A Step-by-Step Guide to Describing Biomolecular Structure Computational and Visualization Techniques for Structural Bioinformatics Using Chimera shows how to perform computations with Python scripts in the Chimera environment. It focuses on the three core areas needed to study structural bioinformatics: biochemistry, mathematics, and computation. Understand Important Concepts of Structural Bioinformatics The book covers topics that deal primarily with protein structure and includes many exercises that are grounded in biological problems at the molecular level. The text encourages mathematical analysis by providing a firm foundation for computations. It analyzes numerous Python scripts for the Chimera environment, with the scripts and other material available on a supplementary website. Build Python Scripts to Extend the Capabilities of Chimera Through more than 60 exercises that involve the development of Python scripts, the book gives you concrete guidance on using the scripting capabilities of Chimera. You'll gain experience in solving real problems as well as understand the various applications of linear algebra. You can also use the scripts as starting points for the development of similar applications and use classes from the StructBio toolkit for computations, such as structure overlap, data plotting, scenographics, and display of residue networks. Print Versions of this book also include access to the ebook version.

Molecular biologist Elizabeth Blackburn--one of Time magazine's 100 "Most Influential People in the World" in 2007--made headlines in 2004 when she was dismissed from the President's Council on Bioethics after objecting to the council's call for a moratorium on stem cell research and protesting the suppression of relevant scientific evidence in its final report. But it is Blackburn's groundbreaking work on telomeric DNA, which launched the field of telomere research, that will have the more profound and long-lasting effect on science and society. In this compelling biography, Catherine Brady tells the story of Elizabeth Blackburn's life and work and the emergence of a new field of scientific research on the specialized ends of chromosomes and the enzyme, telomerase, that extends them. In the early stages of telomere research, telomerase, heralded as a potential cure for cancer and diseases related to aging, attracted the voracious interest of biotech companies. The surrounding hype succeeded in confusing the role of telemorase in extending the life of a cell with a mechanism that might extend the lifespan of an entire organism. In Brady's hands, Blackburn's story reveals much about the tension between pure and applied science, the politicking that makes research science such a competitive field, and the resourceful opportunism that characterizes the best scientific thinking. Brady describes the science accessibly and compellingly. She explores Blackburn's struggle to break down barriers in an elite, male-dominated profession, her role as a mentor to other women scientists (many of whom have made their mark in telomere research), and the collaborative nature of scientific work. This book gives us a vivid portrait of an exceptional woman and a new understanding of the combination of curiosity, imaginative speculation, and aesthetic delight that powers scientific discovery.Catherine Brady is Assistant Professor in the MFA in Writing Program at the University of San Francisco. She is the author of two collections of short stories, The End of the Class War and Curled in the Bed of Love (a winner of the 2002 Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction).

Scientists can use molecular profiling microarrays to compare healthy cells with their diseased counterparts and develop gene-specific treatments. Finding the best way to interpret original profiling data into accurate trends, however, continues to drive the development of normalization algorithms and software tools. Methods in Microarray Normalization compiles the most useful and novel techniques for the first time into a single, organized source. Experts in the field provide a diverse view of the mathematical processes that are important in normalizing data and avoiding inherent systematic biases. They also review useful software, including discussions on key algorithms, comparative data, and download locations. The book discusses the use of early normalization techniques for new profiling methods and includes strategies for assessing the utility of various normalization algorithms. It presents the latest microarray innovations from companies such as Agilent, Affymetrix, and GeneGo as well as new normalization methods for protein and CGH arrays, many of which are applicable for antibody, microRNA, methylation, and siRNA arrays. Methods in Microarray Normalization provides scientists with a complete resource on the most effective tools available for maximizing microarray data in biochemical research. Daniel E. Levy, editor of the Drug Discovery Series, is the founder of DEL BioPharma, a consulting service for drug discovery programs. He also maintains a blog that explores organic chemistry.

In situ hybridization is a technique that allows for the visualization of specific DNA and RNA sequences in individual cells, and is an especially important method for studying nucleic acids in heterogeneous cell populations. in situ Hybridization in Electron Microscopy reviews the three main methods developed for the ultrastructural visualization of genes:
° hybridization on ultrathin sections of tissue embedded in hydrophilic resin (post-embedding method)
° hybridization prior to embedding (pre-embedding)
° hybridization on ultrathin sections of frozen tissue (frozen tissue method).
For each technique, the different stages are described in detail: the preparation of tissue, pretreatment, hybridization, and visualization of the hybridization products.

The book combines theory and practice, starting with the basic principles, then breaking down the experimental process into successive steps illustrated by numerous diagrams, detailed protocols, and tables. This is all done in a format that uses parallel columns to convey useful comments next to the theory and practical details alongside each stage of the protocol. Additionally, the summary tables provide the criteria for choosing the probe type and technique, and a detailed index aids in the search for information. in situ Hybridization In Electron Microscopy is an essential companion for applying these methods at the electron microscopic level.