Behave
New York Times bestseller - Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize - One of the Washington Post's 10 Best Books of the Year"It's no exaggeration to say that Behave is one of the best nonfiction books I've ever read." --David P. Barash, The Wall Street Journal "It has my vote for science book of the year." --Parul Sehgal, The New York Times "Immensely readable, often hilarious...Hands-down one of the best books I've read in years. I loved it." --Dina Temple-Raston, The Washington Post From the bestselling author of A Primate's Memoir and Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will comes a landmark, genre-defining examination of human behavior and an answer to the question: Why do we do the things we do? Behave is one of the most dazzling tours d'horizon of the science of human behavior ever attempted. Moving across a range of disciplines, Sapolsky--a neuroscientist and primatologist--uncovers the hidden story of our actions. Undertaking some of our thorniest questions relating to tribalism and xenophobia, hierarchy and competition, and war and peace, Behave is a towering achievement--a majestic synthesis of cutting-edge research and a heroic exploration of why we ultimately do the things we do . . . for good and for ill.
Introducing Epigenetics
Epigenetics is the most exciting field in biology today, developing our understanding of how and why we inherit certain traits, develop diseases and age, and evolve as a species. This non-fiction comic book introduces us to genetics, cell biology and the fascinating science of epigenetics, which is rapidly filling in the gaps in our knowledge, allowing us to make huge advances in medicine. We'll look at what identical twins can teach us about the epigenetic effects of our environment and experiences, why certain genes are 'switched on' or off at various stages of embryonic development, and how scientists have reversed the specialization of cells to clone frogs from a single gut cell. In Introducing Epigenetics, Cath Ennis and Oliver Pugh pull apart the double helix, examining how the epigenetic building blocks and messengers that interpret and edit our genes help to make us, well, us.
The Genius of Birds
"Lovely, celebratory. For all the belittling of 'bird brains, ' [Ackerman] shows them to be uniquely impressive machines . . ." --New York Times Book Review "A lyrical testimony to the wonders of avian intelligence." --Scientific American An award-winning science writer tours the globe to reveal what makes birds capable of such extraordinary feats of mental prowess Birds are astonishingly intelligent creatures. According to revolutionary new research, some birds rival primates and even humans in their remarkable forms of intelligence. In The Genius of Birds, acclaimed author Jennifer Ackerman explores their newly discovered brilliance and how it came about. As she travels around the world to the most cutting-edge frontiers of research, Ackerman not only tells the story of the recently uncovered genius of birds but also delves deeply into the latest findings about the bird brain itself that are shifting our view of what it means to be intelligent. At once personal yet scientific, richly informative and beautifully written, The Genius of Birds celebrates the triumphs of these surprising and fiercely intelligent creatures. Ackerman is also the author of Birds by the Shore: Observing the Natural Life of the Atlantic Coast.
The Cell
Your body has trillions of cells, and each one has the complexity and dynamism of a city. Your life, your thoughts, your diseases, and your health are all the function of cells. But what do you really know about what goes on inside you? The last time most people thought about cells in any detail was probably in high school or a college general biology class. But the field of cell biology has advanced incredibly rapidly in recent decades, and a great deal of what we may have learned in high school and college is no longer accurate or particularly relevant. The Cell: Inside the Microscopic World that Determines Our Health, Our Consciousness, and Our Future is a fascinating story of the incredible complexity and dynamism inside the cell and of the fantastic advancements in our understanding of this microscopic world. Dr. Joshua Z. Rappoport is at the forefront of this field, and he will take you on a journey to discover: A deeper understanding of how cells work and the basic nature of life on earth. Fascinating histories of some of the key discoveries from the seventeenth century to the last decade and provocative thoughts on the current state of academic research. The knowledge required to better understand the new developments that are announced almost weekly in science and health care, such as cancer, cellular therapies, and the potential promise of stem cells. The ability to make better decisions about health and to debunk the misinformation that comes in daily via media. Using the latest scientific research, The Cell illustrates the diversity of cell biology and what it all means for your everyday life.
Biology for Dummies
The ultimate guide to understanding biology Have you ever wondered how the food you eat becomes the energy your body needs to keep going? The theory of evolution says that humans and chimps descended from a common ancestor, but does it tell us how and why? We humans are insatiably curious creatures who can't help wondering how things work--starting with our own bodies. Wouldn't it be great to have a single source of quick answers to all our questions about how living things work? Now there is. From molecules to animals, cells to ecosystems, Biology For Dummies answers all your questions about how living things work. Written in plain English and packed with dozens of enlightening illustrations, this reference guide covers the most recent developments and discoveries in evolutionary, reproductive, and ecological biology. It's also complemented with lots of practical, up-to-date examples to bring the information to life. Discover how living things work Think like a biologist and use scientific methods Understand lifecycle processes Whether you're enrolled in a biology class or just want to know more about this fascinating and ever-evolving field of study, Biology For Dummies will help you unlock the mysteries of how life works.
Not in Our Genes
Informative, entertaining, lucid, forceful, frequently witty . . . never dull . . . should be read and remembered for a long time."--New York Times Book Review "The authors argue persuasively that biological explanations for why we act as we do are based on faulty (in some cases, fabricated) data and wild speculation. . . . It is debunking at its best."--Psychology Today "An important and timely book"--Stephen Jay Gould Not in our Genes systematically exposes and dismantles the claims that inequalities--class, race, gender--are the products of biological, genetic inheritances.
Anatomy and Physiology for Dummies
Learn about the human body from the inside out Some people think that knowing about what goes on inside the human body can sap life of its mystery--which is too bad for them. Anybody who's ever taken a peak under the hood knows that the human body, and all its various structures and functions, is a realm of awe-inspiring complexity and countless wonders. The dizzying dance of molecule, cell, tissue, organ, muscle, sinew, and bone that we call life can be a thing of breathtaking beauty and humbling perfection. Anatomy & Physiology For Dummies combines anatomical terminology and function so you'll learn not only names and terms but also gain an understanding of how the human body works. Whether you're a student, an aspiring medical, healthcare or fitness professional, or just someone who's curious about the human body and how it works, this book offers you a fun, easy way to get a handle on the basics of anatomy and physiology. Understand the meaning of terms in anatomy and physiology Get to know the body's anatomical structures--from head to toe Explore the body's systems and how they interact to keep us alive Gain insight into how the structures and systems function in sickness and health Written in plain English and packed with beautiful illustrations, Anatomy & Physiology For Dummies is your guide to a fantastic voyage of the human body.
Evolution Driven by Organismal Behavior
This book proposes a new way to think about evolution. The author carefully brings together evidence from diverse fields of science. In the process, he bridges the gaps between many different--and usually seen as conflicting--ideas to present one integrative theory named ONCE, which stands for Organic Nonoptimal Constrained Evolution. The author argues that evolution is mainly driven by the behavioral choices and persistence of organisms themselves, in a process in which Darwinian natural selection is mainly a secondary--but still crucial--evolutionary player. Within ONCE, evolution is therefore generally made of mistakes and mismatches and trial-and-error situations, and is not a process where organisms engage in an incessant, suffocating struggle in which they can't thrive if they are not optimally adapted to their habitats and the external environment. Therefore, this unifying view incorporates a more comprehensive view of the diversity and complexity of life by stressing that organisms are not merely passive evolutionary players under the rule of external factors. This insightful and well-reasoned argument is based on numerous fascinating case studies from a wide range of organisms, including bacteria, plants, insects and diverse examples from the evolution of our own species. The book has an appeal to researchers, students, teachers, and those with an interest in the history and philosophy of science, as well as to the broader public, as it brings life back into biology by emphasizing that organisms, including humans, are the key active players in evolution and thus in the future of life on this wonderful planet.
Homo Deus
Official U.S. edition with full color illustrations throughout.NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERYuval Noah Harari, author of the critically-acclaimed New York Times bestseller and international phenomenon Sapiens, returns with an equally original, compelling, and provocative book, turning his focus toward the future of humanity, and our quest to upgrade humans into gods.Over the past century humankind has managed to do the impossible and rein in famine, plague, and war. This may seem hard to accept, but, as Harari explains in his trademark style--thorough, yet riveting--famine, plague and war have been transformed from incomprehensible and uncontrollable forces of nature into manageable challenges. For the first time ever, more people die from eating too much than from eating too little; more people die from old age than from infectious diseases; and more people commit suicide than are killed by soldiers, terrorists and criminals put together. The average American is a thousand times more likely to die from binging at McDonalds than from being blown up by Al Qaeda.What then will replace famine, plague, and war at the top of the human agenda? As the self-made gods of planet earth, what destinies will we set ourselves, and which quests will we undertake? Homo Deus explores the projects, dreams and nightmares that will shape the twenty-first century--from overcoming death to creating artificial life and artificial intelligence. It asks the fundamental questions: Where do we go from here? And how will we protect this fragile world from our own destructive powers? This provocative work of popular science is the next stage of evolution. This is Homo Deus.With the same insight and clarity that made Sapiens an international hit and a New York Times bestseller, Harari maps out our future.But as we stand on the verge of godhood, what new challenges will replace the old ones?The New Human Agenda: With famine, plague, and war no longer seen as uncontrollable forces of nature, Harari argues that humanity will aim for immortality, happiness, and divinity. What happens when we try to play God?Upgrading Humankind: Explore the profound implications of biotechnology and genetic engineering as Homo sapiens attempts to evolve into Homo deus. Is this the next stage of evolution, or the beginning of the end?The Rise of Dataism: Discover the emergence of a new religion where information is the ultimate value. What happens to human free will when external algorithms know us better than we know ourselves?The Future of Consciousness: This groundbreaking book examines the decoupling of intelligence from consciousness and asks the fundamental question: will a world dominated by super-intelligence and AI have any room left for the human spirit?
Berry Antioxidants in Health and Disease
During the last decade, a high volume of work has been published on the health-promoting effects of berries (e.g., blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, etc.) that are rich in antioxidant phytochemicals, polyphenols. Consuming a diet rich in polyphenols has been documented to attenuate the risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, diabetes mellitus, and neurodegenerative disorders. Recent evidence also reveals that the biological effects of polyphenols extend beyond their traditional antioxidant role. This Special Issue includes 10 peer-reviewed papers, including original research papers and reviews. They present the most recent advances in the role of berry antioxidants, not only in maintaining health but also in preventing and/or reversing disease both in cell culture, animal models and in humans. Additionally, the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways modulated by berry antioxidants are presented. Chapters include the role of berry antioxidants in whole fruit and leaves on the metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes and glucose intolerance, cancer, inflammation, oxidative stress and neuroprotection as well as cardiovascular disease. As a guest editor, I would like to acknowledge the authors of all chapters for their valuable contributions and reviewers for their thoughtful and constructive suggestions and time. Special thanks to the publishing team of the Antioxidants Journal for their professionalism, attention to detail and timely completion of this volume.
How Darwinism corrodes morality
This book looks at how Darwinism has adversely affected morality in Western culture, not only sexual morals, but also the mistreatment of minority races, the killing of the sick and diseased and the rise of the abortion movement. Key figures of the twentieth century are considered: Havelock Ellis, Margaret Sanger, Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, Benjamin Spock, Karl Pearson, Anders Behring Breivik and others. The ideological impact of Darwinism on such issues as eugenics, abortion, racism, war and social policy since Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species was first published in 1859 is profound. Overturning the predominately Judeo-Christian worldview of previous centuries, Darwinism has infiltrated every area of science, philosphy, art, literature, business, anthropology, social policy, governance and medicine. We need to understand the foundational problem in order to propose ways that societal reforms can be addressed in our day--this book will help us do just that.
Sex in the Sea
An Oprah.com "Best Book for National Reading Month" Forget the Kama Sutra. When it comes to inventive sex acts, just look to the sea. There we find the elaborate mating rituals of armored lobsters; giant right whales engaging in a lively threesome whilst holding their breath; full moon sex parties of groupers and daily mating blitzes by blueheaded wrasse. Deep-sea squid perform inverted 69s, while hermaphrodite sea slugs link up in giant sex loops. From doubly endowed sharks to the maze-like vaginas of some whales, Sex in the Sea is a journey unlike any other to explore the staggering ways life begets life beneath the waves. Beyond a deliciously voyeuristic excursion, Sex in the Sea uniquely connects the timeless topic of sex with the timely issue of sustainable oceans. Through overfishing, climate change, and ocean pollution we are disrupting the creative procreation that drives the wild abundance of life in the ocean. With wit and scientific rigor, Hardt introduces us to the researchers and innovators who study the wet and wild sex lives of ocean life and offer solutions that promote rather than prevent, successful sex in the sea. Part science, part erotica, Sex in the Sea discusses how we can shift from a prophylactic to a more propagative force for life in the ocean.
The American Development of Biology
Selected as one of the Best "Sci-Tech" Books of 1988 by Library Journal The essays in this volume represent original work to celebrate the centenary of the American Society of Zoologists. They illustrate the impressive nature of historical scholarship that has subsequently focused on the development of biology in the United States.
Dance to the Tune of Life
In this thought-provoking book, Denis Noble formulates the theory of biological relativity, emphasising that living organisms operate at multiple levels of complexity and must therefore be analysed from a multi-scale, relativistic perspective. Noble explains that all biological processes operate by means of molecular, cellular and organismal networks. The interactive nature of these fundamental processes is at the core of biological relativity and, as such, challenges simplified molecular reductionism. Noble shows that such an integrative view emerges as the necessary consequence of the rigorous application of mathematics to biology. Drawing on his pioneering work in the mathematical physics of biology, he shows that what emerges is a deeply humane picture of the role of the organism in constraining its chemistry, including its genes, to serve the organism as a whole, especially in the interaction with its social environment. This humanistic, holistic approach challenges the common gene-centred view held by many in modern biology and culture.
Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry
Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry helps you over the hurdles most students face in the course through its meticulous explanations of difficult concepts, helpful problem-solving support, and insightful communication of contemporary biochemistry's core ideas.
Life's Engines
The marvelous microbes that made life on Earth possible and support our very existence For almost four billion years, microbes had the primordial oceans all to themselves. The stewards of Earth, these organisms transformed the chemistry of our planet to make it habitable for plants, animals, and us. Life's Engines takes readers deep into the microscopic world to explore how these marvelous creatures made life on Earth possible--and how human life today would cease to exist without them. Paul Falkowski looks "under the hood" of microbes to find the engines of life, the actual working parts that do the biochemical heavy lifting for every living organism on Earth. With insight and humor, he explains how these miniature engines are built--and how they have been appropriated by and assembled like Lego sets within every creature that walks, swims, or flies. Falkowski shows how evolution works to maintain this core machinery of life, and how we and other animals are veritable conglomerations of microbes. A vibrantly entertaining book about the microbes that support our very existence, Life's Engines will inspire wonder about these elegantly complex nanomachines that have driven life since its origin. It also issues a timely warning about the dangers of tinkering with that machinery to make it more "efficient" at meeting the ever-growing demands of humans in the coming century.
The Hidden Half of Nature
Prepare to set aside what you think you know about yourself and microbes. The Hidden Half of Nature reveals why good health--for people and for plants--depends on Earth's smallest creatures. Restoring life to their barren yard and recovering from a health crisis, David R. Montgomery and Anne Bikl矇 discover astounding parallels between the botanical world and our own bodies. From garden to gut, they show why cultivating beneficial microbiomes holds the key to transforming agriculture and medicine.
Population Wars
"A fascinating perspective on the age-old idea of Survival of the Fittest." --LitReactor Population Wars is a paradigm-shifting look at why humans behave the way they do and the ancient history that explains that behavior. In this eye-opening book, Greg Graffin points to where the mainstream view of evolutionary theory has led us astray. Through tales of mass extinctions, developing immune systems, human warfare, the American industrial heartland, and our degrading modern environment, Graffin demonstrates how that misunderstanding has allowed humans to justify war even when other solutions may be available. Along the way, he reveals a paradox: When we challenge conventional definitions of war, we are left with a new problem--how to define ourselves.
Molecular Biology: A Very Short Introduction
Molecular Biology is the story of the molecules of life, their relationships, and how these interactions are controlled. It is an expanding field in life sciences, and its applications are wide and growing. We can now harness the power of molecular biology to treat diseases, solve crimes, map human history, and produce genetically modified organisms and crops, and these applications have sparked a multitude of fascinating legal and ethical debates. In this Very Short Introduction, Aysha Divan and Janice Royds examine the history, present, and future of Molecular Biology. Starting with the building blocks established by Darwin, Wallace and Mendel, and the discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953, they consider the wide range of applications for Molecular Biology today, including the development of new drugs, and forensic science. They also look forward to two key areas of evolving research such as personalised medicine and synthetic biology. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
The Systems View of Life
Over the past thirty years, a new systemic conception of life has emerged at the forefront of science. New emphasis has been given to complexity, networks, and patterns of organisation, leading to a novel kind of 'systemic' thinking. This volume integrates the ideas, models, and theories underlying the systems view of life into a single coherent framework. Taking a broad sweep through history and across scientific disciplines, the authors examine the appearance of key concepts such as autopoiesis, dissipative structures, social networks, and a systemic understanding of evolution. The implications of the systems view of life for health care, management, and our global ecological and economic crises are also discussed. Written primarily for undergraduates, it is also essential reading for graduate students and researchers interested in understanding the new systemic conception of life and its implications for a broad range of professions - from economics and politics to medicine, psychology and law.
Do Elephants Have Knees?
Thinking whimsically makes serious science accessible. That's a message that should be taken to heart by all readers who want to learn about evolution. Do Elephants Have Knees? invites readers into serious appreciation of Darwinian histories by deploying the playful thinking found in children's books. Charles R. Ault Jr. weds children's literature to recent research in paleontology and evolutionary biology. Inquiring into the origin of origins stories, Ault presents three portraits of Charles Darwin--curious child, twentysomething adventurer, and elderly worm scientist. Essays focusing on the origins of tetrapods, elephants, whales, and birds explain fundamental Darwinian concepts (natural selection, for example) with examples of fossil history and comparative anatomy. The imagery of the children's story offers a way to remember and recreate scientific discoveries. By juxtaposing Darwin's science with tales for children, Do Elephants Have Knees? underscores the importance of whimsical storytelling to the accomplishment of serious thinking. Charles Darwin mused about duck beaks and swimming bears as he imagined a pathway for the origin of baleen. A "bearduck" chimera may be a stretch, but the science linking not just cows but also whales to moose through shared ancestry has great merit. Teaching about shared ancestry may begin with attention to Bernard Wiseman's Morris the Moose. Morris believes that cows and deer are fine examples of moose because they all have four legs and things on their heads. No whale antlers are known, but fossils of four-legged whales are. By calling attention to surprising and serendipitous echoes between children's stories and challenging science, Ault demonstrates how playful thinking opens the doors to an understanding of evolutionary thought.
Fungal Diagnostics
Invasive fungal infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Over the past decade there has been a concerted effort to develop reliable methods for the detection of such infections. In Fungal Diagnostics: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers in the field detail the introduction of new technology into a diagnostic setting include ease of use, and rapid turnaround time without compromising sensitivity and specificity. Focusing specifically on fungal detection in clinical settings, fungal diagnostics including, environmental testing, agriculture and food production and veterinary diagnostics. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology(TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Fungal Diagnostics: Methods and Protocols seeks to aid scientists into the further study of diagnostic and detection of fungi.
The Selfish Gene
The million copy international bestseller, critically acclaimed and translated into over 25 languages. As influential today as when it was first published, The Selfish Gene has become a classic exposition of evolutionary thought. Professor Dawkins articulates a gene's eye view of evolution - a view giving centre stage to these persistent units of information, and in which organisms can be seen as vehicles for their replication. This imaginative, powerful, and stylistically brilliant work not only brought the insights of Neo-Darwinism to a wide audience, but galvanized the biology community, generating much debate and stimulating whole new areas of research. Forty years later, its insights remain as relevant today as on the day it was published. This 40th anniversary edition includes a new epilogue from the author discussing the continuing relevance of these ideas in evolutionary biology today, as well as the original prefaces and foreword, and extracts from early reviews. Oxford Landmark Science books are 'must-read' classics of modern science writing which have crystallized big ideas, and shaped the way we think.
Extinction & Evolution
Our Earth is running out of resources to support humankind at a prodigious rate. In many areas, in approximately ten years, we'll be running out of food and freshwater to survive-worldwide. It's amounting to extinction of the human race. In addition, computerized Mechanical Humans are evolving to the point they will take over the earth and replace us. That's right-you, me and everyone else on the planet. These facts are neither good nor bad because that's the way things were designed to happen from the beginning of time. It's well worth it for you to read this booklet and check out the facts as listed and see if you agree with me. If we do nothing, wars and bloodshed are sure to happen as the effects of extinction becomes felt and visible on a worldwide basis. The purpose of this booklet is to keep the wars and bloodshed from happening. Hopefully you'll be willing to help me get the word out. - Jack R Kryder
Men, Microscopes, and Living Things
Katherine Shippen collaborated with Anthony Ravielli, the illustrator to give a history of the study of biology for students in the middle school grades. She beautiful tells the story of the progression of scientific discoveries that built upon one another to give us our present day understanding of the created world. First published in 1955, Shippen republished it in 1968 under the title of So Many Marvels. Katherine B. Shippen was born on April 1, 1892, and spent her life as a history teacher, museum curator and children's author. She died on February 20, 1980. During her career as an author, Shippen published 21 books won the Newbery Honor Award twice, one of which was for Men, Microscopes, and Living Things.
Domesticated
Since that fateful day when the first wolf decided to stay close to human hunters, humans and their various animal companions have thrived far beyond nearly all wild species on earth. Tameness is the key trait in the domestication of cats, dogs, horses, cows, and other mammals, from rats to reindeer. Surprisingly, with selection for tameness comes a suite of seemingly unrelated alterations, including floppy ears, skeletal and coloration changes, and sex differences. It's a package deal known as the domestication syndrome, elements of which are also found in humans. Our highly social nature--one of the keys to our evolutionary success--is due to our own tameness. In Domesticated, Richard C. Francis weaves history and anthropology with cutting-edge ideas in genomics and evo devo to tell the story of how we domesticated the world, and ourselves in the process.
The Human Superorganism
"Eyeopening... Fascinating... may presage a paradigm shift in medicine." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"Teeming with information and big ideas... Outstanding."--Booklist (starred review) The origin of asthma, autism, Alzheimer's, allergies, cancer, heart disease, obesity, and even some kinds of depression is now clear. Award-winning researcher on the microbiome, professor Rodney Dietert presents a new paradigm in human biology that has emerged in the midst of the ongoing global epidemic of noncommunicable diseases. The Human Superorganism makes a sweeping, paradigm-shifting argument. It demolishes two fundamental beliefs that have blinkered all medical thinking until very recently: 1) Humans are better off as pure organisms free of foreign microbes; and 2) the human genome is the key to future medical advances. The microorganisms that we have sought to eliminate have been there for centuries supporting our ancestors. They comprise as much as 90 percent of the cells in and on our bodies--a staggering percentage! More than a thousand species of them live inside us, on our skin, and on our very eyelashes. Yet we have now significantly reduced their power and in doing so have sparked an epidemic of noncommunicable diseases--which now account for 63 percent of all human deaths. Ultimately, this book is not just about microbes; it is about a different way to view humans. The story that Dietert tells of where the new biology comes from, how it works, and the ways in which it affects your life is fascinating, authoritative, and revolutionary. Dietert identifies foods that best serve you, the superorganism; not new fad foods but ancient foods that have made sense for millennia. He explains protective measures against unsafe chemicals and drugs. He offers an empowering self-care guide and the blueprint for a revolution in public health. We are not what we have been taught. Each of us is a superorganism. The best path to a healthy life is through recognizing that profound truth.
Dolphin Confidential
Who hasn't fantasized about the unique thrill of working among charismatic and clever dolphins in the wild? Now we no longer have to rely solely on our imaginations . With Dolphin Confidential, Maddalena Bearzi invites all of us shore-bound dreamers to join her and travel alongside the dolphins. In this fascinating account, she takes us inside the world of a marine scientist and offers a firsthand understanding of marine mammal behavior, as well as the frustrations, delights, and creativity that make up dolphin research. In this intimate narrative, Bearzi recounts her experiences at sea, tracing her own evolution as a woman and a scientist from her earliest travails to her transformation into an advocate for conservation and dolphin protection. These compelling, in-depth descriptions of her fieldwork also present a captivating look into dolphin social behavior and intelligence. The central part of the book is devoted to the metropolitan bottlenose dolphins of California, as Bearzi draws on her extensive experience to offer insights into the daily lives of these creatures-as well as the difficulties involved in collecting the data that transforms hunches into hypotheses and eventually scientific facts. The book closes by addressing the critical environmental and conservation problems facing these magnificent, socially complex, highly intelligent, and emotional beings. An honest, down-to-earth analysis of what it means to be a marine biologist in the field today, Dolphin Confidential offers an entertaining, refreshingly candid, and always informative description of life among the dolphins.
The Vital Question
The Earth teems with life: in its oceans, forests, skies and cities. Yet there's a black hole at the heart of biology. We do not know why complex life is the way it is, or, for that matter, how life first began. In The Vital Question, award-winning author and biochemist Nick Lane radically reframes evolutionary history, putting forward a solution to conundrums that have puzzled generations of scientists.For two and a half billion years, from the very origins of life, single-celled organisms such as bacteria evolved without changing their basic form. Then, on just one occasion in four billion years, they made the jump to complexity. All complex life, from mushrooms to man, shares puzzling features, such as sex, which are unknown in bacteria. How and why did this radical transformation happen?The answer, Lane argues, lies in energy: all life on Earth lives off a voltage with the strength of a lightning bolt. Building on the pillars of evolutionary theory, Lane's hypothesis draws on cutting-edge research into the link between energy and cell biology, in order to deliver a compelling account of evolution from the very origins of life to the emergence of multicellular organisms, while offering deep insights into our own lives and deaths.Both rigorous and enchanting, The Vital Question provides a solution to life's vital question: why are we as we are, and indeed, why are we here at all?
Multistate GTPase Control Co-Translational Protein Targeting
Proteins act as macromolecular machinery that mediate many diverse biological processes - the molecular mechanisms of this machinery has fascinated biologists for decades. Analysis of the kinetic and thermodynamic features of these mechanisms could reveal unprecedented aspects of how the machinery function and will eventually lead to a novel understanding of various biological processes. This dissertation comprehensively demonstrates how two universally conserved guanosine triphosphatases in the signal recognition particle and its membrane receptor maintain the efficiency and fidelity of the co-translational protein targeting process essential to all cells. A series of quantitative experiments reveal that the highly ordered and coordinated conformational states of the machinery are the key to their regulatory function. This dissertation also offers a mechanistic view of another fascinating system in which multistate protein machinery closely control critical biological processes.Written while completing graduate work at California Institute of Technology.
Ion Channels
Every cell in our bodies contains a great variety and number of permeability pathways for various organic and inorganic ions, water, metabolites, nutrients, and signalling molecules. Maintenance and precise control of gating within these pathways are fundamental principles of life as these underlie basic cellular functions such as communication, contractility, and metabolism. In Ion Channels: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition, experts in the field contribute chapters that focus on the strategies, approaches, methods, and protocols for studying a large family of proteins that form ionic channels in the plasma membrane and intracellular membranes of cells. Using practical examples from the cutting-edge current research, this volume will take a look back at the major methods and approaches that aided the progress toward the current understanding of ion channel function, structural design, and biological roles. The volume also aims to look forward and identify approaches that will lead us to future discoveries. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology(TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.Authoritative and cutting-edge, Ion Channels: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition will greatly assist researchers searching for specific methodology in studying ion channels on the path toward a greater understanding of these key biological features.
Calcium-Binding Proteins and Rage
A major direction in medical research leading to clinical applications targets the regulation of intracellular calcium and the various human diseases associated with an altered homeostasis of this global second messenger. These diseases include, for example: cardiomyopathy, inflammation, brain disorders, diabetes and cancer. In Calcium-Binding Proteins and RAGE: from Structural Basics to Clinical Applications, expert researchers in the field detail many of the methods which are now commonly used to study calcium binding proteins. These methods and techniques, such as calcium-measurements, screening methods, clinical chemistry, and therapy, are generally applicable to many other areas of basic and medical research as well as to diagnostics. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology(TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Calcium-Binding Proteins and RAGE: from Structural Basics to Clinical Applications underlines the diagnostic and clinical importance of this family of proteins in human diseases and as drug targets.
Mass Spectrometry of Glycoproteins
1. Introduction to Glycosylation and Mass SpectrometrySteven M. Patrie, Michael J. Roth and Jennifer J. Kohler Part I - Enrichment and Isolation Methods 2. Tandem Lectin Weak Affinity Chromatography (LWAC) for Glycoprotein EnrichmentZhi Yuan Ma, Yuliya Skorobogatko, and Keith Vosseller 3. CSC Technology - Selective Labeling of Glycoproteins by Mild Oxidation to Phenotype CellsAndreas Hofmann, Damaris Bausch-Fluck, and Bernd Wollscheid 4. Use of Boronic Acid Nanoparticles in Glycoprotein EnrichmentYawei Xu, Lijuan Zhang and Haojie Lu 5. Incorporation of Unnatural Sugars for the Identification of GlycoproteinsBalyn W. Zaro, Howard C. Hang, Matthew R. Pratt 6. Characterization of Membrane-associated Glycoproteins using Lectin Affinity Chromatography and Mass SpectrometryYashu Liu, Jintang He and David M. Lubman 7. Sialic Acid Capture-and-Release and LC-MSn Analysis of GlycopeptidesJonas Nilsson and G繹ran Larson Part II - Sample Preparation 8. In-Solution Digestion of Glycoproteins for Glycopeptide-Based Mass AnalysisEden P. Go, Kathryn R. Rebecchi, and Heather Desaire 9. Nano-HPLC-MS of Glycopeptides Obtained After Non-specific ProteolysisGerhild Zauner, Carolien A. M. Koeleman, Andr矇 M. Deelder and Manfred Wuhrer Part III - Separation Methods 10. Glycopeptide Enrichment for MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Analysis by Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography Solid Phase Extraction (HILIC SPE)Pia H繪nnerup Jensen, Simon Mysling, Peter H繪jrup and Ole N繪rregaard Jensen 11. Separation and Identification of Glycoforms by Capillary Electrophoresis with Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometric DetectionAlina D. Zamfir , Corina Flangea, Alina Serb3, Ana-Maria Zagrean4, Andreas M. Rizzi5 and Eugen Sisu 12. Structural Separations by Ion Mobility-MS for Glycomics and Glycoproteomics Larissa S. Fenn and John A. McLean Part IV - Quantitation Methods 13. Quantitative Analysis of Glycoprotein GlycansRon Orlando 14. Stable Isotope Labeling of N-glycosylated Peptides by Enzymatic Deglycosylation for Mass Spectrometry-based GlycoproteomicsHiroyuki Kaji and Toshiaki Isobe 15. Approaches for Site Mapping and Quantification of O-linked GlycopeptidesPeng Zhao, Stephanie H. Stalnaker, Lance Wells 16. Glycan Profiling: Label-free Analysis of GlycoproteinsYoshinao Wada Part V - Computational Tools 17. Introduction to Informatics in Glycoprotein AnalysisKiyoko F. Aoki-Kinoshita 18. Software Tools for Glycan ProfilingChuan-Yih Yu, Anoop Mayampurath, Haixu Tang Part VI - Case Studies in Mass Spectrometry of Glycoproteins 19. Quantitative Characterization of Glycoproteins in Neurodegenerative Disorders using iTRAQMin Shi, Hyejin Hwang and Jing Zhang 20. Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of N-linked Glycoproteins in Human Tear FluidLei Zhou and Roger W. Beuerman 21. Elucidation of N-glycosites Within Human Plasma Glycoproteins for Cancer Biomarker DiscoveryPenelope Drake, Birgit Schilling, Brad Gibson and Susan Fisher 22. Characterizing the Glycosylation State of Therapeutic Recombinant GlycoproteinsNicole Samuels, David Kates, Jun Liu, Joanne Severs 11. Separation and Identification of Glycoforms by Capillary Electrophoresis with Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometric DetectionAlina D. Zamfir , Corina Flangea, Alina Serb3, Ana-Maria Zagrean4, Andreas M. Rizzi
Single-Stranded DNA Binding Proteins
1. Functions of Single-Strand DNA-Binding Proteins in DNA Replication, Recombination and RepairAimee H. Marceau 2. Structural Diversity Based on Variability in Quaternary Association. A Case Study Involving Eubacterial and Related SSBsS. M. Arif and M. Vijayan 3. SSB Binding to ssDNA Using Isothermal Titration CalorimetryAlexander G. Kozlov and Timothy M. Lohman 4. SSB-DNA Binding Monitored by Fluorescence Intensity and AnisotropyAlexander G. Kozlov, Roberto Galletto, and Timothy M. Lohman 5. Single Molecule Analysis of SSB Dynamics on Single Stranded DNARuobo Zhou and Taekjip Ha 6. Sample Preparation Methods to Analyze DNA-induced Structural Changes in Replication Protein A (RPA) Chris A. Brosey, Susan E. Tsutakawa, and Walter J. Chazin 7. Structural Studies of SSB Interaction with RecOMikhail Ryzhikov and Sergey Korolev 8. Investigation of Protein-Protein Interactions of Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Proteins by Analytical UltracentrifugationNatalie Naue and Ute Curth 9. Ammonium Sulfate Co-Precipitation of SSB and Interacting ProteinsAimee Marceau 10. Analyzing Interactions Between SSB and Proteins by the Use of Fluorescence AnisotropyDuo Lu 11. Far Western Blotting as a Rapid and Efficient Method for Detecting Interactions Between DNA Replication and DNA Repair ProteinsBrian W. Walsh, Justin S. Lenhart, Jeremy W. Schroeder, and Lyle A. Simmons 12. Methods for Analysis of SSB/Protein Interactions by SPRAsher N. Page and Nicholas P. George 13. Use of Native Gels to Measure Protein Binding to SSBJin Inoue and Tsutomu Mikawa 14. Identification of Small Molecules That Disrupt SSB/Protein Interactions Using a High-Throughput ScreenDouglas A. Bernstein 15. Detection of Post-translational Modifications of Replication Protein A Cathy S. Hass, Ran Chen, and Marc S. Wold 16. Detecting Posttranslational Modification of Bacterial SSB Proteins Dusica Vujaklija and Boris Macek 17. Fluorescent SSB as a Reagentless Biosensor for Single-Stranded DNAKaty Hedgethorne and Martin R. Webb 18. Fluorescent Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Proteins Enable in vitro and in vivo StudiesPiero R. Bianco, Adam J. Stanenas, Juan Liu, and Christopher S. Cohan 19. Use of Fluorescently Tagged SSB Proteins in in vivo Localization ExperimentsRodrigo Reyes-LamotheDouglas A. Bernstein 15. Detection of Post-translational Modifications of Replication Protein A Cathy S. Hass, Ran Chen, and Marc S. Wold 16. Detecting Posttranslational Modification of Bacterial SSB Proteins Dusica Vujaklija and Boris Macek 17. Fluorescent SSB as a Reagentless Biosensor for Single-Stranded DNAKaty Hedgethorne and Martin R. Webb 18. Fluorescent Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Proteins Enable in vitro and in vivo StudiesPiero R. Bianco, Adam J. Stanenas, Juan Liu, and Christopher S. Cohan 19. Use of Fluorescently Tagged SSB Proteins in in vivo Localization ExperimentsRodrigo Reyes-Lamothe
Cellular and Subcellular Nanotechnology
1. Nanoparticle-GFP "Chemical Nose" Sensor for Cancer Cells IdentificationDaniel F. Moyano and Vincent M. Rotello2. A Method to Map Spatiotemporal pH Changes in a Multicellular Living Organism using a DNA NanosensorSunaina Surana and Yamuna Krishnan3. A Simple Method to Visualize and Assess the Integrity of Lysosomal Membrane in Mammalian Cells using a Fluorescent DyeSyed K. Sohaebuddin and Liping Tang4. Gold Nanoparticle as a Marker for Precise Localization of Nano-objects within Intracellular Sub-DomainsValeriy Lukyanenko and Vadim Salnikov5. Immunoisolation of Nanoparticles Containing Endocytic Vesicles for Drug QuantitationAri Nowacek, Irena Kadiu, JoEllyn McMillan and Howard E. Gendelman6. Methods for Isolation and Identification of Nanoparticle-Containing Subcellular CompartmentsAri Nowacek, Irena Kadiu, JoEllyn McMillan and Howard E. Gendelman7. Permeabilization of Cell Membrane for Delivery of Nano-objects to Cellular Sub-domainsValeriy Lukyanenko8. A Method to Encapsulate Molecular Cargo within DNA IcosahedraDhiraj Bhatia, Saikat Chakraborty, Shabana Mehtab and Yamuna Krishnan9. Delivery of Plasmid DNA to Mammalian Cells using Polymer-Gold Nanorod Assemblies James Ramos, Huang-Chiao Huang, and Kaushal Rege10. Lipophilic Formulated Gold Porphyrin Nanoparticles for Chemotherapy Puiyan Lee and Kenneth KY Wong 11. Mitochondria-specific Nano-Emulsified Therapy for Myocardial Protection against Doxorubicin-induced CardiotoxicityA.Faulk, V. Weissig and Tamer Elbayoumi12. Formation of Pit-Spanning Phospholipid Bilayers on Nanostructured Silicon Dioxide Surfaces for Studying Biological Membrane EventsIndriati Pfeiffer and Michael Z瓣ch13. Characterization of Nanoparticle - Lipid Membrane Interactions using QCM-DRickard Frost and Sofia Svedhem14. Single-Cell NanosurgeryMaxwell B. Zeigler and Daniel T. Chiu15. Single Quantum Dot Imaging in Living CellsJerry C. Chang and Sandra J. Rosenthal16. Fabrication of Fluorescent Silica Nanoparticles with Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogens for Cell ImagingSijie Chen, Jacky W. Y. Lam, and Ben Zhong Tang17. Monitoring the Degradation of Reduction Sensitive Gene Carriers with Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Flow CytometryConstantin Hozsa, Miriam Breunig, and Achim G繹pferich18. Quantification of Intracellular Mitochondrial Displacements in Response to Nanomechanical ForcesYaron R. Silberberg and Andrew E. Pelling19. Imaging Select Mammalian Organelles Using Fluorescent Microscopy: Application to Drug DeliveryPaul D. R. Dyer, Arun K. Kotha, Marie W. Pettit, Simon C. W. Richardson 20. Real-Time Particle Tracking for Studying Intracellular Trafficking of Pharmaceutical Nanocarriers Feiran Huang, Erin Watson, Christopher Dempsey, and Junghae Suh21. Interactions of Nanoparticles with Proteins -Determination of Equilibrium ConstantsLennart Treuel, Marcelina Malissek22. Tracing the Endocytic Pathways and Trafficking Kinetics of Cell Signaling Receptors using Single QD Nanoparticles Katye M. Fichter and Tania Q. Vu 23. Cellular Internalization of Quantum DotsYue-Wern Huang, Han-Jung Lee, Betty Revon Liu, Huey-Jenn Chiang, Chi-Heng Wu 24. Electrochemical Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy for Single Molecule InvestigationAndrea Alessandrini & Paolo Facci25. Intracellular Delivery of Biologically Active Proteins with Peptide-based CarriersS.L. Lo and S. Wang26. Lipo-oligoarginine-based Intracellular DeliveryJae Sam Lee and Ching-Hsuan Tung27. Fluorescent Spherical Monodisperse Silica Core-shell Nanoparticles with a Protein-binding Biofunctional ShellAchim Weber, Marion Herz and G羹nter E.M. Tovar 28. Direct Q
Enzyme Engineering
1. A Tripartite Fusion System for the Selection of Protein Variants with Increased Stability in vivoLinda Foit and James Bardwell 2. Determining Enzyme Kinetics via Isothermal Titration CalorimetryNeil A. Demarse, Marie C. Killian, Lee D. Hansen, and Colette F. Quinn 3. GFP Reporter Screens for the Engineering of Amino Acid Degrading Enzymes from Libraries Expressed in BacteriaOlga Paley, Giulia Agnello, Jason Cantor, Tae Hyun Yoo, George Georgiou, and Everett Stone 4. Flow Cytometric Assays for Interrogating LAGLIDADG Homing Endonuclease DNA Binding and Cleavage PropertiesSarah K. Baxter, Abigail R. Lambert, Andrew M. Scharenberg, and Jordan Jarjour 5. TAL Effector Nuclease (TALEN) EngineeringTing Li and Bing Yang 6. In vitro Evolution of EnzymesMisha V. Golynskiy, John C. Haugner III, Aleardo Morelli, Dana Morrone, and Burckhard Seelig 7. Residue-Specific Incorporation of Unnatural Amino Acids into Proteins In vitro and In vivoAmrita Signh-Blom, Randall A. Hughes, and Andrew. D. Ellington 8. Reconstructing Evolutionary Adaptive Paths for Protein EngineeringMegan F. Cole, Vanessa E. Cox, Kelsey L. Gratton, and Eric A. Gaucher 9. Oligonucleotide Recombination Enabled Site-Specific Mutagenesis in BacteriaBryan M. Swingle 10. FX Cloning: A Versatile High-Throughput Cloning System for Characterization of Enzyme Variants Eric R. Geertsma 11. Use of Sulfolobus solfataricus PCNA Subunit Proteins to Direct the Assembly of Multimeric Enzyme ComplexesHidehiko Hirakawa and Teruyuki Nagamune 12. Gene Synthesis by Assembly of Deoxyuridine Containing Oligonucleotides Romualdas Vaisvila and Jurate Bitinaite 13. Protein Engineering: Single or Multiple Site-Directed MutagenesisPei-Chung Hsieh and Romualdas Vaisvila 14. Gene Assembly and Combinatorial Libraries in S. cerevisiae via Reiterative RecombinationNili Ostrov, Laura M. Wingler, and Virginia Cornish 15. Promiscuity-Based Enzyme Selection for Rational Directed Evolution ExperimentsSandeep Chakraborty, Renu Minda, Lipika Salaye, Abhaya M. dandekar, Swapan K. Bhattacharjee, and Basuthkar J. Rao 16. Rational Protein Sequence Diversification by Multi-Codon Scanning MutagenesisJia Liu and T. Ashton Cropp 17. Screening Libraries for Improved Solubility: Using E. coli Dihydrofolate Reductase as a ReporterJian-Wei Liu and David Ollis 18. In Vitro Directed Evolution of Enzymes Expressed by E. coli in Micro-Titre Plates Bradley J. Stevenson, Sylvia H.C. Yip, and David L. Ollis
Stem Cells and Aging
1. Comprehensive Hematopoietic Stem Cell Isolation Methods Kyle Rector, Yi Liu, and Gary Van Zant 2. Serial Transplantation of Bone Marrow to Test Self-Renewal Capacity of Hematopoietic Stem Cells In Vivo Charusheila Ramkumar, Rachel M. Gerstein, and Hong Zhang 3. Mouse Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Hui Cheng, Paulina H. Liang, and Tao Cheng 4. Isolation, Characterization, and Transplantation of Adult Liver Progenitor Cells Mladen I. Yovchev, Mariana D. Dabeva, and Michael Oertel 5. Isolation of Muscle-Derived Stem/Progenitor Cells Based on Adhesion Characteristics to Collagen-Coated Surfaces Mitra Lavasani, Aiping Lu, Seth D. Thompson, Paul D. Robbins, Johnny Huard, and Laura J. Niedernhofer 6. Human Myoblasts from Skeletal Muscle Biopsies: In Vitro Culture Preparations for Morphological and Cytochemical Analyses at Light and Electron Microscopy Manuela Malatesta, Marzia Giagnacovo, Rosanna Cardani, Giovanni Meola, and Carlo Pellicciari 7. Cardiac Stem Cell Senescence Daniela Cesselli, Federica D'Aurizio, Patrizia Marcon, Natascha Bergamin, Carlo Alberto Beltrami, and Antonio Paolo Beltrami 8. Isolation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Bone and Long-Term Cultivation Under Physiologic Oxygen Conditions Sebastian Klepsch, Angelika Jamnig, Daniela Trimmel, Magdalena Schimke, Werner Kapferer, Regina Brunauer, Sarvpreet Singh, Stephan Reitinger, and G羹nter Lepperdinger 9. Methods for Assessing Effects of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Senescence of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Hai-jie Wang and Yu-zhen Tan 10. Intra-Femoral Injection of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Sindhu T Mohanty and Ilaria Bellantuono 11. Tracking of Replicative Senescence in Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Colony-Forming Unit Frequency Anne Schellenberg, Hatim Hemeda, and Wolfgang Wagner 12. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Coupled by Quantitative Real-Time PCR as a Tool for Analyzing Epigenetic Regulation of Stem Cell Aging Seunghee Lee, Ji-Won Jung, and Kyung-Sun Kang 13. Quantitative Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (Q-FISH) on Paraffine Embedded Tissue Mario Ricciardi, Mauro Krampera, and Marco Chilosi Daniela Cesselli, Federica D'Aurizio, Patrizia Marcon, Natascha Bergamin, Carlo Alberto Beltrami, and Antonio Paolo Beltrami 8. Isolation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Bone and Long-Term Cultivation Under Physiologic Oxygen Conditions Sebastian Klepsch, Angelika Jamnig, Daniela Trimmel, Magdalena Schimke, Werner Kapferer, Regina Brunauer, Sarvpreet Singh, Stephan Reitinger, and G羹nter Lepperdinger 9. Methods for Assessing Effects of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Senescence of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Hai-jie Wang and Yu-zhen Tan 10. Intra-Femoral Injection of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Sindhu T Mohanty and Ilaria Bellantuono 11. Tracking of Replicative Senescence in Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Colony-Forming Unit Frequency Anne Schellenberg, Hatim Hemeda, and Wolfgang Wagner 12. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Coupled by Quantitative Real-Time PCR as a Tool for Analyzing Epigenetic Regulation of Stem Cell Aging Seunghee Lee, Ji-Won Jung, and Kyung-Sun Kang 13. Quantitative Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (Q-FISH) on Paraffine Embedded Tissue Mario Ricciardi, Mauro Krampera, and Marco Chilosi Anne Schellenberg, Hatim Hemeda, and Wolfgang Wagner 12. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Coupled by Quantitative Real-Time PCR as a
Odontogenesis
Only in recent times has the possibility of growing and implanting replacement teeth, made from one's own cells, moved into the realm of realistic possibilities; however, the molecular and cellular mechanisms of tooth development must be studied in a range of vertebrates, from zebrafish to mice, so that evolutionarily conserved network kernels, which will define the cellular states of generic vertebrate tooth development, can be recognized. In Odontogenesis: Methods and Protocols, experts in the field examine techniques to approach this burgeoning field. This detailed volume includes chapters on the detection of "tooth development" gene expression, both at the RNA and protein level, current approaches to the manipulation of gene expression levels and subsequent analysis of tooth phenotypes, as well as chapters concerning current efforts to get living tooth implants working without waiting for a full understanding of the developmental pathways at the molecular level. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology(TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips for troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Practical and easy to use, Odontogenesis: Methods and Protocols aims to help researchers move forward toward the ultimate goal of getting a "bioengineered tooth" into the patient's mouth.
10% Human
"A fascinating study of the intertwined lives of microbes and humans. . . a manual for the new, healthy way of being dirty. . . . Read it, and you will learn to love your microbiota." -- NewsweekEvolutionary biologist and science writer Alanna Collen's stunning alarm call concerning the widely-ignored role our gut microbes play in our health and well-being.You are just 10% human. For every one of the cells that make up the vessel that you call your body, there are nine impostor cells hitching a ride. You are not just flesh and blood, muscle and bone, brain and skin, but also bacteria and fungi. Over your lifetime, you will carry the equivalent weight of five African elephants in microbes. You are not an individual but a colony.Until recently, we had thought our microbes hardly mattered, but science is revealing a different story, one in which microbes run our bodies and becoming a healthy human is impossible without them.In this riveting, shocking, and beautifully written book, biologist Alanna Collen draws on the latest scientific research to show how our personal colony of microbes influences our weight, our immune system, our mental health, and even our choice of partner. She argues that so many of our modern diseases--obesity, autism, mental illness, digestive disorders, allergies, autoimmunity afflictions, and even cancer--have their root in our failure to cherish our most fundamental and enduring relationship: that with our personal colony of microbes.The good news is that unlike our human cells, we can change our microbes for the better. Collen's book is a revelatory and indispensable guide. Life--and your body--will never seem the same again.
How the Body Works
This book takes you on the ultimate anatomical adventure around your own body, revealing how little you know about yourself in mind-blowing depth and detail.As part of the best-selling How Things Work series, this biological bonanza uses dynamic graphics, simple science, and accessible text to explore and explain this tricky subject as never before. If you've ever wondered why your blood is red, how your reflexes work, what makes you feel dizzy, and where exactly are the butterflies in your tummy, then wonder no more. The answers to all these questions and many others are included in this essential visual guide. From body basics to advanced anatomy, How the Body Works introduces all your weird and wonderful parts and processes, alongside fascinating facts and easy explanations across hundreds of pages. Guaranteed to get your brain in gear, you'll get to know your physical self in terms of cells, skin, bones, and blood, as well as getting to grips with your emotional side in the psychology of emotions, memories, and dreams. Understand how our bodies keep us alive and thriving with How the Body Works.
The Genius of Birds
"Lovely, celebratory. For all the belittling of 'bird brains, ' [Ackerman] shows them to be uniquely impressive machines . . ." --New York Times Book Review "A lyrical testimony to the wonders of avian intelligence." --Scientific American An award-winning science writer tours the globe to reveal what makes birds capable of such extraordinary feats of mental prowess Birds are astonishingly intelligent creatures. According to revolutionary new research, some birds rival primates and even humans in their remarkable forms of intelligence. In The Genius of Birds, acclaimed author Jennifer Ackerman explores their newly discovered brilliance and how it came about. As she travels around the world to the most cutting-edge frontiers of research, Ackerman not only tells the story of the recently uncovered genius of birds but also delves deeply into the latest findings about the bird brain itself that are shifting our view of what it means to be intelligent. At once personal yet scientific, richly informative and beautifully written, The Genius of Birds celebrates the triumphs of these surprising and fiercely intelligent creatures. Ackerman is also the author of Birds by the Shore: Observing the Natural Life of the Atlantic Coast.
The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling
Gold Medal, 2016 Foreword INDIES Book AwardsThe best-selling, ultimate guide to nature drawing and journaling!A potent combination of art, science, and boundless enthusiasm, this art instruction book from John Muir Laws (author of The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds) is a how-to guide for becoming a better artist and a more attentive naturalist. In straightforward text complemented by step-by-step illustrations, dozens of exercises lead the hand and mind through creating accurate reproductions of plants and animals as well as landscapes, skies, and more. Laws provides clear, practical advice for every step of the process for artists at every level, from the basics of choosing supplies to advanced techniques. While the book's advice will improve the skills of already accomplished artists, the emphasis on seeing, learning, and feeling will make this book valuable--even revelatory--to anyone interested in the natural world, no matter how rudimentary their artistic abilities.
Immortality
That arresting statement sounds as if it might come from a science fiction story. But it is astonishing, exciting fact-as explained by Dr. Ben Bova. In his distinguished career, Dr. Bova has predicted many scientific developments. Now he explores the future effects of science and technology on the human life span and discovers that one day, death will no longer be the inevitable end of life. Dr. Bova guides readers through worldwide research into the biochemical processes that causes aging and death, and shows what scientists are discovering about stopping, perhaps even reversing them. With crystal-clear prose, Dr. Bova explains how science could maintain the youth and vigor of a fifty-year-old indefinitely and the consequences for marriage and family ties. He also offers provocative thoughts on the tumultuous societal consequences of such biomedical breakthroughs, as greatly extended life spans and virtual immortality transform institutions like Medicare, Social Security, pension plans, life insurance, even the very foundations of work and retirement. Here is a compelling, startling, understandable, and vitally important study of humankind's greatest challenge -- and most tantalizing opportunity."The first immortals are already living among us. You might be one of them."That arresting statement sounds as if it might come from a science fiction story. But it is astonishing, exciting fact-as explained by Dr. Ben Bova. In his distinguished career, Dr. Bova has predicted many scientific developments. Now he explores the future effects of science and technology on the human life span and discovers that one day, death will no longer be the inevitable end of life. Dr. Bova guidesreaders through worldwide research into the biochemical processes that causes aging and death, and shows what scientists are discovering about stopping, perhaps even reversing them. With crystal-clear prose, Dr. Bova explains how science could maintain the youth and vigor of a fifty-year-old indefinitely and the consequences for marriage and family ties. He also offers provocative thoughts on the tumultuous societal consequences of such biomedical breakthroughs, as greatly extended life spans and virtual immortality transform institutions like Medicare, Social Security, pension plans, life insurance, even the very foundations of work and retirement. Here is a compelling, startling, understandable, and vitally important study of humankind's greatest challenge -- and most tantalizing opportunity."The first immortals are already living among us. You might be one of them."That arresting statement sounds as if it might come from a science fiction story. But it is astonishing, exciting fact-as explained by Dr. Ben Bova. In his distinguished career, Dr. Bova has predicted many scientific developments. Now he explores the future effects of science and technology on the human life span and discovers that one day, death will no longer be the inevitable end of life. Dr. Bova guides readers through worldwide research into the biochemical processes that causes aging and death, and shows what scientists are discovering about stopping, perhaps even reversing them. With crystal-clear prose, Dr. Bova explains how science could maintain the youth and vigor of a fifty-year-old indefinitely and the consequences for marriage and family ties. He also offers provocative thoughts on the tumultuoussocietal consequences of such biomedical breakthroughs, as greatly extended life spans and virtual immortality transform institutions like Medicare, Social Security, pension plans, life insurance, even the very foundations of work and retirement. Here is a compelling, startling, understandable, and vitally important study of humankind's greatest challenge -- and most tantalizing opportunity.
The Serengeti Rules
Now the subject of an Emmy Award-winning film the New York Times calls "spellbinding" How does life work? How does nature produce the right numbers of zebras and lions on the African savanna, or fish in the ocean? How do our bodies produce the right numbers of cells in our organs and bloodstream? In The Serengeti Rules, award-winning biologist and author Sean Carroll tells the stories of the pioneering scientists who sought the answers to such simple yet profoundly important questions, and shows how their discoveries matter for our health and the health of the planet we depend upon. One of the most important revelations about the natural world is that everything is regulated--there are rules that regulate the amount of every molecule in our bodies and rules that govern the numbers of every animal and plant in the wild. And the most surprising revelation about the rules that regulate life at such different scales is that they are remarkably similar--there is a common underlying logic of life. Carroll recounts how our deep knowledge of the rules and logic of the human body has spurred the advent of revolutionary life-saving medicines, and makes the compelling case that it is now time to use the Serengeti Rules to heal our ailing planet. A bold and inspiring synthesis by one of our most accomplished biologists and gifted storytellers, The Serengeti Rules is the first book to illuminate how life works at vastly different scales. Read it and you will never look at the world the same way again.
Nonribosomal Peptide and Polyketide Biosynthesis
This volume presents an overview of nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) and polyketide synthase (PKS) structure and function. It then continues with methods for the analysis of these pathways including conventional enzymological assays, contemporary mass spectrometric analysis techniques, specialized molecular biological approaches applicable to NRPSs and PKSs, and small molecule analysis tools tailored to this very special class of natural products, and concludes by examining bioinformatics tools for the analysis of these enzymes, pathways, and molecules. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Nonribosomal Peptide and Polyketide Biosynthesis: Methods and Protocols serves as a valuable reference for those experienced in studying NRPS and PKS enzymes, pathways, and natural products as well as a gateway for those just entering the field.
The Lagoon
The remarkable but neglected story of Aristotle's founding role in the scientific study of nature Both a travelogue and a study of the origins of science, The Lagoon shows how an ancient thinker still has much to teach us today. Aristotle's philosophy looms large over the history of Western thought, but the subject he most loved was biology. He wrote vast treatises on animals, dissecting them, classifying them, recording how they lived, fed, and bred. He founded a science. It can even be said that he founded science itself. In this luminous book, acclaimed biologist Armand Marie Leroi recovers Aristotle's science. He explores Aristotle's observations, his deep ideas, his inspired guesses--and the things he got wildly wrong. Leroi visits the Aegean island where Aristotle plumbed the secrets of the living world in all its beauty. Modern science still bears the stamp of its founder. The Lagoon reveals that Aristotle was not only the first biologist, but also one of the greatest.
The Manga Guide to Physiology
Student nurse Kumiko has just flunked her physiology exam and has one last shot at passing her makeup test. Lucky for her, newbie health science professor Kaisei needs a guinea pig for his physiology lectures. Join Kumiko in The Manga Guide to Physiology as she examines the inner workings of the body while training hard for the campus marathon. You'll learn all about: -How the digestive system and the Citric Acid Cycle break food down into nutrients and energy-How the body regulates temperature and vital fluids-The body's powerful cell defense system, led by helper T cells and enforced by macrophages-The architecture of the central nervous system-The kidneys' many talents: blood filtration, homeostasis, and energy production You'll also gain insight into medical procedures like electrocardiograms, blood pressure tests, spirograms, and more. Whether you're cramming for a test like Kumiko or just want a refresher, The Manga Guide to Physiology is your fun, cartoon guide to the human body.
The Blind Watchmaker
The Blind Watchmaker is the seminal text for understanding evolution today. In the eighteenth century, theologian William Paley developed a famous metaphor for creationism: that of the skilled watchmaker. In The Blind Watchmaker, Richard Dawkins crafts an elegant riposte to show that the complex process of Darwinian natural selection is unconscious and automatic. If natural selection can be said to play the role of a watchmaker in nature, it is a blind one--working without foresight or purpose.In an eloquent, uniquely persuasive account of the theory of natural selection, Dawkins illustrates how simple organisms slowly change over time to create a world of enormous complexity, diversity, and beauty.
