How unassuming government researcher Marshall Nirenberg beat James Watson, Francis Crick, and other world-famous scientists in the race to discover the genetic code. The genetic code is the Rosetta Stone by which we interpret the 3.3 billion letters of human DNA, the alphabet of life, and the discovery of the code has had an immeasurable impact on science and society. In 1968, Marshall Nirenberg, an unassuming government scientist working at the National Institutes of Health, shared the Nobel Prize for cracking the genetic code. He was the least likely man to make such an earth-shaking discovery, and yet he had gotten there before such members of the scientific elite as James Watson and Francis Crick. How did Nirenberg do it, and why is he so little known? In The Least Likely Man, Franklin Portugal tells the fascinating life story of a famous scientist that most of us have never heard of. Nirenberg did not have a particularly brilliant undergraduate or graduate career. After being hired as a researcher at the NIH, he quietly explored how cells make proteins. Meanwhile, Watson, Crick, and eighteen other leading scientists had formed the "RNA Tie Club" (named after the distinctive ties they wore, each decorated with one of twenty amino acid designs), intending to claim credit for the discovery of the genetic code before they had even worked out the details. They were surprised, and displeased, when Nirenberg announced his preliminary findings of a genetic code at an international meeting in Moscow in 1961. Drawing on Nirenberg's "lab diaries," Portugal offers an engaging and accessible account of Nirenberg's experimental approach, describes counterclaims by Crick, Watson, and Sidney Brenner, and traces Nirenberg's later switch to an entirely new, even more challenging field. Having won the Nobel for his work on the genetic code, Nirenberg moved on to the next frontier of biological research: how the brain works.

The living world runs on genomic software - what Dawn Field and Neil Davies call the 'biocode' - the sum of all DNA on Earth. In Biocode, they tell the story of a new age of scientific discovery: the growing global effort to read and map the biocode, and what that might mean for the future. The structure of DNA was identified in 1953, and the whole human genome was mapped by 2003. Since then the new field of genomics has mushroomed and is now operating on an industrial scale. Genomes can now be sequenced rapidly and increasingly cheaply. The genomes of large numbers of organisms from mammals to microbes, have been mapped. Getting your genome sequenced is becoming affordable for many. You too can check paternity, find out where your ancestors came from, or whether you are at risk of some diseases. Some check out the pedigree of their pets, while others turn genomes into art. A stray hair is enough to crudely reconstruct the face of the owner. From reading to constructing: the first steps to creating artificial life have already been taken. Some may find the rapidity of developments, and the potential for misuse, alarming. But they also open up unprecedented possibilities. The ability to read DNA has changed how we view ourselves and understand our place in nature. From the largest oceans, to the insides of our guts, we are able to explore the biosphere as never before, from the genome up. Sequencing technology has made the invisible world of microbes visible, and biodiversity genomics is revealing whole new worlds within us and without. The findings are transformational: we are all ecosystems now. Already the first efforts at 'barcoding' entire ecological communities and creating 'genomic observatories' have begun. The future, the authors argue, will involve biocoding the entire planet.

This book describes the driving forces behind the evolutionary process at the molecular and genome levels, the effects of the various molecular mechanisms on the structure of genes, proteins, and genomes, the methodology and the analytical tools involved in dealing with molecular data from an evolutionary perspective, and the logic of evolutionary hypothesis testing. Evolutionary phenomena at the molecular level are detailed in a way that can be understood without much prerequisite knowledge of molecular biology, evolution, or mathematics. Numerous examples that support and clarify the theoretical arguments and methodological discussions are included.

Concepts of Genetics is known for its focus on teaching core concepts and problem solving. This best-selling text has been extensively updated, with coverage on emerging topics in genetics, and problem-solving support has been enhanced.

Concepts of Genetics is known for its focus on teaching core concepts and problem solving. This best-selling text has been extensively updated, with coverage on emerging topics in genetics, and problem-solving support has been enhanced.

'A phenomenally important book' Lewis Dartnell, author of Origins Why do we live in families? Why do we help complete strangers? Why do we compare ourselves to others? Why do we cooperate? The science of cooperation tells us not only how we got here, but also where we might end up. In The Social Instinct Nichola Raihani introduces us to other species who, like us, live and work together. From the pied babblers of the Kalahari to the cleaner fish of the Great Barrier Reef, they happen to be some of the most fascinating and extraordinarily successful species on this planet. What do we have in common with these animals, and what can we learn from them? The Social Instinct is an exhilarating, far-reaching and thought-provoking journey through all life on Earth, with profound insights into what makes us human and how our societies work. 'A pleasing juxtaposition of insightful scientific theory with illuminating anecdotes' Richard Dawkins 'Surprising, thoughtful and, best of all, endlessly entertaining' Will Storr, author of The Science of Storytelling 'A superb book about how important cooperation is' Alice Roberts, author of Ancestors

Chromatin is DNA plus the proteins (and RNA) that package DNA within the cell nucleus. The primary functions of chromatin are: to package DNA into a smaller volume to fit in the cell, to strengthen the DNA to allow mitosis and meiosis and prevent DNA damage, and to control gene expression and DNA replication. In this book, the authors present topical research in the study of chromatin including the varied functions of aurora kinases A and B in mitosis and carcinogenesis; the chromatin state of pluripotent stem cells; MITF meets chromatin in melanoma; the state of chromatin as an integrative indicator of cell stress; analysing DNA damage and its repair throughout entire genomes; the cloning process, structural characterisation of Revolver transposon and its patented application for chromosome tags; DNA damage and Rad16; and glucocorticoid-induced chromatin remodelling.

What are the models used in phylogenetic analysis and what exactly is involved in Bayesian evolutionary analysis using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods? How can you choose and apply these models, which parameterisations and priors make sense, and how can you diagnose Bayesian MCMC when things go wrong? These are just a few of the questions answered in this comprehensive overview of Bayesian approaches to phylogenetics. This practical guide: * Addresses the theoretical aspects of the field * Advises on how to prepare and perform phylogenetic analysis * Helps with interpreting analyses and visualisation of phylogenies * Describes the software architecture * Helps developing BEAST 2.2 extensions to allow these models to be extended further. With an accompanying website providing example files and tutorials (http://beast2.org/), this one-stop reference to applying the latest phylogenetic models in BEAST 2 will provide essential guidance for all users - from those using phylogenetic tools, to computational biologists and Bayesian statisticians.

In Curiosity guides: the Human Genome, Dr. John Quackenbush, a renowned scientist and professor, conducts a fascinating tour of the history and science behind the Human Genome Project and the technologies that are revolutionizing the practice of medicine today.

"From his work as part of the prosecution in the 1995 O. J. Simpson murder trial to his star billing on TV's America's Most Wanted, former San Diego prosecutor George "Woody" Clarke has been party to some of the justice system's most visible, controversial, and melodramatic moments. He puts that populist knack to work in this nonfiction page turner that should appeal just as much to true crime buffs as those concerned with the workings of the criminal justice system."-Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Clarke's account of the rise of DNA evidence is engaging and well paced, and the author comes across as likable and genuinely humble-a rarity in a book of war stories."-San Francisco Chronicle "As a former prosecutor who specialized in DNA evidence, Woody Clarke has the ability to make the difficult science that sometimes confuses a jury understandable to his reader."-Dominick Dunne Databases of both convicted offenders and no-suspect cases demonstrate the power of DNA testing to solve the unsolvable. George "Woody" Clarke chronicles his experiences in some of the most disturbing and notorious sexual assault and murder court cases in California. He charts the beginnings of DNA testing in police investigations and the fight for its acceptance by courts and juries and illustrates the power of science in cases he personally prosecuted or in which he assisted, including his work with the prosecution team in the trial of O. J. Simpson. As Clarke tells the story of how he came to understand and use this new form of evidence, readers will develop a new appreciation for the role of science in the legal system. George "Woody" Clarke, a judge of the Superior Court in San Diego County for the past several years, lectures internationally on DNA evidence and has cohosted America's Most Wanted.

Fifty years ago Francis Crick and James D. Watson proposed the double helix model for the DNA molecule. They believed they had, as Crick put it, discovered the "secret of life", and many agreed. But in the intervening years, science has marched - sometimes leaped - forward, and now the question "What is life?" must be posed once again.In this accessible and fascinating book, Michel Morange draws on recent advances in molecular genetics, evolutionary biology, astrobiology, and other disciplines to find today's answers to the question of life. He begins by discussing the various answers that have been formulated in the past, setting contemporary definitions of life within a rich philosophical and scientific tradition that reaches back to ancient Greece. Then, with impeccable logic and a wealth of appropriate detail, Morange proceeds to lay out the fundamental characteristics that define life. The road to an understanding of life remains incompletely charted, he concludes, but the nature of its final destination is no longer an enigma.

Over the last decade there has been a rapid development of molecular techniques, with an increasing range of instrumentation now available. The development of accompanying reference literature has not kept pace with technological advances and this poses significant challenges to the analyst. Essentials of Nucleic Acid Analysis sets out to guide the analyst through the steps needed to obtain good quality results in DNA analysis. The underlying principles for achieving this goal were formulated by LGC (formerly the Laboratory of the Government Chemist) as the six principles for ensuring valid analytical measurement, which are detailed in the introduction. The reader is also provided with guidelines for method validation and quality control of established and emerging DNA measurement techniques. The authors of each chapter are practitioners of the art of DNA analysis in areas where the quality of the result is critical. Technical details and examples of application of key techniques in nucleic acid analysis are provided while highlighting best practice, available standards and practical advice on improving measurement quality. This book provides an indispensable handbook and premier reference for those working in the widely varying areas and specifically in the fields of food analysis and forensic applications.

A unique PCR troubleshooting guide that is an essential companion for anyone who uses the polymerase chain reaction technique. Aimed at a reader with some experience in PCR the book discusses the many and varied problems encountered with PCR together with tips, advice and procedures to obviate rather than overcome the PCR problems. Written in the language of the laboratory with a little humour and a down-to-earth approach, the book is easy to read and understand. If you fail at PCR, consult this book The advice in these pages is invaluable and is the sort of advice that is not usually found elsewhere.

Microarray analysis is a highly efficient tool for assessing the expression of a large number of genes simultaneously, and offers a new means to classify cancer and other diseases. Gene expression profiling can also be used to predict clinical outcome and response to specific therapeutic agents. This survey spans recent applications of microarrays in clinical medicine, covering malignant disease including acute leukaemias, lymphoid malignancies and breast cancer, together with diabetes and heart disease. Investigators in oncology, pharmacology and related clinical sciences, as well as basic scientists, will value this review of a promising new diagnostic and prognostic technology.

This booklet answers questions about the mysteries of aging and the search for immortality. It describes some of the current progress in the scientific study of aging and explores social and ethical questions surrounding the real possibility of human lifespan extension.

Gene regulation is an essential process in the development and maintenance of a healthy body, and as such, is a central focus in both basic science and medical research. "Gene Regulation, Fifth Edition" provides the student with a clear, up-to-date description of gene regulation in eukaryotes, distilling the vast and complex primary literature into a concise overview. For this edition, in addition to extensive updating of existing material, sections on large-scale methodologies have been expanded, and a new section included on regulation by small interfering RNAs. More detail has been added on the role of multi-protein complexes in transcriptional activation, and the discussion of the regulation of transcription factor activity by specific modifications, to include acetylation and ubiquitination, as well as phosphorylation. The final chapter on gene regulation and human disease now includes additional novel examples, such as RNA editing in motor neurone disease, role of the transcriptional co-activator CBP in Alzheimer's disease and PML-RAR involvement in acute promyelocytic leukaemia. Students in undergraduate courses will find this book essential reading.

The most influential scientist of the last century, James Watson has been at dead center in the creation of modern molecular biology. This masterful biography brings to life the extraordinary achievements not only of Watson but also all those working on this cutting edge of scientific discovery, such as Walter Gilbert, Francis Crick, Francois Jacob, and David Baltimore. From the ruthless competition in the race to identify the structure of DNA to a near mutiny in the Harvard biology department, to clashes with ethicists over issues in genetics, Watson has left a wake of detractors as well as fans. Victor McElheny probes brilliantly behind the veil of Watson's own invented persona, bringing us close to the relentless genius and scientific impresario who triggered and sustained a revolution in science.

The application of computational methods to DNA and protein science is a new and exciting development in biology. Bioinformatics: Sequence and Genome Analysis is a comprehensive introduction to this emerging field of study. The book has many unique and valuable features:
-- It is written for any biologist who wants to understand methods of sequence and structure analysis and how the necessary computer programs work
-- Sequence alignment, structure prediction, phylogenetic and gene prediction, database searching, and genome analysis are clearly explained and amply illustrated
-- Underlying algorithms and assumptions are clearly explained for the non-specialist
-- Examples are presented in simple numerical terms rather than complex formulas and notation
-- Theoretical underpinnings are linked to biological problems and their solutions
-- Extensive tables provide descriptions and Web sources for a broad range of publicly available software
-- An associated Website (www.bioinformaticsonline.org), accessible free of charge by book purchasers, provides links to Internet sources referred to in the text, as well as problem sets for classroom use, and other useful material not included in the text.

Based on the well-established course given at the University of Arizona by the author, David Mount, this book is an ideal foundation for teaching at an undergraduate and graduate level. It is also highly suited for the self-instruction of investigators interested in the application of methods and strategies in functional genomics and for the needs of information specialists working in molecular biology and pharmaceutical laboratories.

Rosalind Franklin's research was central to the discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA. She never received the credit she was due during her lifetime.

DNA transfer to cultured cells
Edited by Katya Ravid and R. Ian Freshney
Rapid advances in DNA transfer technology have transformed many disciplines, ranging from molecular genetics to biotechnology. Scientists now have the means to introduce copies of genes into different cell types, then detect the expression of these genes in the cell. It is now possible to regulate cell growth that may lead to cancer, develop new biopharmaceuticals, and apply knowledge about the role of genes in cell processes to basic research in molecular genetics.
DNA Transfer to Cultured Cells is the first quick reference to all of the established techniques for the transfer of genetic material to cells in vitro. Featuring contributions by leading researchers in the field, this detailed guide walks the reader through a variety of DNA transfer methods, describes their application to specific cell types, and integrates aspects of molecular biology with tissue culture. Offering overviews and detailed protocols for the techniques under discussion in each of its sections, this book covers an exceptionally broad array of topics, including:
* Viral infection
* Electroporation
* Phosphate precipitation
* DEAE Dextran
* Liposomes
* Yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs)
* Whole chromosome transfer
* Enhanced expression.
Special sections at the end of each chapter list suppliers for necessary reagents and materials. This easy-to-use, self-contained guide addresses key developments of recent years as well as emerging trends in DNA transfer. For practical applications in cell biology, genetics, heredity, biotechnology, or evolution, DNA Transfer to Cultured Cells is a uniqueand unparalleled resource.

With elegant simplicity, Maxim D. Frank-Kamenetskii elucidates the essential history and inner workings of DNA-a tiny molecule that holds within it the deepest mysteries of life. As Frank-Kamenetskii explains, DNA will undoubtedly shape our future, too, as we call upon it to convict criminals, clone creatures, and ultimately, cure cancer. This definitive guide to DNA, a previous version of which sold over 300,000 copies in the author's native Russia, promises to both inform and inspire.

Applied Antisense Oligonucleotide Technology
Edited by C. A. Stein and Arthur M. Krieg
The past fifteen years have seen major developments in the field of antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics. Antisense technology now yields large amounts of data in clinical trials and shows tremendous potential for therapeutic use in conditions ranging from cancers to infectious diseases. This volume features articles by scientists and academics at the leading edge of antisense research, presenting for the first time an overview of this dynamic, rapidly growing field.
Applied Antisense Oligonucleotide Technology offers a balanced discussion of theory and application, with an emphasis on the practical aspects associated with the use of antisense oligonucleotides to modify gene expression. This book describes critical areas of research and includes results of clinical studies and strategies for use of various agents. It also covers topics of general interest such as pharmacokinetics, toxicity considerations, and the non-antisense effects of oligonucleotides.
Complete with real-world examples and over one hundred illustrations, Applied Antisense Oligonucleotide Technology is presented in seven major parts:
* Oligonucleotide chemistry
* The mechanism of action and non-sequence specificity in oligodeoxynucleotide therapeutics
* Sequence-specific inhibition of gene expression and applied antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics
* Oligodeoxynucleotides as anti-HIV agents
* Therapeutic oligonucleotide data base, including pharmacokinetics, immune stimulation agents, and the use of oligonucleotides as antirestenotic agents
* Splicing and DNA triplex formation
* Areview of the basic concepts in ribozyme technology
Applied Antisense Oligonucleotide Technology is an essential reference for researchers in biotechnology, genetics, and molecular biology. Easy to read and thoughtfully compiled by the co-editors of the journal Antisense Research and Development, this work is also accessible to researchers and academics in other areas, and anyone interested in pursuing this cutting-edge technology.

DNA ancestry companies generate revenues in the region of $1bn a year, and the company 23andMe is said to have sold 10 million DNA ancestry kits to date. Although evidently popular, the science behind how DNA ancestry tests work is mystifying and difficult for the general public to interpret and understand. In this accessible and engaging book, Sheldon Krimsky, a leading researcher, investigates the methods that different companies use for DNA ancestry testing. He also discusses what the tests are used for, from their application in criminal investigations to discovering missing relatives. With a lack of transparency from companies in sharing their data, absent validation of methods by independent scientists, and currently no agreed-upon standards of accuracy, this book also examines the ethical issues behind genetic genealogy testing, including concerns surrounding data privacy and security. It demystifies the art and science of DNA ancestry testing for the general reader.