Mapping of animal genomes has generated huge databases and several new concepts and strategies, which are useful to elucidate origin, evolution and phylogeny. Genetic and physical maps of genomes further provide precise details on chromosomal location, function, expression and regulation of academically and economically important genes. The series "Genome Mapping and Genomics in Animals" provides comprehensive and up-to-date reviews on genomic research on a large variety of selected animal systems, contributed by leading scientists from around the world.

Insects and other arthropods, the largest group of animals in number of species, have global impact on agriculture, industry, human health and environment. They are of particular economic importance for food production as pollinators, for natural products like silk and also as pests and parasites. Arthropods covered in this volume include honeybee, bumblebee, the parasitic Jewel Wasp, silkworm, pea aphid, mosquito, Hessian fly and tick.

A description of a microbial colony grown on suitable agar usually involves the observation of its immediate surroundings. This applies to most bacteria and fungi and is of considerable taxonomic importance. This book discusses the more abundant pigments of microbial origin, their unique function in microbial life and their biotechnological significance.

This volume of the series Handbook of Zoology deals with the anatomy of the gastrointestinal digestive tract - stomach, small intestine, caecum and colon - in all eutherian orders and suborders. It presents compilations of anatomical studies, as well as an extensive list of references, which makes widely dispersed literature accessible. Introductory sections to orders and suborders give notice to biology, taxonomy, biogeography and food of the respective taxon. It is a characteristic of this book that different sections of the post-oesophageal tract are discussed separately from each other. Informations on form and function of organs of digestion in eutherians are discussed under comparative-anatomical aspects. The variability and diversity of anatomical structures represents the basis of functional differentiations.

Filarial nematodes constitute and important group of human pathogens in tropical regions of the world. Diseases associated with these worms are generally separated into two categories: filariasis, caused by infections of lymphatic dwelling parasites and onchocerciasis, or river blindness, caused by infections of Onchocerca volvulus. Other filariae specifically infect humans and it is likely that zoonotic filarial infections may alter the outcome of infections with human parasites. The chapters in this book will cover concepts that, in most instances, overlap all of these parasites as well as focus on new and emerging ideas. The Filaria, volume five of World Class Parasites, is written for researchers, students and scholars who enjoy reading research that has a major impact on human health, or agricultural productivity, and against which we have no satisfactory defense. It is intended to supplement more formal texts that cover taxonomy, life cycles, morphology, vector distribution, symptoms and treatment. It integrates vector, pathogen and host biology and celebrates the diversity of approach that comprises modern parasitological research.

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Cell surface membranes contain a range of types of molecule of which proteins form a significant part, and which play important roles in regulating cellular activities, such as growth and differentiation. In recent years considerable advances have been made in the understanding of the structure and function of cell surface molecules, partly stimulated by the development of recombinant DNA technologies. This book provides a review of current knowledge of the molecular biology of the cell surface with particular emphasis on cell differentiation, relating the molecular properties of the cell surface to developmental biology. In addition to the central theme of cell differentiation, cell surface markers, which are useful in monitoring differentiation and cell adhesion molecules, which influence differentiation, are covered. The book opens with two introductory chapters which provide the background information necessary to familiarize the reader with the current status of developmental biology and molecular studies of the cell surface, and includes coverage of the early embryogenesis of the mouse, teracellular matrix, the major histocompatibility complex, the immunoglobulin superfamily, growth factors, integerins, cadherins, cell-surface carbohydrates and nuclear-cell-surface interactions.

Of all the countless legendary beasts that have been conjured forth from the seemingly limitless capacity of the human imagination, none can remotely compare with the dragon for its sheer diversity of form, its symbolic significance, and its cross-cultural presence. Dragons are everywhere-still glimpsed in the living, breathing beasts around us that inspired and engendered their birth in our far-distant ancestors' dreams, and nightmares; perennially encountered in the myriad of traditional myths and folklore woven into the fabric of every creed and culture around the world; and ever-visible within the innumerable outpourings of artistic creation that have graced and enhanced our species' existence across all temporal, political, social, and geographical boundaries. So from where, and from what, has such widespread-indeed, worldwide-belief in these creatures stemmed? There can be no doubt that a major factor influencing the origin of the dragon is early humanity's observations and interactions with various distinctive and potentially inimical creatures of reality sharing our world. Equally thought-provoking is how and why the dragon has become so intimately associated with our own species. This multi-faceted monster of mythology is more than amply represented visually, for example, by artwork of every conceivable style, age, and category. And the dragon's status in religion, dreams, alchemy, psychology, astrology, literature, movies, and music is as compelling as it is complex. These many diverse but equally captivating themes are all fully explored in this spellbinding book's uniquely comprehensive coverage, and provide ample confirmation that there is no sign whatsoever of waning interest for what must surely be the most vibrant, tenacious, and fascinating creature that has never existed-the dragon.

For many years I performed tissue culture in large scientific insti- tions that had a great deal of infrastructure. When I set up a tissue l- oratory outside such an infrastructure, however, I found there was a shortage of easily accessible information about the basic needs, reagents, and techniques for establishing such a facility. Much had to be done by trial and error or gleaned from originalpapers. Consequently, I felt that a methods book covering a wide variety of techniques from basic culture to the most sophisticated cell analysis would be a very valuable addition to the scientific literature. In the interim, several useful books (listed in Chapter I of this volume) did appear, but none entirely fitted the bill and some are now somewhat dated. Then, in 1984, the first of the Methods in Molecular Biology volumes from Humana Press was published with its step-by-step recipe approach. This format appealed to me, and so I c- tacted John Walker, the series editor, about including cell culture in this series. The result was that we embarked upon a single volume covering both plant and animal cell culture. Such was the richness of the material that this project soon divided itself into separate volumes on animal cell (Volume 5) and plant cell (Volume 6) culture. In this volume (Volume 5), therefore, we have aimed to describe a variety of basic techniques and culture conditions for a range of cell types.

What have we learnt about the Nile since the mid-1970s, the moment when Julian Rzoska decided that the time had come to publish a comprehensive volume about the biology, and the geological and cultural history of that great river? And what changes have meanwhile occurred in the basin? The human popu- tion has more than doubled, especially in Egypt, but also in East Africa. Locally, industrial development has taken place, and the Aswan High Dam was clearly not the last major infrastructure work that was carried out. More dams have been built, and some water diversions, like the Toshka lakes, have created new expanses of water in the middle of the Sahara desert. What are the effects of all this on the ec- ogy and economy of the Basin? That is what the present book sets out to explore, 33 years after the publi- tion of "The Nile: Biology of an Ancient River". Thirty-seven authors have taken up the challenge, and have written the "new" book. They come from 13 different countries, and 15 among them represent the largest Nilotic states (Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Kenya). Julian Rzoska died in 1984, and most of the - authors of his book have now either disappeared or retired from research. Only Jack Talling and Samir Ghabbour were still available to participate again.

This book is the first offour volumes in the Handbook of Zoology series which treat the systematics and biology of Coleoptera. With approximately 350,000 described species, Coleoptera are by far the most species-rich order of insects and the largest group of animals of comparable geological age. The beetle volumes will meet the demand of modern biologists seeking to answer questions about Coleoptera phylogeny, evolution, and ecology. This first Coleoptera volume covers the suborders Archostemata, Myxophaga and Adephaga, and the basal series of Polyphaga, with information on world distribution, biology, morphology of all life stages (including anatomy), phylogeny and comments on taxonomy.

Biotechnology is advancing at a rapid pace with numerous applications in medicine, industry, agriculture and environmental remediation. Recognizing this, government, industrial and academic research and development invest ment in biotechnology has expanded rapidly. The past decade has seen the emergence of applications of this technology with a dual-use potential. Mili tary applications focus on four major areas: biomedical technology, such as vaccine development and medical diagnostics; detection of toxins, chemicals and pathogens; material biotechnology; and biological decontamination, in cluding biodegradation and bioremediation. This conference emphasizes the non-medical applications of biotechnol ogy. The first two sessions focus on the synthesis and properties of molecules that may be used in detectors. The traditional approach to detection of chemical and biological agents relied on the development of specific assays or analyses for known agents. Advances in molecular biology have made possible the production of large quantities of toxins which were previously available in minute quantities, and the molecular engineering of toxins and pathogens with specific pharmacologic and physical-chemical properties. In addition to the traditional approaches to detection of specific known compounds, biotechnology now offers generic approaches to detection. Physiological targets, known as receptors, are primary targets for many drugs and toxins. Similarly, pathogens rely on receptors to gain access to cells. These receptors function as sensitive detectors, generating signals which are transduced and amplified."

A New York Times Notable Book of 2020 'Bracing and enlightening' Science Culture is something exclusive to human beings, isn't it? Not so, says intrepid researcher Carl Safina. Becoming Wild reveals the rich cultures that survive in some of Earth's remaining wild places. By showing how sperm whales, scarlet macaws and chimpanzees teach and learn, Safina offers a fresh understanding of what is constantly going on beyond humanity, and how we're all connected. 'Becoming Wild demands that we wake up' Telegraph

This volume presents a comprehensive overview of what is understood about the similarities and differences among mammals in their sense of hearing, and the structures of the ear that condition and transform sound wave-forms. The goal of each chapter is to present what is known about the diversity of hearing functions among mammals so that we may better understand the relationships between the structures of ears and the hearing abilities of the animals most closely related to humans. This book will be invaluable to researchers, students, and clinicians in auditory research.

Myriapods are the only major zoological group for which a modern encyclopedic treatment has never been produced. In particular, this was the single major gap in the largest zoological treatise of the XIX century (Grasse's Traite de Zoologie), whose publication has recently been stopped. The two volumes of "The Myriapoda" fill that gap with an updated treatment in the English language. Volume II deals with the Diplopoda or millipedes. As in the previous volume, the treatment is articulated in chapters dealing with external and internal morphology, physiology, reproduction, development, distribution, ecology, phylogeny and taxonomy. All currently recognized suprageneric taxa and a very large selection of the genera are considered. All groups and features are extensively illustrated by line drawings and micrographs and living specimens of representative species of the main groups are presented in color photographs.