The food, feed, ?ber, and fuel needs of the changing world pose the challenge of doubling or tripling of world food, feed, and ?ber production by the year 2050 to meet the needs of a 11 billion global population. In addition, the dramatic changes in food prices in the recent years further warrant that production and productivity need to be enhanced to ensure adequate supplies. Biotechnology can make a signi?cant contribution to this effort as demonstrated by cotton and other crops; the new advances in biotechnology have made it possible to develop plants that contain genes that were not possible to be developed by sexual means. Cotton has been a leader in the use of biotechnology. With the introduction of Bt cotton, followed by stacked cotton products (insect and herbicide tolerance) and extensive use of molecular breeding tools, cotton cultivation has been much improved. The contributions in this book illustrate the scienti?c advances that are going on in cotton and the impact they continue to deliver for all cotton growers. Twelve percent of the global cotton area is now under biotech products at 15. 5 million ha. The primary bene?ts from using genetically engineered cotton include reduced insecticide use, lower production costs, improved yields, lower farming risks, and increased opportunities to grow cotton in areas of severe pest infestation.

One of the most pressing tasks in biotechnology today is to unlock the function of each of the thousands of new genes identified every day. Scientists do this by analyzing and interpreting proteins, which are considered the task force of a gene. This single source reference covers all aspects of proteins, explaining fundamentals, synthesizing the latest literature, and demonstrating the most important bioinformatics tools available today for protein analysis, interpretation and prediction. Students and researchers of biotechnology, bioinformatics, proteomics, protein engineering, biophysics, computational biology, molecular modeling, and drug design will find this a ready reference for staying current and productive in this fast evolving interdisciplinary field.

Explains all aspects of proteins including sequence and structure analysis, prediction of protein structures, protein folding, protein stability, and protein interactions

Teaches readers how to analyze their own datasets using available online databases, software tools, and web servers, which are listed and updated on the book s web companion page.

Presents a cohesive and accessible overview of the field, using illustrations to explain key concepts and detailed exercises for students."

Materials from renewable resources are receiving increased attention, as leading industries and manufacturers attempt to replace declining petrochemical-based feedstocks with products derived from natural biomass, such as cereal straws. Cereal straws are expected to play an important role in the shift toward a sustainable economy, and a basic knowledge of the composition and structure of cereal straw is the key to using it wisely. Cereal Straw as a Resource for Sustainable Biomaterials and Biofuels: Chemistry, Extractives, Lignins, Hemicelluloses and Cellulose provides an introduction to straw chemistry. Topics discussed include the structure, ultrastructure, and chemical composition of straw; the structure and isolation of extractives from the straw; the three main components of straw: cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignins; and chemical modifications of straw for industrial applications. This book will be helpful to scientists interested in the areas of natural resource management, environmental chemistry, plant chemistry, material science, polysaccharide chemistry, and lignin chemistry. It will also be of interest to academic and industrial scientists/researchers interested in novel applications of agricultural residues for industrial and/or recycling technologies.

During the past 15 years, cellular and molecular approaches have emerged as valuable adjuncts to supplement and complement conventional breeding methods for a wide variety of crop plants. Biotechnology increasingly plays a role in the creation, conservation, characterization and utilization of genetic variability for germplasm enhancement. For instance, anther/microspore culture, somaclonal variation, embryo culture and somatic hybridization are being exploited for obtaining incremental improvement in the existing cultivars. In addition, genes that confer insect- and disease-resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, herbicide tolerance and quality traits have been isolated and re-introduced into otherwise sensitive or susceptible species by a variety of transgenic techniques. Together these transformative methodologies grant access to a greater repertoire of genetic diversity as the gene(s) may come from viruses, bacteria, fungi, insects, animals, human beings, unrelated plants or even be artificially derived. Remarkable achievements have been made in the production, characterization, field evaluation and commercialization of transgenic crop varieties worldwide. Likewise, significant advances have been made towards increasing crop yields, improving nutritional quality, enabling crops to be raised under adverse conditions and developing resistance to pests and diseases for sustaining global food and nutritional security. The overarching purpose of this 3-volume work is to summarize the history of crop improvement from a technological perspective but to do so with a forward outlook on further advancement and adaptability to a changing world. Our carefully chosen "case studies of important plant crops" intend to serve a diverse spectrum of audience looking for the right tools to tackle complicated local and global issues.

Sustainable Biotechnology; Sources of Renewable Energy draws on the vast body of knowledge about renewable resources for biofuel research, with the aim to bridge the technology gap and focus on critical aspects of lignocellulosic biomolecules and the respective mechanisms regulating their bioconversion to liquid fuels and other value-added products. This book is a collection of outstanding research reports and reviews elucidating several broad-ranging areas of progress and challenges in the utilization of sustainable resources of renewable energy, especially in biofuels.

The 21st ESACT conference was held in the beautiful surroundings of the CityWest Hotel resort in Dublin, Ireland. For the first time in ESACT history the number of participants exceeded 900: a sign of the ever increasing importance of this area. The conference commenced on Sunday June 5th with two sets of parallel workshops on the subjects listed below. An additional workshop was held on Monday lunchtime of the conferenceProcess Analytical Technology (PAT), Quality by Design (QbD) and other recent regulatory developments.

2. Innovative media products for the 21st century biopharmaceutical industry.

3. The impact of high titre media feed-streams on monoclonal antibody purification.

4. Advances in genomics and proteomics.

5. Stem Cell Technology: new developments and clinical applications.

Metabolic engineering is the practice of genetically optimizing metabolic and regulatory networks within cells to increase production and/or recovery of certain substance from cells. In Microbial Metabolic Engineering: Methods and Protocols expert researchers in the field detail many of the methods which are now commonly used to study metabolic engineering. These include methods and techniques to engineer genes and pathways, use of modern biotechnology tools in microbial metabolic engineering, and examples of metabolic engineering for real world applications such as whole cell biosensors and acetate control in large scale fermentation. 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, Microbial Metabolic Engineering: Methods and Protocols seeks to provide researchers with an overview of key topics on microbial metabolic engineering.

The thesis presents an original and smart way to manipulate liquid and polymeric materials using a "pyro-fluidic platform" which exploits the pyro-electric effect activated onto a ferroelectric crystal. It describes a great variety of functionalities of the pyro-electrohydrodynamic platform, such as droplet self-assembling and dispensing, for manipulating multiphase liquids at the micro- and nanoscale. The thesis demonstrates the feasibility of non-contact self-assembling of liquids in plane (1D) using a micro engineered crystal, improving the dispensing capability and the smart transfer of material between two different planes (2D) and controlling and fabricating three-dimensional structures (3D). The thesis present the fabrication of highly integrated and automated 'lab-on-a-chip' systems based on microfluidics. The pyro-platform presented herein offers the great advantage of enabling the actuation of liquids in contact with a polar dielectric crystal through an electrode-less configuration. The simplicity and flexibility of the method for fabricating 3D polymer microstructures shows the great potential of the pyro-platform functionalities, exploitable in many fields, from optics to biosensing. In particular, this thesis reports the fabrication of optically active elements, such as nanodroplets, microlenses and microstructures, which have many potential applications in photonics. The capability for manipulating the samples of interest in a touch-less modality is very attractive for biological and chemical assays. Besides controlling cell growth and fate, smart micro-elements could deliver optical stimuli from and to cells monitoring their growth in real time, opening interesting perspectives for the realization of optically active scaffolds made of nanoengineered functional elements, thus paving the way to fascinating Optogenesis Studies.

Primarily intended for biotechnology graduates, this handbook provides an overview of the requirements, opportunities and drawbacks of Biotech Entrepreneurship, while also presenting valuable training materials tailored to the industrial and market reality in the European Biotech Business. Potential investors and business consultants will find essential information on the benefits and potential risks involved in supporting biotech businesses. Further, the book addresses a broad range of Biotechnology fields, e.g. food biotech, industrial biotech, bioinformatics, animal and human health. Readers will learn the essentials of creating innovations, founding a biotech start-up, business management strategies, and European funding sources. In addition, the book discusses topics such as intellectual property management and innovation transfer. The book offers a comparative analysis of different countries' perspectives and reviews the status quo in Western and Eastern European regions, also in comparison with other leading biotech countries such as the USA and Canada. A long list of potentially profitable biotech start-up ideas and a collection of success stories involving European companies are also included. The book is based on the Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership project "Supporting biotechnology students oriented towards an entrepreneurial path" (www.supbioent.usamv.ro), which involved the collaboration of Life Sciences and Economics departments at higher education institutions throughout Western and Eastern Europe.

The entire range of the developmental processes in plants is regulated by a shift in the hormonal concentration, tissue sensitivity and their interaction with the factors operating around them. Out of the recognized hormones, attention has largely been focused on five - Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinin, Abscisic acid and Ethylene. However, the information about the most recent group of phytohormone (Brassinosteroids) has been incorporated in this book. This volume includes a selection of newly written, integrated, illustrated reviews describing our knowledge of Brassinosteroids and aims to describe them at the present time. Various chapters incorporate both theoretical and practical aspects and may serve as baseline information for future researches through which significant developments are possible. This book will be useful to the students, teachers and researchers, both in universities and research institutes, especially in relation to biological and agricultural sciences.

Light Microscopic Analysis of Mitochondrial Heterogeneity in Cell Populations and Within Single Cells, by S. Jakobs, S. Stoldt, and D. Neumann
*

Advanced Microscopy of Microbial Cells, by J. A. J. Haagensen, B. Regenberg, and C. Sternberg

*

Algebraic and Geometric Understanding of Cells, Epigenetic Inheritance of Phenotypes Between Generations, by K. Yasuda

*

Measuring the Mechanical Properties of Single Microbial Cells, by C. R. Thomas, J. D. Stenson, and Z. Zhang
*

Single Cell Analytics: Pushing the Limits of the Doable,
by H. Kortmann, L.M. Blank, and A. Schmid

*
Cultivation-Independent Assessment of Bacterial Viability, by F. Hammes, M. Berney, and T. Egli
*

Resolution of Natural Microbial Community Dynamics by Community Fingerprinting, Flow Cytometry and Trend Interpretation Analysis, by P. Bombach, T. Hubschmann, I. Fetzer, S. Kleinsteuber, R. Geyer, H. Harms, and S. Muller
*Multivariate Data Analysis Methods for the Interpretation of Microbial Flow Cytometric Data, by

H.M. Davey, and C.L. Davey

*

From Single Cells to Microbial Population Dynamics:

Modelling in Biotechnology Based on Measurements of Individual Cells, by T. Bley"

Published since 1959, "Advances in Applied Microbiology" continues to be one of the most widely read and authoritative review sources in microbiology.
The series contains comprehensive reviews of the most current research in applied microbiology. Recent areas covered include bacterial diversity in the human gut, protozoan grazing of freshwater biofilms, metals in yeast fermentation processes and the interpretation of host-pathogen dialogue through microarrays.
Eclectic volumes are supplemented by thematic volumes on various topics, including Archaea and sick building syndrome. Impact factor for 2007: 1.821.
* Contributions from leading authorities and industry experts
* Informs and updates on all the latest developments in the field
* Reference and guide for scientists and specialists involved in advancements in applied microbiology

Appropriate for a wide range of disciplines, from biology to non-biology, law and nursing majors, "DNA and Biotechnology" uses a straightforward and comprehensive writing style that gives the educated layperson a survey of DNA by presenting a brief history of genetics, a clear outline of techniques that are in use, and highlights of breakthroughs in hot topic scientific discoveries.

Engaging and straightforward scientific writing style Comprehensive forensics chapter Parallel Pedagogic material designed to help both readers and teachers. Highlights in the latest scientific discoveries Outstanding full-color illustration that walk reader through complex concepts

Various types of secondary agriculture and forestry wastes represent valuable resource materials for developing alternate energy as biofuels and other value added products such as sugars, phenols, furans, organic acids, enzymes and digestible animal feed etc. However, if not managed properly, waste material and environmental contaminants generated by various industries such as food and feed, pulp and paper and textile may lead to severe environmental pollution. The energy, food and feed demand necessitate developing simple and economically viable technologies for environmental management and resource recovery. Microorganisms and their enzymes contribute significantly in utilization of plant residues, resource recovery and eventually in pollution mitigation. "Biotechnology for Environmental Management and Resource Recovery" presents a comprehensive review of selected research topics in a compendium of 16 chapters related to environmental pollution control and developing biotechnologies in agro-ecosystem management and bioconversion of agro-residues (lignocellulosics) into biofuels, animal feed and paper etc. This book provides a valuable resource for reference and text material to graduate and postgraduate students, researchers, scientists working in the area of microbiology, biotechnology, and environmental science and engineering.

Bacterial polysaccharides represent a diverse range of macromolecules that include peptidoglycan, lipopolysaccharides, capsules, and exopolysaccharides - compounds whose functions range from structural cell-wall components (e.g. peptidoglycan) - and important virulence factors (e.g. Poly-N-acetylglucosamine in S. aureus) to permitting the bacterium to survive in harsh environments (e.g. Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the human lung). Polysaccharide biosynthesis is a tightly-regulated, energy-intensive process. Understanding the subtle interplay between the regulation and energy conservation, the polymer modification and synthesis, and the external ecological functions is a huge area of research. The potential benefits are enormous and should enable, for example, the development of novel antibacterial strategies (e.g. new antibiotics and vaccines) and the commercial exploitation to develop novel applications. In this timely book, experienced and authoritative experts review the most important innovations in the research and biotechnological applications of bacterial polysaccharides. The book takes an interdisciplinary view that examines this fascinating subject area in detail from molecular biology, genome-, transcriptome-, and proteome-wide perspectives, and looks at the ecological aspects and systems biology approaches. It provides a sound basis for future research directions, including high efficiency applications of bacterial polysaccharides in medicine, the food industry, and renewable energy production. Topics include: peptidoglycan, lipopolysaccharide, arabinogalactan, capsule gene expression in Escherichia coli, immune response to polysaccharides, polysaccharides from periodontopathic bacteria, role in dental plaque, biofilms, levan, amylovoran, and much more.

The emergence of nanotechnology has had a profound effect on almost every aspect of the 21st century's daily life. It has had a revolutionary impact from stain-resistant clothing and cosmetics to environmental issues , including energy and medicine and even aerospace engineering. In Oxidative Stress and Nanotechnology: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers in the field detail various aspects of nanotechnology from the oxidative stress point of view. Focusing on synthesis of different antioxidant nanoparticles and antioxidant-loaded nanoparticles, as well as their in vitro/ in vivo mechanisms of action along with their clinical relevance. 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, Oxidative Stress and Nanotechnology: Methods and Protocols seeks to aid scientists in the further study of techniques for nanotechnology in pathophysiology and protection from the oxidative stress point of view.

Published since 1959, "Advances in Applied Microbiology" continues to be one of the most widely read and authoritative review sources in microbiology.
The series contains comprehensive reviews of the most current research in applied microbiology. Recent areas covered include bacterial diversity in the human gut, protozoan grazing of freshwater biofilms, metals in yeast fermentation processes and the interpretation of host-pathogen dialogue through microarrays.
Eclectic volumes are supplemented by thematic volumes on various topics, including Archaea and sick building syndrome. Impact factor for 2007: 1.821.
* Contributions from leading authorities and industry experts
* Informs and updates on all the latest developments in the field
* Reference and guide for scientists and specialists involved in advancements in applied microbiology

Systems biology is changing the way biological systems are studied by allowing us to examine the cell and organism as a whole. Systems biotechnology allows optimal design and development of upstream to downstream bioprocesses by taking a systems-approach. E. coli has been a model organism for almost all biological and biotechnological studies. This book brings together for the first time the state-of-the-art reviews by the world-leading experts on systems biology and biotechnological applications of E. coli. The topics covered include genomics and functional genomics, resources for systems biology, network analysis, genome-scale metabolic reconstruction, modelling and simulation, dynamic modelling and simulation, systems-level analysis of evolution, plasmids and expression systems, protein synthesis, production and export, engineering the central metabolism, synthetic biology, and systems metabolic engineering of E. coli. This book provides readers with guidance on how a complex biological system can be studied using E. coli as a model organism. It also presents how to perform synthetic biology and systems metabolic engineering studies on E. coli with successful examples, the approaches of which can be extended to other organisms. This book will be a complete resource for anyone interested in systems biology and biotechnology.

This volume is aimed in general at scientists who have an interest in deciphering the molecular mechanisms for sequence recognition of DNA. The methods have general applicability to small molecules as well as oligomers and proteins, while the examples provide general principles involved in sequence recognition.

The human ambition to reproduce and improve natural objects and processes has a long history, and ranges from dreams to actual design, from Icarus's wings to modern robotics and bioengineering. This imperative seems to be linked not only to practical utility but also to our deepest psychology. Nevertheless, reproducing something natural is not an easy enterprise, and the actual replication of a natural object or process by means of some technology is impossible. In this book the author uses the term naturoid to designate any real artifact arising from our attempts to reproduce natural instances. He concentrates on activities that involve the reproduction of something existing in nature, and whose reproduction, through construction strategies which differ from natural ones, we consider to be useful, appealing or interesting.

The development of naturoids may be viewed as a distinct class of technological activity, and the concept should be useful for methodological research into establishing the common rules, potentialities and constraints that characterize the human effort to reproduce natural objects. The author shows that a naturoid is always the result of a reduction of the complexity of natural objects, due to an unavoidable multiple selection strategy. Nevertheless, the reproduction process implies that naturoids take on their own new complexity, resulting in a transfiguration of the natural exemplars and their performances, and leading to a true innovation explosion. While the core performances of contemporary naturoids improve, paradoxically the more a naturoid develops the further it moves away from its natural counterpart. Therefore, naturoids will more and more affect our relationships with advanced technologies and with nature, but in ways quite beyond our predictive capabilities.

The book will be of interest to design scholars and researchers of technology, cultural studies, anthropology and the sociology of science and technology."