The over-riding premise for biotechnology in this book is bringing novel products to market to substantially advance patient care and disease mitigation. Biotechnology, over its relatively brief existence of 40 years, has experienced a mercurial growth. The vast educational need for biotechnology information in this rapidly burgeoning field is a basic rationale here. However a more prominent underpinning is that, bringing biotech products to market for patient care involves success in the following four areas of engagement simultaneously - scientific advances for healthcare technologies, novel and varied products for untreated diseases, regulatory authorities, and biotech companies. Features Comprehensive coverage of biotechnology science topics used in development and manufacturing Addresses all the scientific technologies within biotechnology responsible for products on the market and the pipeline Presents business issues such as marketing and sales of the products, as well as companies engaged, and how biotech business has evolved

Drawing on advances in social science, evolutionary biology, genetics, neuroscience and network science, Blueprint shows how and why evolution has placed us on a humane path -- and how we are united by our common humanity. For too long, scientists have focused on the dark side of our biological heritage: our capacity for aggression, cruelty, prejudice, and self-interest. But natural selection has given us a suite of beneficial social features, including our capacity for love, friendship, cooperation, and learning. Beneath all our inventions - our tools, farms, machines, cities, nations - we carry with us innate proclivities to make a good society. In Blueprint, Nicholas A. Christakis introduces the compelling idea that our genes affect not only our bodies and behaviors, but also the ways in which we make societies, ones that are surprisingly similar worldwide. With many vivid examples -- including diverse historical and contemporary cultures, communities formed in the wake of shipwrecks, commune dwellers seeking utopia, online groups thrown together by design or involving artificially intelligent bots and even the tender and complex social arrangements of elephants and dolphins that so resemble our own - Christakis shows that, despite a human history replete with violence, we cannot escape our social blueprint for goodness. In a world of increasing political and economic polarisation, it's tempting to ignore the positive role of our evolutionary past. But by exploring the ancient roots of goodness in civilisation, Blueprint shows that our genes have shaped societies for our welfare and that, in a feedback loop stretching back many thousands of years, societies have shaped and are still shaping, our genes today.

From disease marker identification to accelerated drug development, Protein Arrays, Biochips, and Proteomics offers a detailed overview of current and emerging trends in the field of array-based proteomics. This reference focuses on innovations in protein microarrays and biochips, mass spectrometry, high-throughput protein expression, protein-protein interactions, structural proteomics, and the proteomic marketplace for comprehensive understanding of past, present, and future proteomic research. Offering an abundance of figures and charts, the book compiles a wide variety of technologies and applications ranging from functionalized chip surfaces to strategies for protein expression.

This book entitled "Genetics, Genomics and Breeding of Bamboos" provides a comprehensive overview on the economically and ecologically important non-timber plant group bamboo. The book focuses on the most recent advances in bamboo research in diverse fields including botany, genetic resources, traditional and molecular breeding, disease and pest resistance, tissue culture and genetic transformation and genomics perspective. The different chapters are authored by internationally reputed experts on this plant and is a good source of information for students, scientists, farmers, and bamboo resource management advisers on this plant, which is gaining increase importance on international commerce.

Transcription factors are important in regulating gene expression, and their analysis is of paramount interest to molecular biologists studying this area. This book looks at the basic machinery of the cell involved in transcription in eukaryotes and factors that control transcription in eukaryotic cells. It examines the regulatory systems that modulate gene expression in all cells,a s well as the more specialized systems that regulate localized gene expression throughout the mammalian organism. Transcription Factors updates classical knowledge with recent advances to provide a full and comprehensive coverage of the field for postgraduates and researchers in molecular biology involved in the study of gene regulation.

- The book discusses the recent techniques in NGS data analysis which is the most needed material by biologists (students and researchers) in the wake of numerous genomic projects and the trend toward genomic research. - The book includes both theory and practice for the NGS data analysis. So, readers will understand the concept and learn how to do the analysis using the most recent programs. - The steps of application workflows are written in a manner that can be followed for related projects. - Each chapter includes worked examples with real data available on the NCBI databases. Programming codes and outputs are accompanied with explanation. - The book content is suitable as teaching material for biology and bioinformatics students. Meets the requirements of a complete semester course on Sequencing Data Analysis Covers the latest applications for Next Generation Sequencing Covers data reprocessing, genome assembly, variant discovery, gene profiling, epigenetics, and metagenomics

This book on medicinal plant biotechnology covers recent developments in this field. It includes a comprehensive up-to-date survey on established medicinal plants and on molecules which gained importance in recent years. No recently published book has covered these carefully selected topics. The contributing scientists have been selected on the basis of their involvement in the related plant material as evident by their internationally recognised published work.

This book uniquely presents conceptual understanding as well as advancements in the field of endocrinology. It emphasizes the harmonization between the function and the structure of different endocrine glands in the body. The book's initial chapters introduce hormones' biological synthesis, structure, function, and signaling pathways. The subsequent chapters examine the functional relationship between hypothalamus and pituitary gland and its leading and regulating roles on other endocrine and non- endocrine organs. A separate chapter discusses the synergistic functions of adrenal glands and pineal gland in the circadian rhythm and analyze the role of corticoids in carbohydrate and mineral metabolism. Furthermore, the book addresses the role of growth hormones, prolactin, gonads regulating hormones, adrenocorticotropin, thyroid hormones, parathormone, gluco- and mineral corticoids, insulin and glucagon, Physiology of bone remodeling is presented with the role of parathyroid glands, C cells and vitamin D explaining the bone as an endocrine organ. The regulation of male and female reproductive functions is represented well. Lastly, the book reviews the novel endocrine role and metabolic aspects of adipose tissue as an endocrine tissue and its relationship to inflammatory diseases, insulin resistance and many metabolic disorders. The book introduces key parts for endocrine's stem cell in each gland is discussed in term of its survival, proliferation, migration, homing, differentiation and its regeneration and remodeling roles.

Biogeography is a vital component in many aspects of Primatology, including studies of evolution, speciation systematics, population genetics, and community ecology. Despite its integral position in studies of primate evolution and ecology and the broad representation of research on this subject in journals, field guides, and edited volumes on different regions of the world, Primate Biogeography is a subject that is rarely addressed as a discipline in its own right. This comprehensive source introduces the reader to Primate Biogeography as a discipline, highlights the many factors that may influence the distribution of primates, and reveals the wide range of approaches that are available to understanding the distribution of this order.

This book covers the many ways humans benefit from interactions with other living species. By studying animals of all kinds and sizes, from microbial organisms to elephants and whales, we can learn about their adaptations to extreme conditions on the planet Earth, about the evolutionary development of specialized capabilities, and about their ways of defending themselves against predators and diseases. The authors discuss the strengths and weaknesses of Homo sapiens, and how the study of animals can make us stronger and healthier. To deepen our knowledge of genetics, molecular and cell biology, physiology and medicine, we need to study model organisms. To cure human disease, we can learn from animals how they have evolved ways to protect themselves. To improve human performance, we can study the animal kingdom's top performers and learn from their successes. Considering these important pointers, the authors review genetic engineering techniques that can translate our existing and future animal connections into benefits for human health and performance.

Comparative Genomics and Proteomics in Drug Discovery gives an overview of how emerging genomic and proteomic technologies are making significant contributions to global drug discovery programs, and in particular the key role that comparative genomics and proteomics play within this strategy. Each chapter is written by respected authorities, with hands-on experience, from both academic and pharmaceutical backgrounds.

Heterogeneity, or mixtures, are ubiquitous in genetics. Even for data as simple as mono-genic diseases, populations are a mixture of affected and unaffected individuals. Still, most statistical genetic association analyses, designed to map genes for diseases and other genetic traits, ignore this phenomenon. In this book, we document methods that incorporate heterogeneity into the design and analysis of genetic and genomic association data. Among the key qualities of our developed statistics is that they include mixture parameters as part of the statistic, a unique component for tests of association. A critical feature of this work is the inclusion of at least one heterogeneity parameter when performing statistical power and sample size calculations for tests of genetic association. We anticipate that this book will be useful to researchers who want to estimate heterogeneity in their data, develop or apply genetic association statistics where heterogeneity exists, and accurately evaluate statistical power and sample size for genetic association through the application of robust experimental design.

In this first comprehensive analysis of biological science in modern China, Laurence Schneider traces its troubled development from the 1920s, across the 1949 boundary, and into contemporary post-socialist China. Schneider uses his detailed portrayals of influential scientists and key education and research institutions to explore both internal and external forces at work in scientific development. The author examines the largely U.S. sources of its technical development and the subsequent quality of its research and educational accomplishments. At the same time, he firmly grounds these in the context of China's national, economic, and social revolutions. These upheavals have been the source of periodic obsessions to use science to regulate nature, to manage foreign influence on science, and to control scientists. The author argues that populist 'mass science' was Mao's solution to problems of control, especially in the 1950s, when Soviet Lysenkoism was granted the power in China to monopolize biology and ban genetics. This book provides the only detailed study of Lysenkoism in China, linking its ascendance to the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. It concludes with an analysis of the phoenix-like rise of genetics in recent decades and the assignment of biotechnology to a leading role in plans for economic development. Based on a broad range of archival materials and interviews with major actors in the story, this book will be a rich resource for all those interested in contemporary China.

This book examines life not from the reductionist point of view, but rather asks the questions: what are the universal properties of living systems, and how can one construct from there a phenomenological theory of life that leads naturally to complex processes such as reproductive cellular systems, evolution and differentiation? The presentation is relatively non-technical to appeal to a broad spectrum of students and researchers.

This volume summarizes recent advances in research on mesenchymal cell populations in the bone marrow. It explores how mesenchymal cells create niches for immune cells in extramedullary organs and it discusses new concepts of lympho-hematopoietic microenvironments. Readers are introduced to the fundamentals of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) differentiation to all types of blood cells, including immune cells, in the bone marrow. The book highlights how this process is supported and regulated by the individual microenvironments of stem cells, termed niches. The identity of HSC niches has been subject to longstanding debates. Recent studies identified the population of mesenchymal stem cells as the major cellular component of niches, for hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and their candidate developmental origin. Furthermore, candidate cellular niches for immune cells in lymph nodes and adipose and connective tissues were identified. The authors of this volume focus on shared features between those and HSPC niche cells in the bone marrow. Covering latest research results, this book serves as fascinating read for researchers and clinicians in hematology and immunology.

Microbial species isolated from extreme and pristine habitats are always diverse, which indicates biomolecules secreted by these species might have importance. A cure for disease is a desire considering the catastrophic situations that threaten the lives of humans and animals. Currently, the world is facing the health, social and economic, and diplomatic impacts of infectious communicable diseases caused by bacteria and viruses. It is a necessity to understand the huge microbial diversity residing everywhere with us in this world. Microorganisms are species that were born at the start of “life” and will stay after the end of all other forms of life in this world. This unseen majority has significant effects on the biogeochemical cycle as well as has numerous medical and non-medical applications. So, the ability of microorganisms to produce bioactive compounds and how they can be used in different fields, especially medicine and health care, have been discussed in this book.

This book reviews the potential of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in research on and management of colorectal cancer (CRC), a leading cause of death worldwide and one of the most biologically and clinically heterogeneous cancers. It critically discusses findings from recent large-scale studies, clinical trials and meta-analyses and offers an introduction to the management of CRC in the era of precision medicine. In CRC, dozens of driver and passenger mutations are associated with the malignant transformation of epithelial cells. Consequently, the book discusses recent advances in our understanding of the genetics of CRC as a biomarker, the advent of NGS technologies in modern genomics, and the impact of NGS technology on the management of CRC. Furthermore, it highlights the potential of NGS in the context of liquid biopsy and single-cell sequencing in CRC, as well as its role in shedding light on the link between gut microbiota, immune-checkpoint blockade and CRC. The book concludes with a chapter on the limitations and cost-effectiveness of NGS in CRC. Given its scope, the book will appeal to all those interested in learning about the potential of NGS in advancing CRC research and patient care.

Technologies like CRISPR and gene drives are ushering in a new era of genetic engineering, wherein the technical means to modify DNA are cheaper, faster, more accurate, more widely accessible, and with more far-reaching effects than ever before. These cutting-edge technologies raise legal, ethical, cultural, and ecological questions that are so broad and consequential for both human and other-than-human life that they can be difficult to grasp. What is clear, however, is that the power to directly alter not just a singular form of life but also the genetics of entire species and thus the composition of ecosystems is currently both inadequately regulated and undertheorized. In Gene Editing, Law, and the Environment, distinguished scholars from law, the life sciences, philosophy, environmental studies, science and technology studies, animal health, and religious studies examine what is at stake with these new biotechnologies for life and law, both human and beyond.

This is the first comprehensive review of the Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) established in 2000. It provides an in-depth consideration of the key thematic areas within WIPO discussions - genetic resources (GRs), traditional knowledge (TK) and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs) through the perspectives of a broad range of experts and stakeholders, including indigenous peoples and local communities. It also looks at how these areas have been treated in a number of forums and settings (including national systems and experiences, and also in trade agreements) and the interface with WIPO discussions. Furthermore, the book analyses the process and the negotiation dynamics since the IGC received a mandate from WIPO members, in 2009, to undertake formal text-based negotiations towards legal instruments for the protection of GR, TK and TCEs. While there has been some progress in these negotiations, important disagreements persist. If these are to be resolved, the adoption of these legal instruments would be a significant development towards resolving key gaps in the modern intellectual property system. In this regard, the book considers the future of the IGC and suggests options which could contribute towards achieving a consensual outcome.

This fifth edition volume expands on the previous editions with updated discussions on the many new in situ hybridization (ISH) techniques used by researchers today. New developments in probe designs, detection systems, specificity and sensitivity improvements, and multiplexing combinations are explored. Chapters in this book are organized into seven sections and cover general applications; methods for DNA ISH; methods for cultured cells; methods for wholemount and plant material; automated methods for RNA; multiplexing and combined methods; and targeted selective methods and single molecule detections. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and thorough, In Situ Hybridization Protocols, Fifth Edition is a valuable resource for both novice and expert scientists interested in learning more about this exciting and advancing field.

Originally published in 1985, The Semantic Theory of Evolution addresses the notion that life is not shaped by the single law of natural selection, but instead by a plurality of laws that resemble grammatical rules in language. This remarkable work presents a semantic theory centering on the concept of the ribotype. Supported by both sound facts and logical arguments, this analysis reaches beyond the established cadre of biological thought to unravel many of life's mysteries and paradoxes, including the origin of the cell and the nucleus and the evolution of ribosomes.

This invaluable resource discusses the current revolution in stem cell-based drugs and their potential use in clinical applications. Each chapter is contributed by a pre-eminent scientist in the field. An introductory section presents current stem cell drugs and stem cell-based products and a discussion of production, quality control, mechanisms, and efficacy. Following sections include discussions on stem cell-derived microvesicles based products, and derived exosomes based products. Stem Cell Drugs - A New Generation of Biopharmaceuticals and the other books in the Stem Cells in Clinical Applications series are invaluable to scientists, researchers, advanced students and clinicians working in stem cells, regenerative medicine or tissue engineering. This groundbreaking volume is also essential reading for those researching or studying drug development or pharmaceutical science.