It is thirty years since the technique of high-yield preparation of isolated hepatocytes, by collagenase perfusion of the liver, was published. The original method described by Berry and Friend has undergone many minor modifications by other workers, and the two-step procedure introduced by Seglen in 1976 has become the most frequent way to prepare hepatocyte suspensions. An important development introduced by Bissell in 1973 was the use of the cells as the first step in monolayer culture. The availability of the isolated hepatocyte preparation as cells in suspension or culture has undoubtedly facilitated research on the liver. This was emphasised in our book, published (with Dr. Greg Barritt) in 1990, which described in detail methods of preparation and the properties of the isolated hepatocytes. It also discussed the usefulness of the preparation for the study of intermediary and xenobiotic metabolism, calcium ion transport, and the growth and differentiation of hepatocytes in culture. The book also touched briefly on a range of specialised techniques, including peri fusion, subcellular fractionation, transplantation, cryopreservation and measurement of intracellular pH. Although standard procedures for the manipulation of hepatocytes have not changed a great deal in ten years, they have undoubtedly been refined. This applies particularly to hepatocyte culture techniques, cryopreservation, and even to preparation of hepatocyte suspensions, where it is now feasible to use purified enzymes. There is also much more emphasis on the use and study of human hepatocytes, particularly in the field of pharmacology and therapeutics.

Advanced biomedical techniques such as genetic engineering are now used extensively in animal related research and development. As the pace of development has quickened, there has been growing public anxiety about the ethical issues involved. Animal Biotechnology and Ethics draws together in one book some of the leading themes and issues which have emerged in the recent debates surrounding biotechnology as applied to animals. With contributions from authors of many different viewpoints, the subject is given a thorough and balanced treatment. Among those to whom the book will be of particular interest are practitioners of animal biotechnology, and those whose interest lies in assessing its credentials, such as philosophers and social or political scientists. It also has a great deal to interest policy-makers and pressure groups, as well as more general readers. The strong chapters on the legal and regulatory framework will make it useful to those involved in advising on company policy, patenting or litigation.

This volume contains papers that were presented and discussed at The 1996 Interna tional Symposium on Programmed Cell Death, which was held in the Shanghai Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on September 8-12, 1996. Apoptosis has attracted great attention in the past several years. This is reflected in part by the exponential increase in the number of papers published on the subject. While several major scientific conferences have been held in recent years, this meeting repre sents the first major international scientific meeting on programmed cell death held in Asia, where fast economic growth promises a bright future for both basic and applied re search in biomedical sciences. We organized the meeting with the belief that such a gath ering would foster a closer interaction between scientists from the West and those in Asia. Research on programmed cell death has expanded so extensively that no one meet ing can cover all the important subjects related to apoptosis. The Shanghai meeting fo cused on several key areas ranging from well-established ones, such as cell death in the immune system, to emerging ones, such as the role ofECM in regUlating cell fate. Specifi cally, the subjects presented and discussed included programmed cell death during devel opment, the regulation and biochemical mechanisms of lymphocyte apoptosis, the involvement of extracellular matrix and its remodeling in programmed cell death, genes that cause or prevent cell death, and the application of apoptosis toward cancer therapy."

This authored book is primarily for the readers who are in search of how to use basic concepts of statistics in the field of fishery science. It has been written for the new comers coming in the fishery sector including university students, teachers and research scholars. It enriches the reader's knowledge of data analysis step by step starting from data collection to its analysis and interpretation along with practical application with real example. It supports readers for enhancing theoretical and practical concept of application of fundamental statistics in fishery domain. Reader may also learn how to analyses data using different statistical software. Each chapter starts with an introduction of the topic followed by statistical concept with example and ends with chapter based question for comprehension purpose. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, scientists, capacity builders in fishery sciences. Also the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of fisheries and aquatic sciences.

This book presents a hypothesis and evidence that organisms promote and ecosystems maximize biodiversity. All species have a net positive effect on their environment, other species, and diversity. The sun is 30% hotter than when life began, but the temperature has been kept moderate by life. Life created high oxygen, the ozone layer, and fertile soil, a diverse, living system. No species evolves in isolation, and most evolution is coevolution. The nature and number of links between species are as important as species number. Eukaryotes coevolve with complex ecosystems of microbes with which they exchange genes. Genomes and intraspecific interactions both act to promote evolution and diversification. Viruses increase diversity of their hosts and cause macroevolutionary transitions. Key Features Life alters the Earth in ways that increase biodiversity All species make their environment better for other species and promote diversity Life created the life-friendly atmosphere, temperature, and soil of today

The visual world of animals is highly diverse and often very different from the world that we humans take for granted. This book provides an extensive review of the latest behavioral and neurobiological research on animal vision, highlighting fascinating species similarities and differences in visual processing. It contains 26 chapters written by world-leading experts about a variety of species including: honeybees, spiders, fish, birds, and primates. The chapters are divided into six sections: Perceptual grouping and segmentation, Object perception and object recognition, Motion perception, Visual attention, Different dimensions of visual perception, and Evolution of the visual system. An exhaustive work in range and depth, How Animals See the World will be a valuable resource for advanced students and researchers in areas of cognitive psychology, perception and cognitive neuroscience, as well as researchers in the visual sciences.

An enticing illustrated look at pollination, one of the most astonishing marvels of the natural world Pollination is essential to the survival of most plants on Earth. Some plants rely on the wind to transport pollen from one flower to another. Others employ an array of ingenious strategies to attract and exploit pollinators, whether they be insects, birds, or mammals. This beautifully illustrated book provides an unprecedented look at the wonders of pollination biology, drawing on the latest science to explain the extraordinarily complex relationship between plant and pollinator, and revealing why pollination is vital for healthy ecosystems and a healthy planet. Timothy Walker offers an engaging introduction to pollination biology and explores the many different tactics of plant reproduction. He shows how wind and water can be effective yet wildly unpredictable means of pollination, and describes the intimate interactions of pollinating plants with bees and butterflies, beetles and birds, and lizards and bats. Walker explores how plants entice pollinators using scents, colors, and shapes, and how plants rely on rewards as well as trickery to attract animals. He sheds light on the important role of pollination in ecology, evolution, and agriculture, and discusses why habitat management, species recovery programs, and other conservation efforts are more critical now than ever. Featuring hundreds of color photos and illustrations, Pollination is suitable for undergraduate study and is an essential resource for naturalists, horticulturalists, and backyard gardeners.

Electrical Manipulation of Cells provides an authoritative and up-to-date review of the field, covering all the major techniques in a single source. The book features broad coverage that ranges from the mechanisms of action of external electrical fields on biological material to the ways in which electrical stimuli are employed to manipulate cells. Bringing together the work of leading international authorities, the book covers membrane breakdown, gene delivery, electroporation, electrostimulation, cell movement, hybridoma production, plant protoplasts, electrorotation and stimulation, and electromagnetic stimulation. For each topic, the authors discuss the relevance of the approach to the current state of the art of biotechnology. Electrical Manipulation of Cells is an unmatched source of information for anyone involved in the manipulation of cells, particularly biotechnologists, cell biology, microbiologists, biophysicists and plant scientists. For researchers, the book provides technical material that ccan be employed in their own work. Students will gain thorough appreciation of the applications of this important technique.

The past decade has seen a huge increase in the interest and attention directed toward sea ducks, the Mergini tribe. This has been inspired, in large part, by the conservation concerns associated with numerical declines in several sea duck species and populations, as well as a growing appreciation for their interesting ecological attributes. Reflecting the considerable research recently conducted on this tribe, Ecology and Conservation of North American Sea Ducks examines the 15 extant species of sea ducks from North America. Chapters are organized conceptually to focus on, compare, and contrast the ecological attributes of the tribe. Experts provide in-depth treatments of a range of topics, including: Population dynamics and genetics Infectious diseases and parasites Breeding costs and cross-seasonal affects Contaminant burdens Foraging behavior and energetics Migration strategies, molt ecology, and habitat affinities and dynamics Breeding systems and reproductive behavior Harvest history Published in collaboration with and on behalf of the American Ornithological Society, this volume in the highly-regarded Studies in Avian Biology series presents a comprehensive synthesis of sea duck ecology, documents factors that have caused population declines of some species, and provides managers with measures to enhance recovery of depressed populations of sea ducks in North America. Capturing the current state of knowledge of this unique tribe, it provides a benchmark for where we are in conservation efforts and suggests future directions for researchers, managers, students, conservationists, and avian enthusiasts. Key Selling Features: Provides the first comprehensive assessment of the status, population dynamics, and demography of sea ducks across North America Characterizes phylogeography, phylogenetics, and population genetics Examines the diseases, parasites, biological toxins, and contaminants affecting sea ducks Provides an up-to-date assessment of migration and molt strategies Documents reproductive energetics, strategies, and behavior

This most important book fully examines the welfare of captive reptiles and discusses the positive and negative implications of general husbandry and research programmes. The editors, acknowledged experts in their own right, have drawn together an extremely impressive international group of contributors providing clearly written and comprehensive accounts of aspects such as physiology, physical stress, diet, veterinary and environmental issues, normal behaviour, psychological stress and informed design in research.

While research has enabled us to better understand the nonhuman primates, they have repaid that by repaid that by providing medical scientists with important tools for the study of human biomedical problems. This book is about those research tools. The book was designed by identifying areas of human medical research that are under intensive research study today. Authors were then selected based on their expertise at using nonhuman primates as models for the human condition. Each was asked to use as comparative an approach as models for the human condition. Each was asked to use a comparative an approach as possible, to provide the reader with knowledge relating to the usefulness of various nonhuman primate species to each specific research area.

Bird migration is a well-researched phenological event. However, few studies in North America have investigated the effects of climate change and extreme weather on the relationships of migratory avian species and their seasonal resources. This is a critical gap in knowledge that limits our ability to prioritize management and conservation applications throughout the annual cycle. Phenological Synchrony and Bird Migration: Changing Climate and Seasonal Resources in North America explores critical linkages between migratory birds, their seasonal resources, and shifts in climate change and weather events. Gathered from projects conducted during spring or fall migration, the book covers topics such as: Conservation and management considerations for migratory birds throughout the United States with respect to climate change The relation of climate on the wintering grounds to spring migration of short- and long-distance migratory birds The relationships of migratory birds and their seasonal resources, and the nature of these relationships in the face of climate change and extreme weather events at stopover habitats in both spring and fall migration With contributions from over 40 researchers, and published in collaboration with and on behalf of the American Ornithological Society, this volume in the highly-regarded Studies in Avian Biology series will help readers understand the effects of climate change on migratory birds and will provide a solid basis for further inquiry and research in this area.