Book Description

This groundbreaking work, now available in paperback, has helped to shape the emerging discipline of molecular epidemiology. Molecular Epidemiology has proven useful to epidemiologists unfamiliar with the terminology and techniques of molecular biology as well as to the molecular biologist working to understand the determinants of human disease and to use that information to control disease. This book demonstrates how molecular epidemiology utilizes the same paradigm as traditional epidemiology in addition to using biological markers to identify exposure, disease, or susceptibility. ... Read more

Book Description

Cells talk—and scientists are listening.One of the most intriguing topics in molecular biology, biochemical communication is the cornerstone of modern medicine and the mainstay of cutting-edge pharmaceutical research.For nearly a century, researchers have been straining to hear the whispered conversations among cells, hoping to master the basics of their language.They know that if we can decipher and translate this cellular chatter, we have the potential for sending signals of our own that could repair wounds, reduce cholesterol, control insulin levels, or even block the reproduction of cancer cells.The possibilities are extraordinary.

The Language of Life reveals the private conversations of cells.In place of words, however, cells use chemicals, linking molecule to molecule to construct sentences that obey formal rules of grammar and syntax as binding as those that govern our own spoken and written language. Through the exchange and interpretation of chemical signals, they report every newsworthy event, record every memory, respond to every bodily injury.

If you've ever wondered how your body copes with stress and change, why you can't lose weight, or shake unreasonable fears; if you've pondered the origins of cancer or the epidemic of diabetes; or if you've wished for a glimpse into the future of medicine, this is a book you must read. Debra Niehoff examines the communication breakdowns that underlie some of our most common and intractable disorders and shows how intervening in these crises by sending signals of our own not only gives us the drugs to cure what ails us, but promises more effective and better targeted medications in the future.

The Language of Life blends the vision of science with the poetry of life itself.It is a fantastic story of discovery that artfully conveys the epic of the developing embryo, the miracle of the human brain, and the stories of battles waged by cells on the front lines of a never-ending war against disease. ... Read more

Book Description

As exciting as the new field of genomics is, it has not yet produced a basic conceptual change in biology. The fundamental problems remain: the origin of life, cell organization, the pathways of differentiation, aging, and the molecular and cellular capabilities of the brain. What has occurred is an explosion of molecular information obtained by genomic sequences, which will soon be followed by exhaustive catalogs of protein interactions and protein function. This wealth of information can be analyzed and manipulated only with the help of computers. The rapidly expanding role of computers in biology may usher in a profound conceptual change in how we study living systems in the laboratory.

This book focuses on current computational approaches to understanding the complex networks of metabolic and gene regulatory capabilities of the cell. The contributors look well beyond the state of the art in computational biology to anticipate what biological research will be like in a post-genomic world. ... Read more

Book Description

This book offers comprehensive, unified coverage of proteolytic enzymes, which are useful in a multitude of important physiological processes.The emphasis here is on the practical aspects of the handling, characterization, inhibition, and use of these enzymes.The book provides general advice as well as specific examples.Written in a clear, readable style, the volume is an excellent resource for scientists who study proteases, or those who use them as probes for experimental and therapeutic purposes. ... Read more

Book Description

This book covers a hot subject in cell biology; i.e. how the cell environment sends messages to the cell, regulates gene expression, and modulates the cell phenotype. For a long time the extracellular matrix was believed to have only a supporting role for cell attachment. However, it became apparent that the matrix participates actively in cell metabolism. The experiments that led to this conclusion are described in this volume. Progressively, molecules have been identified that transmit this signaling at the cell-matrix interface. Their identity and mechanism of action are also illustrated in this book. Finally, it explains the role the cell-matrix relationship plays in the regulation of cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and the expression of malignancy. ... Read more

Book Description

This third edition of A Dictionary of Virology offers an authoritative, concise, and up-to-date list of all viruses affecting vertebrate species, from humans to fish.It has been completely revised since the 1997 edition to include 25% more entries, including many completely new viruses. The entries have been restructured so that all viruses are listed and classified in accordance with the standards set by the 7th Report of the ICTV. The extensive cross-referencing and illustrative tables further enhance the utility of this reference. ... Read more

Book Description

Science students are expected to produce lab reports, but are rarely adequately instructed on how to write them.Aimed at undergraduate students, Successful Lab Reports bridges the gap between the many books about writing term papers and the advanced books about writing papers for publication in scientific journals, neither of which gives much information on writing science lab reports. The first part guides students through the structure as they write a first draft.The second part shows how to revise the report and polish science writing skills as the student continues to write science lab reports. ... Read more

Book Description

Cell and Tissue Culture: Laboratory Procedures in Biotechnology Edited by Alan Doyle Centre for Applied Microbiology & Research, Porton Down, Salisbury, UK. and J. Bryan Griffiths Scientific Consultancy & Publishing, Porton, Salisbury, UK. Cell and Tissue Culture: Laboratory Procedures in Biotechnology introduces the reader to animal cell culture methods describing the key cells, core techniques, how to scale up the culture for commercial production, and regulatory aspects. This book provides easy to follow, step-by-step protocols, with trouble-shooting tips and notes on time considerations. Alternative procedures, background information and references supplement the main procedures described. Other features include:
* Experimental examples to indicate expected results;
* Quick reference symbols such as safety icons with warning notes; and,
* A list of suppliers is provided to allow easy access to laboratory products.
Written by a team of international scientists, Cell and Tissue Culture: Laboratory Procedures in Biotechnology will be of interest to researchers, technicians and process engineers using cell culture within the biotechnology, biomedicine and pharmaceutical industries. ... Read more

Book Description

The use of fluorescent and luminescent probes to measure biological function has increased dramatically since publication of the First Edition due to their improved speed, safety, and power of analytical approach. This eagerly awaited Second Edition, also edited by Bill Mason, contains 19 new chapters and over two thirds new material, and is a must for all life scientists using optical probes.
The contents include discussion of new optical methodologies for detection of proteins, DNA and other molecules, as well as probes for ions, receptors, cellular components, and gene expression. Emerging and advanced technologies for probe detection such as confocal laser scanning microscopy are also covered. This book will be essential for those embarking on work in the field or using new methods to enhance their research.

TOPICS COVERED:
* Single and multiphoton confocal microscopy
* Applications of green fluorescent protein and chemiluminescent reporters to gene expression studies
* Applications of new optical probes for imaging proteins in gels
* Probes and detection technologies for imaging membrane potential in live cells
* Use of optical probes to detect microorganisms
* Raman and confocal raman microspectroscopy
* Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy
* Digital CCD cameras and their application in biological microscopy ... Read more