This book covers trends in modern biotechnology. All aspects of this interdisciplinary technology, where knowledge, methods and expertise are required from chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, chemical engineering and computer science, are treated. More information as well as the electronic version is available at springer.com.

Molecular Methods of Plant Analysis Concept of the Series The powerful recombinant DNA technology and related developments have had an enormous impact on molecular biology. Any treatment of plant analy sis must make use of these new methods. Developments have been so fast and the methods so powerful that the editors of Modern Methods of Plant Analy sis have now decided to rename the series Molecular Methods of Plant Analy sis. This will not change the general aims of the series, but best describes the thrust and content of the series as we go forward into the new millennium. This does not me an that all chapters apriori deal only with the methods of molecular biology, but rather that these methods are to be found in many chapters together with the more traditional methods of analysis which have seen re cent advances. The numbering of the volumes of the series therefore continues on from 20, which is the most recently published volume under the title Modern Methods of Plant Analysis."

Louis-Marie Houdebine and Jianglin Fan The study of biological functions of proteins and their possible roles in the pathogenesis of human diseases requires more and more relevant animal m- els. Although mice including genetically modified mice offer many possibilities, other non-murine species are absolutely required in some circumstances. Rabbit is one of these species, which has been widely used in biomedical studies. This animal is genetically and physiologically closer to humans including cardiov- cular system and metabolism characteristics. Rabbit is thus more appropriate than mice to study some diseases such as atherosclerosis and lipid metabolism. Because of its larger size, surgery manipulation, bleeding, and turn-over studies are much easier performed in rabbits than in mice. Furthermore, transgenic rabbits can be produced using microinjection and other methods such as lentiviral v- tors. Cloning in rabbits has been proved possible, even though still laborious and time-consuming. Hopefully, functional rabbit ES cell lines will be available in the coming years. Gene deletion or knock-out in rabbits will then become possible.

Cereals make an important component of daily diet of a major section of human population, so that their survival mainly depends on the cereal grain production, which should match the burgeoning human population. Due to painstaking efforts of plant breeders and geneticists, at the global level, cereal production in the past witnessed a steady growth. However, the cereal production in the past has been achieved through the use of high yielding varieties, which have a heavy demand of inputs in the form of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides/pesticides, leading to environmental degradation. In view of this, while increasing cereal production, one also needs to keep in mind that agronomic practices used for realizing high productivity do not adversely affect the environment. Improvement in cereal production in the past was also achieved through the use of alien genetic variation available in the wild relatives of these cereals, so that conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources is another important area, which is currently receiving the attention of plant breeders. The work leading to increased cereal production in the past received strong support from basic research on understanding the cereal genomes, which need to be manipulated to yield more from low inputs without any adverse effects as above. Through these basic studies, it also became fairly apparent that the genomes of all cereals are related and were derived from the same lineage, million of years ago.

During the 1970s and 1980s, the technique of mutation breeding made a substantial, although often poorly recognized, contribution to crop improvement. Later, as the techniques of molecular biology become more widely adopted by plant breeders, this comprehensive summary sets mutation breeding in that context and relates it to other breeding techniques, including those most recently developed. The book opens with a general introduction to plant breeding and a review of the development of mutation breeding, including consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of the technique. Chapters covering the underlying theory are followed by sections which consider more practical aspects such as in vitro techniques, techniques used for seed propagated crops and techniques used for vegetatively propagated crops. Case studies and examples are included throughout and a list of almost 1400 references provides a valuable resource for those new to the field.

Parasitic, bacterial and viral agents continue to challenge the welfare of humans, livestock, wild life and plants worldwide. The public health impact and financial consequences of these diseases are particularly hard on the already overburdened economies of developing countries especially in the tropics. Many of these disease agents utilize insect hosts (vectors) to achieve their transmission to mammals. In the past, these diseases were largely controlled by insecticide-based vector reduction strategies. Now, many of these diseases have reemerged in the tropics, recolonizing their previous range, and expanding into new territories previously not considered to be endemic. Habitat change, irrigation practices, atmospheric and climate change, insecticide and drug resistance as well as increases in global tourism, human traffic and commercial activities, have driven the reemergence and spread of vector borne diseases. While these diseases can be controlled through interventions aimed at both their vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, no effective vaccines exist, and only limited therapeutic prospects are available for their control in mammalian hosts. Molecular technologies such as transgenesis, which is the subject of this book, stand to increase the toolbox and benefit disease management strategies.

Written by leading international experts in the field of plant metabolic engineering, this book discusses how the technology can be applied. Applications resulting from metabolic engineering are expected to play a very important role in the future of plant breeding: for example, in the fields of improved resistance or improved traits concerning health promoting constituents, as well as in the production of fine chemicals such as medicines, flavors and fragrances.

In the last few decades, significant advancements in the biology and engineering of stem cells have enabled progress in their clinical application to revascularization therapies. Some strategies involve the mobilization of endogenous stem cell populations, and others employ cell transplantation. However, both techniques have benefited from multidisciplinary efforts to create biomaterials and other biomedical tools that can improve and control the fate of stem cells, and advance our understanding of them. Stem Cells and Revascularization Therapies focuses on the fundamentals and applied studies in stem cell biology, and provides perspectives associated with the development of revascularization strategies. To help readers understand the multidisciplinary issues associated with this topic, this book has been divided into four sections: Section 1: Explores how to define, isolate, and characterize various stem and progenitor cell populations for neovascularization Section 2: Summarizes some especially useful model systems and approaches used to regulate angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, and arteriogenesis, and explores their impact on formation of functional vessels in vivo Section 3: Focuses on stem cell homing to sites of injury and inflammation, as well as strategies to exploit this mobilization phenomenon Section 4: Covers stem cell transplantation topics, including recreating features of endogenous stem cell niches to maintain the multipotency of transplanted cells and combinatorial delivery of cells and molecular factors Intended to inspire new contributions to improve the therapeutic efficacy, Stem Cells and Revascularization Therapies outlines emergent findings and challenges regarding the use of stem cells in revascularization therapies. Overcoming the significant

During the past decade, there has been tremendous progress in maize biotechnology. This volume provides an overview of our current knowledge of maize molecular genetics, how it is being used to improve the crop, and future possibilities for crop enhancement. Several chapters deal with genetically engineered traits that are currently, or soon will be, in commercial production. Technical approaches for introducing novel genes into the maize genome, the regeneration of plants from transformed cells, and the creation of transgenic lines for field production are covered. Further, the authors describe how molecular genetic techniques are being used to identify genes and characterize their function, and how these procedures are utilized to develop elite maize germplasm. Moreover, molecular biology and physiological studies of corn as a basis for the improvement of its nutritional and food-making properties are included. Finally, the growing use of corn as biomass for energy production is discussed.

It is now well established that all living systems emit a weak but permanent photon flux in the visible and ultraviolet range. This biophoton emission is correlated with many, if not all, biological and physiological functions. There are indications of a hitherto-overlooked information channel within the living system. Biophotons may trigger chemical reactivity in cells, growth control, differentiation and intercellular communication, i.e. biological rhythms. Biophotonics is becoming one of the most fashionable fields in modern science and biotechnology.

Biophotonics and Coherent Systems in Biology an account of the original papers presented by the participants of the 3rd Alexander Gurwitsch Conference on the Biophotonics and Coherent Systems in Biology, Biophysics and Biotechnology which took place in Tauric University (Crimea, Ukraine) September 27 October 1, 2004. "

For most people, the global war over genetically modified foods is a distant and confusing one. The battles are conducted in the mystifying language of genetics.

A handful of corporate "life science" giants, such as Monsanto, are pitted against a worldwide network of anticorporate ecowarriors like Greenpeace. And yet the possible benefits of biotech agriculture to our food supply are too vital to be left to either partisan.

The companies claim to be leading a new agricultural revolution that will save the world with crops modified to survive frost, drought, pests, and plague. The greens warn that "playing God" with plant genes is dangerous. It could create new allergies, upset ecosystems, destroy biodiversity, and produce uncontrollable mutations. Worst of all, the antibiotech forces say, a single food conglomerate could end up telling us what to eat.

In "Food, Inc.," acclaimed journalist Peter Pringle shows how both sides in this overheated conflict have made false promises, engaged in propaganda science, and indulged in fear-mongering. In this urgent dispatch, he suggests that a fertile partnership between consumers, corporations, scientists, and farmers could still allow the biotech harvest to reach its full potential in helping to overcome the problem of world hunger, providing nutritious food and keeping the environment healthy.

The rapid expansion of synthetic biology is due to the design and construction of synthetic gene networks that have opened many new avenues in fundamental and applied research. Synthetic Gene Networks: Methods and Protocols provides the necessary information to design and construct synthetic gene networks in different host backgrounds. Divided into four convenient sections, this volume focuses on design concepts to devise synthetic gene networks and how mathematical models can be applied to the predictable engineering of desired network features. The volume continues by highlighting the construction and validation of biologic tools, describing strategies to optimize and streamline the host cell for optimized network performance, and covering how optimally designed gene networks can be implemented in a large variety of host cells ranging from bacteria over yeast and insect cells to plant and mammalian cell culture. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) 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, Synthetic Gene Networks: Methods and Protocols serves as an invaluable resource for established biologists, engineers, and computer scientists or novices just entering into the rapidly growing field of synthetic biology

In recent decades, livestock producers have moved away from open grazing for a number of reasons, none having to do with the health of consumers. Genetic Resources, Chromosome Engineering, and Crop Improvement: Forage Crops demonstrates how state-of-the-art technology can encourage the raising of livestock in open pastures where they can be fed grasses grown in nature rather than meals enriched with hormones and other by-products. The volume brings together the world's leading innovators in crop science who furnish information on the availability of germplasm resources that breeders can exploit for the improvement of major forage crop varieties including alfalfa, wheatgrass and wildrye grasses, Bahiagrass, birdsfoot trefoil, clover, Bermudagrass, and ryegrass. An introductory chapter outlines the cytogenetic architecture of forage crops, describes the principles and strategies of cytogenetic and breeding manipulations, and summarizes landmark research. Ensuing chapters provide a comprehensive account of each crop: its origin; wild relatives; exploitation of genetic resources in the primary, secondary, and tertiary, and, where feasible, quarternary gene pools through breeding and cytogenetic manipulation; and genetic enrichment using the tools of molecular genetics and biotechnology. . Certain to become the standard reference, this volume- Discusses taxonomy, genomic and chromosomal constitution, and the geographical distribution Stresses the role of germplasm exploration, maintenance, and assimilation for increasing yield Presents practical improvement methodologies including conventional, cytogenetic, mutation, molecular, cell and tissue cultures, and genetic transformation In addition to serving as fodder, forage crops provide ground cover, aid in abetting erosions, yield a number of pharmaceuti

Reshaping Life is an eminently authoritative and lucid description of modern molecular biology and genetics, and the ethical implications of genetic engineering. Now in its third edition, it is fully revised and updated, taking advantage of a decade of progress in genetics and biotechnology. It offers a concise working knowledge of DNA science and of those aspects of cell biology needed to understand such issues as animal cloning, genetically modified food, and gene therapy. It examines the debates on the sociological and ethical issues surrounding modern technology, laying out the issues for the reader, while urging a rational approach.

Reshaping Life is an eminently authoritative and lucid description of modern molecular biology and genetics, and the ethical implications of genetic engineering. Now in its third edition, it is fully revised and updated, taking advantage of a decade of progress in genetics and biotechnology. It offers a concise working knowledge of DNA science and of those aspects of cell biology needed to understand such issues as animal cloning, genetically modified food, and gene therapy. It examines the debates on the sociological and ethical issues surrounding modern technology, laying out the issues for the reader, while urging a rational approach.

Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring In this exploration of the concept of the gene, Jonathan Slack looks at the discovery, nature, and role of genes in both evolution and development. By explaining the nature of genetic variation in the human population, how hereditary factors were identified as molecules of DNA, and how certain specific mutations can lead to disease, Slack highlights how DNA variants are used to trace human ancestry and migration, and can also be used by forensic scientists to identify individuals in crime. He also explores issues such as the role of genetic heritability and IQ as well as the changes that occur in the genes of populations during evolution. An ideal guide for anyone curious about what genes are and how genetics can be put to use, this Very Short Introduction demonstrates the ways in which the gene concept has been understood and used by molecular biologists, population biologists, and social scientists around the world. This second edition has been fully updated and contains new sections on the CRISPR method for targeted genetic modification, on DNA profiling, and developments in our understanding of human ancestry using ancient DNA. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Genetic Engineering: Principles and Methods, published by Springer since 1979, presents state-of-the-art discussions in modern genetics and genetic engineering. This focus affirms a commitment to publish important reviews of the broadest interest to geneticists and their colleagues in affiliated disciplines. Recent volumes have covered gene therapy research, genetic mapping, plant science and technology, transport protein biochemistry, and viral vectors in gene therapy, among other topics.

Cancer and Noncoding RNAs offers an in-depth exploration of noncoding RNAs and their role in epigenetic regulation of complex human disease, most notably cancer. In addition to examining microRNAs, this volume provides a unique evaluation of more recently profiled noncoding RNAs now implicated in carcinogenesis, including lncRNAs, piRNAs, circRNAs, and tRNAs, identifying differences in function between these noncoding RNAs and how they interact with the rest of the epigenome. A broad range of chapters from experts in the field detail epigenetic regulation of various cancer types, along with recent next generation sequencing technologies, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and bioinformatics approaches. This book will help researchers in genomic medicine and cancer biology better understand the role of noncoding RNAs in epigenetics, aiding in the development of useful biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and new RNA-based disease therapies.

There is an urgent need for guidelines for monitoring of genetically modified higher plants, GMHP. Biotech crops are now cultivated in large scale in North America and elsewhere. In Europe, new genetically modified (GM) products will probably be placed on the market soon and made available of any negative ef for cultivation in the field. Monitoring and surveillance programs for detection fects to the environment must be designed and ready when these crops are released. This also corre sponds to the current intentions made by the European Commission to include monitoring in current biotechnology regulation. Monitoring of changes in biological systems is different from other types of environmental monitoring, such as monitoring fate of chemical pollutants, by focusing primarily on organism survival and organism interactions instead of physical and chemical parameters. The difficulties involved in monitoring biological systems are great, due to the complex interactions between organisms and the variability in responses. Problems concerning spatial and temporal pa rameter variation increase the difficulties, but may be remedied somewhat by the use of "baselines." These and many other questions are discussed in the present book with the aim of presenting practi cal solutions to the needs of GMHP monitoring. A project was initiated in 1998 to produce a book with guidelines for monitoring and surveillance of GMHP. In two earlier books, compilations of current test methods for risk assessment of GMHP were presented (Kjellsson & Simonsen 1994, Kjellsson et al. 1997)."

Biogenetic resources - the critical biological and chemical materials that underpin so much of medicine, both modern and traditional, agriculture, and wider economic activity in so many fields - are at the centre of heated debate regarding their use, development, and ownership, and the issues of ethics and equity that impinge on all of these factors. This book is a comprehensive examination of the key issues, institutions and ideologies in this area, presenting definitions and explanations of the fundamentals of intellectual property rights (IPRs), biogenetic resources and traditional knowledge. It uses the insights from this to build a picture of how these factors interact in practice, bringing to the surface issues such as: the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, benefit sharing from the commercial use of biodiversity, biotechnological innovation and the transfer of technology, agriculture, food security, rural development, health and international justice. Part 1 describes the relevant international IPR laws, highlights the extent to which modern commerce depends on such resources, and traces the way in which modern IPR law has evolved to accommodate this dependence. Part 2 shows how stronger IPR protection in the area of life science innovation has given rise to controversies such as 'biopiracy', 'terminator' genes and genetic uniformity. Part 3 focuses on traditional knowledge, its nature, its importance, and the applicability of IPR-style protection. Part 4 covers the international negotiation and policy-making of the WTO, WIPO and CBD and the legislative initiatives of national governments of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Finally, Part 5 focuses on two developing country case studies - of India and Kenya - assessing whether they will be able to gain economic benefit from development of their natural resources within the current regulatory system and whether this will encourage the conservation and sustainable use of the resource base. With its multidisciplinary approach and breadth of coverage, this book will appeal both to those new to the subject and to those with professional and specialist interest, including students, academics, legal practitioners, government policy-makers and the private sector.

The possibility that human beings may soon be cloned has generated enormous anxiety and fueled a vigorous debate about the ethics of contemporary science. Unfortunately, much of this debate about cloning has treated cloning as singular and revolutionary. The essays in Cloning and the Future of Human Embryo Research place debates about cloning in the context of reproductive technology and human embryo research. Although novel, cloning is really just the next step in a series of reproductive interventions that began with in vitro fertilization in 1978. Cloning, embryo research, and reproductive technology must therefore be discussed together in order to be understood. The authors of this volume bring these topics together by examining the status of preimplantation embryos, debates about cloning and embryo research, and the formulation of public policy. The book is distinctive in framing cloning as inextricably tied to embryo research and in offering both secular and religious perspectives on cloning and embryo research.

Advances in genetic technology in general and medical genetics in particular will enable us to intervene in the process of human biological development which extends from zygotes and embryos to people. This will allow us to control to a great extent the identities and the length and quality of the lives of people who already exist, as well as those we bring into existence in the near and distant future. "Genes and Future People" explores two general philosophical questions, one metaphysical, the other moral: (1) How do genes, and different forms of genetic intervention (gene therapy, genetic enhancement, presymptomatic genetic testing of adults, genetic testing of preimplantation embryos), affect the identities of the people who already exist and those we bring into existence? and (2) How do these interventions benefit or harm the people we cause to exist in the near future and those who will exist in the distant future by satisfying or defeating their interest in having reasonably long and disease-free lives?"Genes and Future People" begins by explaining the connection between genes and disease, placing genetic within a framework of evolutionary biology. It then discusses such topics as how genes and genetic intervention influence personal identity, what genetic testing of individuals and the knowledge resulting from it entails about responsibility to others who may be at risk, as well as how gene therapy and genetic enhancement can affect the identities of people and benefit or harm them. Furthermore, it discusses various moral aspects of cloning human beings and body parts. Finally, it explores the metaphysical and moral implications of genetic manipulation of the mechanisms of aging to extend the human life span.The aim "Genes and Future People" is to move philosophers, bioethicists, and readers in general to reflect on the extent to which genes determine whether we are healthy or diseased, our identities as persons, the quality of our lives, and our moral obligations to future generations of people.

Each plant species has its own unique passage that is affected by its gene pool, dispersal ability, interactions with competitors and pests, and the habitats and climactic conditions to which it is exposed. This book will explore plant species as dynamic entities within this passage, following the four stages of plant species life that normally occur. Those four stages can be identified as birth, expansion, differentiation and loss of cohesion, and decline/extinction. Each chapter focuses on part of the speciation process and examines it closely in the light of exploring the species passage from birth to death.

Human beings have on the order of 100,000 different genes encoding the molecules needed to build and operate the human body; defects in any one of them can lead to disastrous consequences. There are an estimated 4,000 genetic diseases, which can be every bit as devastating as the diseases caused by bacteria or viruses, and in one way they are much worse: we pass them on to our children, generation after generation after generation. The New Healers is the story of the devastation these diseases cause, and the scientific researchers and doctors who struggle to combat them. Science and medicine have provided us with clues to the treatment of a few genetic diseases, although by their very nature they have never been considered curable. But, as William R. Clark shows, that is about to change through one of the most profound revolutions in modern medicine: gene therapy, a branch of the new field of molecular medicine. Clark takes us to the laboratories which have been able to isolate human genes, to make billions of copies of them, and to reintroduce healthy genes into unfortunate individuals who have inherited damaged or functionless genes. He also shows us how this same technology, turned around on itself, can also be used to deliberately introduce "bad" genes to attack and destroy unwanted cells, such as cancer cells or those infected with the AIDS virus. Molecular medicine will be a major part of our lives in the new millennium. The New Healers outlines the powerful and compelling logic behind molecular medicine: that everything we know about molecular biology tells us that it can work, and that it will work. Clark introduces us to the scientists working now to map out the entire human genome, easily the medical equivalent of going to the moon, taking human beings to a completely new level of understanding of our biological selves. Clark also helps us to begin thinking about how we will manage that understanding, and how we will use the information we gain. The New Healers is a clear and compelling introduction to this important new frontier of human medicine, outlining for readers all the basic elements of molecular biology necessary to understand molecular medicine, and illustrating the fascinating stories of those doctors and patients already a part of this exciting future -- a future as full of promise as anything we have witnessed in this past century of remarkable progress.

This text provides an investigation into how the Human Genome Project (HGP) is likely to affect future generations. It examines the implications these effects hold for evaluating HGP and other research efforts like it.