Aging of somatic stem cells reduces cell function and results in dysfunctional organs and tissues, making it an underlying cause of diseases associated with aging. It might even be the primary cause for age-associated attrition of tissue function in organs that heavily rely on stem cells for maintaining homeostasis, like the skin, blood and intestines. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved is critical for developing approaches to attenuate stem cell aging and could pave the way for improved quality of life among the elderly. Written by highly prominent experts in the field, this book presents the current state of knowledge on these mechanisms. It offers insights into stem cell function, explains in detail the mechanisms of stem cell aging in model organisms as well as mammalian systems and describes related diseases and approaches to attenuating stem cell aging or achieving rejuvenation. The book is intended for all scientists and clinicians working with stem cells, aging mechanisms or age-related diseases.

This book covers the identification and role of endogenous lung stem cells in health and disease, particularly the most recent advances. In addition, it discusses the rapidly growing field of stem cells and cell therapy as it relates to lung biology and disease as well as ex vivo lung bioengineering. Such approaches may provide novel therapeutic approaches for lung diseases. Human pluripotent stem cell differentiation to model the pulmonary epithelium and vasculature is also discussed. World-recognized scientists who specialize in studying both the lung epithelium and pulmonary vasculature contribute the chapters. Topics covered include: stem cell niches in the lung, the role of progenitor cells in fibrosis and asthma, iPSC in modeling lung disease, vascular repair by endothelial progenitor cells and circulating fibrocytes in pulmonary vascular remodeling. This volume of the Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine series is essential reading for researchers and clinicians interested in stem cells, lung biology and regenerative medicine. It is also an invaluable resource for advanced students studying cell biology, regenerative medicine and lung physiology.

Bioinformatics is an integrative field of computer science, genetics, genomics, proteomics, and statistics, which has undoubtedly revolutionized the study of biology and medicine in past decades. It mainly assists in modeling, predicting and interpreting large multidimensional biological data by utilizing advanced computational methods. Despite its enormous potential, bioinformatics is not widely integrated into the academic curriculum as most life science students and researchers are still not equipped with the necessary knowledge to take advantage of this powerful tool. Hence, the primary purpose of our book is to supplement this unmet need by providing an easily accessible platform for students and researchers starting their career in life sciences. This book aims to avoid sophisticated computational algorithms and programming. Instead, it will mostly focus on simple DIY analysis and interpretation of biological data with personal computers. Our belief is that once the beginners acquire these basic skillsets, they will be able to handle most of the bioinformatics tools for their research work and to better understand their experimental outcomes. The third volume is titled In Silico Life Sciences: Agriculture. It focuses on plant genetic, genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomics data. Using examples of new crop diseases-emergence, crop productivity and biotic/abiotic stress tolerance, this book illustrates how bioinformatics can be an integral components of modern day plant science research.

Leishmania is a vector-borne pathogenic parasite found in 88 countries worldwide and is the causative agent of leishmaniasis. The different Leishmania species infect macrophages and dendritic cells of the host immune system, causing symptoms that range from disfiguring cutaneous and mucocutaneous lesions, widespread destruction of mucous membranes, or visceral disease affecting the haemopoetic organs. The recent publication of the complete genome sequences of three different Leishmania species provides new insights into this leading pathogen and presents scientists with an exciting resource to improve the understanding of its complex molecular and cellular biology. In this book, internationally recognized Leishmania experts critically review the most important aspects of current Leishmania research, providing the first coherent picture of the organism's molecular and cellular biology since the publication of the genome sequence. Chapters are written from a molecular and genomic perspective and discuss in depth Leishmania-specific aspects of trypanosomatid biology and pathology. Topics include: diagnosis and epidemiology, genome structure and content, regulation of gene expression, the Leishmania proteome, the Leishmania metabolome, Leishmania differentiation, interaction with the sand fly vector, drug discovery, drug resistance, and much more. This will be essential reading for all researchers working with Leishmania, trypanosomes, and protozoa; and is recommended for all biology and medical libraries.

This volume explores the applications of reporter gene technology and the methodologies needed for their effective implementation. The chapters in this book cover practical topics such as how to integrate reporter constructs into cellular models, viral delivery, splicing applications, in vivo imaging, and a guide to the use of multi-cistronic constructs. Additionally, chapters also include detailed mechanistic uses of reporter genes in cellular pathways, and a look at project and data management of screening applications. 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, Reporter Gene Assays: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in learning more about reporter genes.

This book uses the reaction of a number of biologists in the United States and Great Britain to provide an overview of one of the most important controversies in Twentieth Century biology, the "Lysenko Affair." The book is written for advanced undergraduate and graduate students of history/history of science. It covers a number of topics which are relevant to understanding the sources and dimensions of the Lysenko controversy, including the interwar eugenics movement, the Scopes Trial, the popularity of Lamarckism as a theory of heredity prior to the synthesis of genetics and Natural Selection, and the Cold War. The book focuses particularly on portrayals-both positive and negative-of Lysenko in the popular press in the U.S. and Europe, and thus by extension the relationship between scientists and society. Because the Lysenko controversy attracted a high level of interest among the lay community, it constitutes a useful historical example to consider in context with current topics that have received a similar level of attention, such as Intelligent Design or Climate Change.

In the preface to Sir Vincent B. Wigglesworth's classic 1939 book on insect physiology he asserted that insects provide an ideal medium in which to study all the problems of physiology. A strong case can be made as well for the use of insects as significant systems for the study of behavior and genetics. Contributions to genetics through decades of research on Drosophila species have made this small fly the most important metazoan in genetics research. At the same time, population and behavioral research on insects and other invertebrates have provid ed new perspectives that can be combined with the genetics approach. Through such in tegrated research we are able to identify evolutionary genetics of behavior as a highly signifi cant emerging area of interest. These perspectives are ably described by Dr. Guy Bush in the introductory chapter of this book. During March 21-24, 1983, many of the world's leading scientists in invertebrate behavioral genetics were drawn together in Gainesville, Florida, for a colloquium entitled "Evolutionary Genetics of Invertebrate Behavior." This conference was sponsored jointly by the Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, chaired by Dr. Daniel Shankland, and the Insect Attractants, Behavior and Basic Biology Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, directed then by Dr. Derrell Chambers."

Deficiencies in sperm function are usually the result of spermatogenic defects. Spermatogenesis is a biologically complex and essential process during which spermatogonia undergo meiotic recombination, reduction of the genome to a haploid state, and extensive cellular modifications that result in a motile cell capable of traversing the female reproductive tract, withstanding various potential assaults to viability, and finally successfully fertilizing a mature oocyte to give rise to an embryo. Defects in any step of spermatogenesis or spermatogenesis can lead to male infertility, a disease that affects approximately 5-7% of the population."Spermiogenesis and Spermatogenesis: Methods and Protocols"details protocols used in the study of spermatogenesis, clinical analytical protocols, and basic techniques used in clinical andrology laboratories, such as obtaining accurate results for a sperm count, and advanced procedures, such as genome-wide genetic study tools and evaluation of nuclear proteins.Written in the 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 protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Authoritative and easily accessible, "Spermiogenesis and Spermatogenesis: Methods and Protocols"isunique in its breadth, and will be a useful reference for clinicians and researchers alike."

Plant Stress Mitigators: Types, Techniques and Functions presents a detailed contextual discussion of various stressors on plant health and yield, with accompanying insights into options for limiting impacts using chemical elicitors, bio-stimulants, breeding techniques and agronomical techniques such as seed priming, cold plasma treatment, and nanotechnology, amongst others. The book explores the various action mechanisms for enhancing plant growth and stress tolerance capacity, including nutrient solubilizing and mobilizing, biocontrol activity against plant pathogens, phytohormone production, soil conditioners, and many more unrevealed mechanisms. This book combines research, methods, opinion, perspectives and reviews, dissecting the stress alleviation action of different plant stress mitigators on crops grown under optimal and sub-optimal growing conditions (abiotic and biotic stresses).

Neglected and Underutilized Crops: Future Smart Food explores future food crops with climate resilience potential. Sections cover their botany, nutritional significance, global distribution, production technology, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses of neglected and underutilized crops. By simply changing species in a crop rotation system, the cycle of some pests and diseases is disrupted and probabilities of infestations are reduced. Finally, the book provides case studies that highlight where the adaptation of crops to local environments, especially with regard to climate change, have been successful. These crops can help make agricultural production systems more resilient to climate change. Although a few books on neglected and underutilized crops are available, this comprehensive book covers the full scope of crop husbandry, nutritional significance and global distribution.

RNA abundance analysis is one of the most important approaches for gene expression studies in the field of molecular biology. In "RNA Abundance Analysis: Methods and Protocols," expert researchers cover a wide range of techniques on RNA extraction, detection, quantification, visualization, and genome-wide profiling, from conventional methods to state-of-the-art high throughput approaches. This volume includes detailed techniques to examine mRNAs, small non-coding RNAs, protein-associated small RNAs, sulfur-containing RNAs, viral and satellite RNAs, RNA isoforms, and alternatively spliced RNA variants from various organisms, as well as key discussions of computational data processing for genome-wide datasets. Written for the highly successful "Methods in Molecular Biology" series, 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.

Essential and easy to use, "RNA Abundance Analysis: Methods and Protocols" provides a comprehensive set of techniques and methods on isolating and analyzing mRNAs, small RNAs, and modified RNAs, which can assist you in your gene expression studies."

Updating and building upon previous editions, "Hematopoietic Stem Cell Protocols, Third Edition" provides up-to-date protocols from leading stem cell researchers. This in-depth volume presents a clear view of the landscape of assays available to the stem cell researcher working in the growing hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) field. A robust and active field, it is supported by an abundance of innovative mouse models and molecular tools for analysis of phenotypes and functions in mouse and human cells. Understanding more about hematopoietic stem cell biology is integral if these versatile cells are to be applied effectively to treat and cure a wide range of blood diseases.An introductory chapter puts the major contributions of the book into the proper perspective. Written in the 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 protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Essential for the laboratory-based researcher, "Hematopoietic Stem Cell Protocols, Third Edition" is a much needed technical resource in the critically important field of hematopoietic stem cell investigation."

During the last decade, modern technologies have made a revolutionary change in developmental biology. The molecular and cellular processes in live embryos can now be visualized thanks to technologies using fluorescent proteins. The whole genome information of a wide range of animal species has now become available, confirming the common principles that operate in every species. These and other advances in our understanding of the developmental processes during embryogenesis and tissue regeneration have put forward new principles. Those new principles will also be important in the stem cell biology, branched from developmental biology, in order to generate a particular tissue by manipulating stem cells. This book is planned to introduce these new principles to readers who are working in developmental biology and/or stem cell biology fields, with an emphasis on genetic and cellular processes.

The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection by R.A. Fisher (1930) dictated that sexual dimorphisms may depend upon a single medelian factor. This could be true for some species but his suggestion could not take off the ground as gender in Drosophila is determined by the number of X chromosomes. Technical advances in molecular biology have revived the initial thinking of Fisher and dictate that TDF or SRY genes in humans or Tdy in mice are sex determining genes. The fortuitous findings of XX males and XY female, which are generally termed sex reversal phenomenon, are quite bewildering traits that have caused much amazement concerning the pairing mechanism(s) of the pseudoautosomal regions of human X and Y chromosomes at meiosis. These findings have opened new avenues to explore further the genetic basis of sex determination at the single gene level.
The aim of the fourth volume, titled Genetics of Sex Determination is to reflect on the latest advances and future investigative directions, encompassing 10 chapters. Commissioned several distinguished scientists, all pre-eminent authorities in each field to shed their thoughts concisely but epitomise their chapters with an extended bibliography. Obviously, during the past 60 years, the metoric advances are voluminous and to cover every account of genes, chromosomes, and sex in a single volume format would be a herculean task. Therefore, a few specific topics are chosen, which may be of great interest to scientists and clinicians. The seasoned scientists who love to inquire about the role of genes in sex determination should find the original work of these notable contributors very enlightening. This volume is intended for advanced students who want to keep abreast as well as for those who indulge in the search for genes of sex determination.

Every year there are new and exciting developments in assisted human reproduction, but how much do we really know about the underlying causes of infertility? This volume explores recent progress in the understanding of the genetics of spermatogenesis and male infertility. Topics include fundamental advances and current problems in the development and function of the testis, an outline of clinical findings in male infertility and an overview of the role of the Y chromosome in male fertility. Comprehensive critiques of posttranscriptional control during spermatogenesis, mammalian meiotic sterility, and comparative genetics of human spermatogenesis from the perspective of yeast, "Drosophila" and mice provide a global overview of the field.

This book presents some of the most recent, novel and fascinating examples of transcriptional and posttranscriptional control of gene expression in plants and, where appropriate, provides comparison to notable examples of animal gene regulation.

Although they comprise one of the three fundamental branches of life, it was only the last decade that Archaea were formally recognized as a group alongside Eukaryotes and Bacteria. Bacteria-like in that they are single celled organisms that lack a nucleus and intracellular organelles, the Arachaea also share a large gene set typical of eukaryotes, for making and repairing DNA, RNA and protien. More surprisingly, they only inhabit environments typical of the extremes of early earth--hot springs, thermal ocean vents, saline lake, or oxygen deficient sediments. A breakpoint on the common evolutionary path, it is evident that the Archaea diverged early in the history of life, establishing thier importance in evolutionary sciences. "Archaea: Ancient Microbes, Extreme Environments, and the Origin of Life" tells this evolving story, furthering our understanding of the microbe commonalities, and providing for evolutionary justification in the use of archaea as mechanistic model systems.
Key Features
* Provides a unique and current summary of common subcellular mechanisms in archaea and eukaryotes
* Emphasizes the use of genomics to provide a biological context for understanding archaea
* Contrasts evolutionary studies on the fossil record with those on molecular phylogeny
* Includes extensive tables, graphs, images, drawings and other illustrations
* Simplifies the interdisciplinary challenge necessary to understand the significance of archaea

This book reviews a novel and exciting field of cellular and molecular biology called epitranscriptomics, which focuses on changes in an organism's cells resulting from the posttranscriptional modification of cellular RNA. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play a crucial role in these posttranscriptional modifications and also support several cellular processes necessary for maintaining RNA homeostasis. Exploring the mechanisms underlying RNA modifications and RBP function is an emerging area of biomedical research, taking the study of gene regulation a step beyond epigenetics. This book reveals that the RNA molecule is not just an information-carrying molecule with some secondary structures. Accordingly, how RNA is modified, regulated, packaged, and controlled is an important aspect. Leading experts address questions such as where the over 170 distinct posttranscriptional RNA modifications are located on the genome, what percentage of mRNAs and noncoding RNAs these modifications include, and how an RNA modification impacts a person's biology. In closing, the book reviews the role of RNA modifications and RBPs in a variety of diseases and their pathogenesis. Addressing some of the most exciting challenges in epitranscriptomics, this book provides a valuable and engaging resource for researchers in academia and industry studying the phenomena of RNA modification.

A one-stop resource that provides the most frequently needed information on the human genome What are the genes that manke-up the human genome, what do the genes do when they are acting properly, and what happens when these genes are damaged? Designed for today's reader who demands quick answers to a wide range of questions, The Human Genome Sourcebook is intended to offer the non-specialist an accessible but detailed guide to the genome. The information it provides is given context: namely, the basic scientific principles of genome research, the new knowledge unearthed or created by this research, and the social and ethical implications of this knowledge. The Human Genome Sourcebook is organized in several sections to simplify the location of pertinent information: an extensive section that comprises an in-depth catalogue of human genes listed according to the roles they play in life; a chapter that relates genetic diseases to the specific genes that cause the disease; a detailed glossary giving readers a deeper understanding of genetic terms and concepts; an overview or roadmap of the physical layout of the genome sections. provides both information as well as the tools necessary to access that information.. Provides in-depth information on the relationships between our genes and all aspects of our daily lives. Addresses health issues that are related to genetic abnormalities

This compendium presents some of the major applications of neutron scattering techniques to problems in biology. It is a record of the papers presented at the Neutrons in Biology Conference, the third in an occasional series held to highlight progress in the field and to provide a focus for future direction. The strength ofthe neutron scattering technique remains principally in the manipula tion of scattering density through hydrogen and deuterium atoms. The development ofad vanced detectors, innovative instrument and beamline components, and sophisticated data acquisition systems through the 1970s and early 1980s provided a sound foundation for the technique. With continued development, some of the exotic and expensive equipment has become affordable by the medium-sized facilities, thereby broadening the user base considerably. Despite problems with the major neutron sources in the late 1980s and early 1990s, some spectacular results have been achieved. Whilst the high and medium flux beam reac tors will continue to make a major impact in the field, the results from the first experi ments, and the planned developments on spallation neutron sources, clearly indicate that the technique has enormous potential.

In Human Cloning a panel of distinguished philosophers, medical ethicists, religious thinkers, and social critics tackle the thorny problems raised by the now real possibility of human cloning. In their wide ranging reviews, the distinguished contributors critically examine the major arguments for and against human cloning, probe the implications of such a procedure for society, and critically evaluate the "Report and Recommendations of the National Bioethics Advisory Commission." The debate includes both religious and secular arguments, as well as an outline of the history of the cloning debate and a discussion of human cloning's impact on our sense of self and our beliefs about the meaning of life.

Genetic linkage maps are an increasingly important tool in both fundamental and applied research, enabling the study and deployment of genes that determine important biological traits. This concise introduction to genetic mapping in species with disomic inheritance enables life science graduate students and researchers to use mapping software to produce more reliable results. After a brief refresher on meiosis and genetic recombination, the steps in the map construction procedure are described, with explanations of the computations involved. The emphasis throughout is on the practical application of the methods described; detailed mathematical formulae are avoided and exercises are included to help readers consolidate their understanding. A chapter on recognising and solving problems provides valuable guidance for dealing with real-life situations. An extensive chapter dedicated to the more complex situation of outbreeding species offers a unique insight into the approach required for many economically important and model species, both plants and animals.

Cells in the developing embryo depend on signals from the extracellular environment to help guide their differentiation. An important mediator in this process is the extracellular matrix -- secreted macromolecules that interact to form large protein networks outside the cell. During development, the extracellular matrix serves to separate adjacent cell groups, participates in establishing morphogenic gradients, and, through its ability to interact directly will cell-surface receptors, provides developmental clocks and positional information. This volume discusses how the extracellular matrix influences fundamental developmental processes and how model systems can be used to elucidate ECM function. The topics addressed range from how ECM influences early development as well as repair processes in the adult that recapitulate developmental pathways. The series Biology of Extracellular Matrix is published in collaboration with the American Society for Matrix Biology.