas Hofmann; 2. Basic principles Parisa Amani and Andreas Hofmann; 3. Cell culture techniques Anwar Baydoun; 4. Recombinant DNA techniques and molecular cloning Ralph Rapley; 5. Preparative biochemistry Samuel Clokie; 6. Electrophoresis Ralph Rapley; 7. Immunochemical techniques Katja Fischer; 8. Flow cytometry John Grainger and Joanne Konkel; 9. Radioisotope techniques Robert Slater; 10. Clinical biochemistry Gillian Rumsby; 11. Microscopy Stephen Paddock; 12. Centrifugation Kay Ohlendieck and Stephen Harding; 13. Spectroscopic techniques Anne Simon and Andreas Hofmann; 14. Basic techniques probing molecular structure and interactions Anne Simon and Joanne Macdonald; 15. Mass spectrometric techniques Sonja Hess and James MacRae; 16. Fundamentals of bioinformatics Cinzia Cantacessi and Anna Protasio; 17. Fundamentals of cheminformatics Paul Taylor; 18. The Python programming language Timothy Stevens; 19. Processing and visualisation of experimental data Jean-Baptiste Cazier; 20. Fundamental genome sequencing and annotation Pasi Korhonen and Robin Gasser; 21. Fundamentals of proteomics Sonja Hess and Michael Weiss; 22. Fundamentals of metabolomics James MacRae; 23. Enzymes and receptors Megan Cross and Andreas Hofmann; 24. Drug discovery and development David Camp.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSynthetic Biology — A Primer (Revised Edition) presents an updated overview of the field of synthetic biology and the foundational concepts on which it is built. This revised edition includes new literature references, working and updated URL links, plus some new figures and text where progress in the field has been made.The book introduces readers to fundamental concepts in molecular biology and engineering and then explores the two major themes for synthetic biology, namely 'bottom-up' and 'top-down' engineering approaches. 'Top-down' engineering uses a conceptual framework of systematic design and engineering principles focused around the Design-Build-Test cycle and mathematical modelling. The 'bottom-up' approach involves the design and building of synthetic protocells using basic chemical and biochemical building blocks from scratch exploring the fundamental basis of living systems.Examples of cutting-edge applications designed using synthetic biology principles are presented, including: The book also describes the Internationally Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition, which brings together students and young researchers from around the world to carry out summer projects in synthetic biology. Finally, the primer includes a chapter on the ethical, legal and societal issues surrounding synthetic biology, illustrating the integration of social sciences into synthetic biology research.Final year undergraduates, postgraduates and established researchers interested in learning about the interdisciplinary field of synthetic biology will benefit from this up-to-date primer on synthetic biology.Table of ContentsList of Contributors; Preface; Introduction to Biology; Basic Concepts in Engineering Biology; Foundational Technologies; Minimal Cells and Synthetic Life; Parts, Devices and Systems; Modelling Synthetic Biology Systems; Applications of Designed Biological Systems; iGEM; The Societal Impact of Synthetic Biology; Appendices: Proforma of Common Laboratory Techniques; Glossary; Index;

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Gets right to the heart of what makes us what we are. Read it!' Angela Saini, author of Inferior and Superior: The Return of Race ScienceThe popular science equivalent of Who Do You Think You Are? Popular science master Brian Clegg's new book is an entertaining tour through the science of what makes you you.From the atomic level, through life and energy to genetics and personality, it explores how the billions of particles which make up you - your DNA, your skin, your memories - have come to be.It starts with the present-day reader and follows a number of trails to discover their origins: how the atoms in your body were created and how they got to you in space and time, the sources of things you consume, how the living cells of your body developed, where your massive brain and consciousness originated, how human beings evolved and, ultimately, what your personal genetic history reveals.Trade ReviewWhat's great about the book overall is both Clegg's gift as a storyteller - it's just an excellent, pageturning read - and the way he threads together so many revelations about us as humans, the sort of thing that you want to share with someone else. * popularscience.co.uk *The most interesting part is when the book explores what consciousness is (or, rather, highlights how little we know about it but still shows how much more there is to "us" than the conscious part) and pulls apart the old nature versus nurture debate with some remarkable material on genetics and how the influence of our environment is mathematically chaotic. * Peet Morris, Times Higher Education *

Read more less

Book SynopsisPlant-parasitic and free-living nematodes are increasingly important in relation to food security, quarantine measures, ecology (including pollution studies), and research on host-parasite interactions. Being mostly microscopic, nematodes are challenging organisms for research. Techniques for Work with Plant and Soil Nematodes introduces the basic techniques for laboratory and field work with plant-parasitic and free-living soil-dwelling nematodes. Written by an international team of experts, this book is extensively illustrated, and addresses both fundamental traditional techniques and new methodologies. The book covers areas that have become more widespread over recent years, such as techniques used in diagnostic laboratories, including computerized methods to count and identify nematodes. Information on physiological assays, electron microscopy techniques and basic information on current molecular methodologies and their various applications is also included. This book is an essential resource for students of nematology and parasitology, academic researchers, diagnostic laboratories, and quarantine and advisory service personnel. It provides a much-needed methodology standard for anyone involved in work on plant and soil nematodes.Table of Contents1: Sampling 2: Methods for Nematode Extraction 3: Estimating Numbers 4: Screening Plants for Resistance/Susceptibility to Plant-parasitic Nematodes 5: Handling, fixing, staining and mounting nematodes 6: Culturing Techniques 7: Preparation of Figures, Measuring and Image Processing 8: Electron microscopy techniques 9: Behavioural and Physiological Assays 10: Staining Chromosomes 11: Isoelectric Focusing of Proteins 12: Molecular Identification of Nematodes using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 13: Isolation and Characterisation of Tandem Repeats in Nematode Genomes 14: Characterization of Nematode Mitochondrial Genomes 15: Phylogenetic Analysis of DNA Sequence Data

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the PROSE Award in Earth Science, Association of American Publishers""[A] vivid, gripping book. . . . Dale Greenwalt . . . has written a riveting account of a field achieving revolutionary insights."---Simon Ings, New Scientist"[An] eye-opening guide to this new world of understanding, one that encompasses chemistry along with biology."---David P. Barash, Wall Street Journal"An accessible book on ancient life that focuses as much on chemistry as on biology."---Wade Lee-Smith, Library Journal"[Fascinating] . . . an unabashedly excited report from the front lines"---Steve Donoghue, Open Letters Review"The book provides a fascinating journey through the very latest in research into the origins of life on Earth. . . . No one should be intimidated by this highly readable work."---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds"If you think you cannot stomach yet another popular book on palaeontology, think again. Remnants of Ancient Life is as fascinating as the inviting cover and subtitle suggest, managing to put a completely fresh gloss on the topic of palaeontology."---Leon Vlieger, The Inquisitive Biologist

Read more less

Book SynopsisSince the birth of civilisation, human beings have manipulated other life-forms. We have selectively bred plants and animals for thousands of years to maximise agricultural production and cater to our taste in pets. The observation of the creation of artificial animal and plant variants was a key stimulant for Charles Darwin''s theory of evolution. The ability to directly engineer the genomes of organisms first became possible in the 1970s, when the gene for human insulin was introduced into bacteria to produce this protein for diabetics. At the same time, mice were modified to produce human growth hormone, and grew huge as a result. But these were only our first tottering steps into the possibilities of genetic engineering.In the past few years, the pace of progress has accelerated enormously. We can now cut and paste genes using molecular scissors with astonishing ease, and the new technology of genome editing can be applied to practically any species of plants or animals. ''Mutation chain reaction'' can be used to alter the genes of a population of pests, such as flies; as the modified creatures breed, the mutation is spread through the population, so that within a few generations the organism is almost completely altered. At the same time, scientists are also beginning to synthesize new organisms from scratch.These new technologies hold much promise for improving lives. Genome editing has already been used clinically to treat AIDS patients, by genetically modifying their white blood cells to be resistant to HIV. In agriculture, genome editing could be used to engineer species with increased food output, and the ability to thrive in challenging climates. New bacterial forms may be used to generate energy. But these powerful new techniques also raise important ethical dilemmas and potential dangers, pressing issues that are already upon us given the speed of scientific developments. To what extent should parents be able to manipulate the genetics of their offspring and would designer babies be limited to the rich? Can we effectively weigh up the risks from introducing synthetic lifeforms into complex ecosystems? In this extensively revised paperback edition, John Parrington explains the nature and possibilities of these new scientific developments, which could usher in a brave, new world. We must rapidly come to understand its implications if we are to direct its huge potential to the good of humanity and the planet.Trade Reviewa thorough and comprehensive account of the methodologies for altering life that have been or are being developed, and the directions that they may take in future. * Nature *painstakingly researched...the examples themselves are clear, concise and often arresting . . . an engaging and comprehensive introduction * LSE Business Review *a comprehensive history of the research and discoveries underlying genome editing, as well as a broad coverage of research in the present day. * Bionews *There is a revolution going on in the life sciences, one that has already transformed scientific discovery and will soon change medicine. It could even see us altering the ecosystem in a precise, targeted way. This revolution has a name--CRISPR--and the key part of John Parrington's Redesigning Life is a good summary of the gene-editing technique that lies behind the acronym. * New Scientist *John Parrington's engaging and thoughtful book explains the science behind recent rapid advances in genetic engineering that mean it is increasingly possible to enact precise changes at a molecular level . . . Parrington's clear descriptions and diagrams combined with interesting snippets from the narrative and biography of scientific discovery make the science behind these developments readily accessible. * Socialist Review *Table of ContentsList of plates List of figures Introduction: The Gene Revolution 1: Natural Born Mutants 2: Supersize My Mouse 3: Light as a Life Tool 4: The Gene Scissors 5: Next Year's Models 6: The Molecular Farm 7: New Gene Therapy 8: Regenerating Life 9: Life as a Machine 10: A Redesigned Planet? Glossary Endnotes Index of names Index of subjects

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe versatile RNA molecule, along with its many forms and functions, is elegantly captured in this succinct undergraduate text. Molecular Biology of RNA describes how RNA is not only an intrinsic part of the 'central dogma' of molecular biology, but also plays a part in processes as diverse as the regulation of gene expression and catalysis.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition Highly detailed, and well illustrated, ^Molecular Biology of RNA represents the first text to address exclusively the role of RNA in biological systems. * Kevin Coward in Journal of Biological Education, 2012 *This comprehensive textbook is pitched at just the right level and explains the concepts in sufficient detail to make them come to life. * Ilan Davis in Development, 2011 *Table of Contents1. Introduction to Molecular Biology of RNA ; 2. RNA can form versatile structures ; 3. Catalytic RNAs ; 4. The RNA-binding proteins ; 5. Pre-mRNA splicing by the spliceosome ; 6. Regulated alternative splicing ; 7. Pre-mRNA splicing defects in development and disease ; 8. Co-transcriptional pre-mRNA processing ; 9. Nucleocytoplasmic traffic of messenger RNA ; 10. Messenger RNA localization ; 11. Translation of messenger RNA ; 12. Stability and degradation of mRNA ; 13. RNA editing ; 14. The biogenesis and nucleocytoplasmic traffic of non-coding RNAs ; 15. The 'macro' RNAs: long non-coding RNAs and epigenetics ; 16. The short non-coding RNAs and gene silencing ; 17. RNA biology: future perspectives

Read more less

Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. Multiple Gene Knockdown Strategies for Investigating the Properties of Human Leukemia Stem Cells and Exploring New Therapies Xiaoyan Jiang 2. Assessment of CD133, EpCAM, and CD44 in human and murine cancer cell by real-time qPCR Guillermo Mazzolini 3. Reverse Phase Protein Array in cancer stem cells Michele Signore 4. Isolation of cancer stem cells from squamous cell carcinoma Sanjeev K. Centre (TMC), Advanced Centre for Treatment and Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), 5. Immunoblotting-assisted assessment of JAK2 signaling in leukemic stem cells Niccolò Bartalucci 6. Isolation of cancer stem cells from based on aldehyde dehydrogenase activity Paola Marcato 7. Generation of neuronal/glial mixed cultures from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) Angela Gritti 8. Immunohistochemistry-based analysis of EMT markers in mammary tumors Diwakar Pattabiraman 9. Immunofluorescence staining of colorectal cancer patient-derived organoids Joseph L. Regan 10. Isolation of murine bone marrow hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell populations via flow cytometry Michael A. Rieger 11. In vitro and in vivo limiting dilution assay of hepatocellular carcinoma cells Bin Wang Sr., Yingying Lai and Xi Zheng 12. Methods to isolate adipose tissue-derived stem cells Barbara Zavan, Paolo Pinton, Leticia Ferroni, Chiara Gardin and Francesco De Francesco 13. In vivo assessment of the tumorigenic and metastatic potential of the cancer stem cell fraction in breast cancer cells Antonella Sistigu

Read more less

Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. Crosslinking immunoprecipitation of Upf1 in yeast Kristian Baker 2. Biochemical Analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 Nsp13 Helicase Implicated in COVID-19 Robert Brosh 3. Bulk phase biochemistry of the Pif1 helicase Matthew Bochman 4. Translational control by helicases during cellular stress Tim Bolger 5. Measuring DDX3-dependent protein synthesis in vitro and in cells Stephen Floor 6. Purification of Mtr4 and Mtr4-mediated complexes Sean Johnson 7. Plan of attack for studying DEAD-box proteins Katrin Karbstein 8. Reconstitution, purification, and activity characterization for RNA-guided helicase-nuclease machines in Type I CRISPR-Cas systems Ailong Ke 9. Helicase mediated vectorial folding of G-quadruplex Sua Myong 10. Detecting G4 quadruplex unwinding Katrin Paeschke 11. Monitoring RNA and ATP-dependent conformational changes in RIG-I-like receptors using fluorescence microscopy Anna Marie Pyle 12. ATP utilization measurements in RNA unwinding and RNA chaperone activities by helicase proteins Rick Russell 13. Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry of RNA Helicases Sheena D'Arcy 14. Biochemical characterization of human MTR4-RNA exosome and adaptor complexes Christopher D. Lima 15. Study of RNA helicases with magnetic tweezers Herve Le Hir 16. Single-molecule FRET to analyze the dynamics of RNA helicases Dagmar Klostermeier 17. Transcriptional regulation by a RecQ helicase Sudha Sharma 18. In vitro characterization of the DEXH helicase Dhr1 from yeast Arlen Johnson

Read more less

Book SynopsisMicroorganisms comprise the greatest genetic diversity in the natural ecosystem, and characterization of these microbes is an essential step towards discovering novel products or understanding complex biological mechanisms. The advancement of metagenomics coupled with the introduction of high-throughput, cost-effective NGS technology has expanded the possibilities of microbial research in various biological systems. In addition to traditional culture and biochemical characteristics, omics approaches (metagenomics, metaproteomics, and metatranscriptomics) are useful for analyzing complete microbial communities and their functional attributes in various environments. Metagenomics and Microbial Ecology: Techniques and Applications explores the most recent advances in metagenomics research in the landscape of next-generation sequencing technologies. This book also describes how advances in sequencing technologies are used to study invisible microbes as well as the rTable of ContentsSection-I: An Overview of MetagenomicsPrinciples and analysis of Metagenomics dataSection-II: Metagenomics tools to access microbial diversityMetagenomics tools for taxonomic annotationSection-III: Metagenomics of extreme environmentsMetagenomic insights into Microbial communities of desert ecosystemsMetagenomic approaches in elucadation of halophiles in coastal areaMetagenome assembly for functional diversity associated with Xenobiotic degradationSection-IV: Metagenomics of various ecotypesEarthworm gut microbiome: The uncharted microbiomeMetagenomics of pollen borne microbes and gut microbiota of honey beeViral metagenomics Fresh water Metagenomics: Overall scenarioSection-V: ApplicationsMicrobiomes and Microbial Ecology in Rice EcosystemsUnderstanding the Ecosystem Services of Microbes: It’s a small world after all Commercial exploitation of microbial communal services to enrich plant microbiome

Read more less

Book SynopsisHoneybees are an important link in our food chain because they are major pollinators of food crops. In recent years, honeybee populations have declined precipitously perhaps due to changes in their microbiome. This book describes and identifies the bee microbiome using a proteomics technology. Chapters include the detection and identification of microbes found in honeybees collected around the United States. This book contains new data and illustrates the rich diversity of microbes as collected by honeybees. It is a must read for everyone concerned about the honeybee and working in the industry.Table of ContentsPreface. Acknowledgments. Author/Editor Biographies. Abstract. List of Abbreviations. Microbe Diversity in Honeybees. Mass Spectrometry Proteomics. Apis. Bee Gut. Coronavirus. Bacteria. Fungi. Nosema. Viruses. Water Microbes (EPA Standards). Discussion. Bibliography. Appendix A – National Average for Bacteria. Appendix B – California Region Average for Bacteria. Appendix C – Florida Region Average for Bacteria. Appendix D – Idaho Region Average for Bacteria. Appendix E – Iowa Region Average for Bacteria. Appendix F – Montana Regional Average for Bacteria. Appendix G – National Average for Fungi. Appendix H – California Region Average for Fungi. Appendix I – Florida Region Average for Fungi. Appendix J – Idaho Region Average for Fungi. Appendix K – Iowa Region Average for Fungi. Appendix L – Montana Region Average for Fungi. Appendix M – National Average for Viruses. Appendix N – California Region Average for Viruses. Appendix O – Florida Region Average for Viruses. Appendix P – Idaho Region Average for Viruses. Appendix Q – Iowa Region Average for Viruses. Appendix R – Montana Region Average for Viruses. Index.

Read more less