Donald Michie was an extraordinary character. In a scientific career that spanned nearly 65 years, he was the pioneer in several fields including computing, mouse embryology, transplantation biology, and machine intelligence. Tragically, he died in a car crash in 2007.
Here, Ashwin Srinivasan presents a varied collection of Michie's writings, from Colossus and computers to mouse genetics and politics. Srinivasan, a computer scientist and graduate student of Donald Michie, introduces each section and brings together an engaging collection of lively essays, revealing Michie's remarkable personality and painting a picture of his life and interests.

Corepressors are newly discovered assemblies of proteins that play essential roles in eukaryotic gene regulation. Recent discoveries about corepressors have provided new insights into the molecular basis of gene regulation, and have established surprising connections between the mechanisms of action of a wide variety of transcriptional regulators. The reviews in this volume critically discuss the nature, mechanisms of action, and physiological roles of corepressors in a diverse assortment of biological systems. Both basic and clinical investigators will be able to find relevant information. The comprehensive nature of the compilation, and the breadth of the reviews, are intended to provide the reader with an excellent introduction to the newly emergent and rapidly-growing field of corepressor research. A valuable and detailed reference guide.

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases, Volume 147 in the Advances in Cancer Research series, provides invaluable information on the exciting and fast-moving field of cancer research in the area of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs) in the context of major basic science and translational advances, their importance in the development of a large number of anti-cancer drugs over the decades, and a peek into postulated advances in the coming decades for a number of RTK. Chapters in this new release are contributed by a group of International leading scientists who have a rich history in this field.

This book aims to present state-of-the-art analytical methods from statistics and data mining for the analysis of high-throughput data from genomics and proteomics. Research and development in genomics and proteomics depend on the analysis and interpretation of large amounts of data generated by high-throughput techniques. To exploit data obtained from experimental and observational studies, life scientists need to understand the analytical techniques and methods from statistics and data mining. These techniques are not easily accessible to life scientists working on genomics and proteomics problems, as the available material is presented from a highly mathematical perspective, favoring formal rigor over conceptual clarity and assessment of practical relevance. This book addresses these issues by adopting an approach focusing on concepts and applications.

Advances in Genetics, Volume 105, provides the latest information on the rapidly evolving field of genetics, presenting new medical breakthroughs that are occurring as a result of advances in our knowledge of the topic. The book continually publishes important reviews of the broadest interest to geneticists and their colleagues in affiliated disciplines, critically analyzing future directions.

Animal life, now and over the past half billion years, is incredibly diverse. Describing and understanding the evolution of this diversity of body plans - from vertebrates such as humans and fish to the numerous invertebrate groups including sponges, insects, molluscs, and the many groups of worms - is a major goal of evolutionary biology. In this book, a group of leading researchers adopt a modern, integrated approach to describe how current molecular genetic techniques and disciplines as diverse as palaeontology, embryology, and genomics have been combined, resulting in a dramatic renaissance in the study of animal evolution.
The last decade has seen growing interest in evolutionary biology fuelled by a wealth of data from molecular biology. Modern phylogenies integrating evidence from molecules, embryological data, and morphology of living and fossil taxa provide a wide consensus of the major branching patterns of the tree of life; moreover, the links between phenotype and genotype are increasingly well understood. This has resulted in a reliable tree of relationships that has been widely accepted and has spawned numerous new and exciting questions that require a reassessment of the origins and radiation of animal life. The focus of this volume is at the level of major animal groups, the morphological innovations that define them, and the mechanisms of change to their embryology that have resulted in their evolution. Current research themes and future prospects are highlighted including phylogeny reconstruction, comparative developmental biology, the value of different sources of data and the importance of fossils, homology assessment, character evolution, phylogeny of major groups of animals, and genome evolution. These topics are integrated in the light of a 'new animal phylogeny', to provide fresh insights into the patterns and processes of animal evolution.
Animal Evolution provides a timely and comprehensive statement of progress in the field for academic researchers requiring an authoritative, balanced and up-to-date overview of the topic. It is also intended for both upper level undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in animal evolution, molecular phylogenetics, evo-devo, comparative genomics and associated disciplines.

Covers research on gene drives in Anopheline mosquitoes for malaria control, including aspects from field trials, modelling, risk assessment, regulatory processes, and ethical/political considerations Includes contributions from international leaders in the field Illustrated throughout with figures and references

This book summarizes all different fields of cotton fiber, including genetics, fiber chemistry, soft materials, textile, and fashion engineering. It also contains some new applications such as biomaterials, nanocoated smart fabrics, and functional textiles. Moreover, the significant improvement recently in gene modification and gene technology is introduced. This book discusses all these aspects in a more straightforward way, and new illustrations will help readers to understand the contents. It is intended for undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in cotton science and processing technologies, researchers investigating the updated applications of cotton in various fields as well as industrialists who want to have a quick review of the cotton and its different stages.

RNA viruses provide unique insights into the patterns and processes of evolutionary change in real time. The study of viral evolution is especially topical given the growing awareness that emerging and re-emerging diseases (most of which are caused by RNA viruses) represent a major threat to public health. However, while the study of viral evolution has developed rapidly in the last 30 years, relatively little attention has been directed toward linking work on the mechanisms of viral evolution within cells or individual hosts, to the epidemiological outcomes of these processes. This novel book fills this gap by considering the patterns and processes of viral evolution across their entire range of spatial and temporal scales. The Evolution and Emergence of RNA Viruses provides a comprehensive overview of RNA virus evolution, with a particular focus on genomic and phylogenetic approaches. This is the first book to link mechanisms of viral evolution with disease dynamics, using high-profile examples in emergence and evolution such as influenza, HIV, dengue fever, and rabies. It also reveals the underlying evolutionary processes by which emerging viruses cross species boundaries and spread in new hosts.

Chickpea: Crop Wild Relatives for Enhancing Genetic Gains explores aspects related to critical analysis on factors responsible for narrow genetic base of chickpea productions including domestication bottleneck, the level of diversity present in different cultivated and wild species, the uniqueness and usefulness of potential gene sources available and maintained in production systems across the globe, the level of genetic erosion both at landrace and species level over time and space etc. Despite considerable international investment in conventional breeding, production of chickpea has not yet been significantly improved beyond that achieved through its normal single domestication event and high self-pollination rate. Total annual pulse production of ~12 million tons (FAO 2016) is far below actual potential. Susceptibility to both biotic and abiotic stresses have created a production level bottleneck whose solution possibly lies in the use of crop wild relatives and other genetic traits cultivated by tailoring novel germplasm. Presenting options for widening the genetic base of chickpea cultivars by introgression of diverse genes available in distantly related wild Cicer taxa, thus expanding the genetic base and maximize genetic gains from the selection, it is necessary to accumulate other complimentary alleles from CWRs. This review will focus on present status of gene pool and species distribution, germplasm conservation, characterization and evaluation, problems associated with crop production, sources of target traits available in wild species, status of trait introgression in synthesizing new gene pool of chickpea along with progress made in chickpea genomics. An edited book with contributions from leading scientists, this information will guide and inform chickpea breeders, PGR researchers and crop biologists across the world.

Microbial Endophytes: Functional Biology and Applications focuses on endophytic bacteria and fungi, including information on foundational endophytes and the latest advances in relevant genomics, proteomics and nanotechnological aspects. The book provides insights into the molecular aspects of plant endophytes and their interactions and applications, also exploring the potential commercialization of endophytic microorganisms and their use as bio fertilizers, in biocontrol, and as bioactive compounds for other sustainable applications. Coverage of important and emerging legal considerations relevant to those working to implement these important bacteria in production processes is also included.

This book reviews the state-of-the-art in stem-cell-based therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, and highlights advances in both animal models and clinical trials. It comprehensively discusses most neurodegenerative diseases, including such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases, amyotrophic sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and retinal degeneration, in which stem cells could potentially be used for therapy in the future. It also addresses the challenges and problems relating to the translation of stem-cell-based therapies into treatments. As such, the book will appeal to research scientists, physicians, graduate students, and medical professionals in the field of stem cells, neuroscience, neurology, neurorestoratology and major neurological disorders.

This volume looks at the latest technologies and methods--combined with new genetic tools available in animal models--used in this constantly evolving field. The chapters in this book are organized into three sections: Section one covers muscle stem cells and progenitor cells; Section Two discusses animal models for muscle stem cells and regeneration; and Section Three explores bioinformatics and imaging analysis for muscle stem cells. 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 comprehensive, Skeletal Muscle Stem Cells and Regeneration: Methods and Protocols is a valuable tool for all researchers looking to expand their knowledge on skeletal muscle growth, repair, degeneration, aging, and regenerative medicine.

Much research has focused on the basic cellular and molecular biological aspects of stem cells. Much of this research has been fueled by their potential for use in regenerative medicine applications, which has in turn spurred growing numbers of translational and clinical studies. However, more work is needed if the potential is to be realized for improvement of the lives and well-being of patients with numerous diseases and conditions.This book series 'Cell Biology and Translational Medicine (CBTMED)' as part of SpringerNature's longstanding and very successful Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology book series, has the goal to accelerate advances by timely information exchange. Emerging areas of regenerative medicine and translational aspects of stem cells are covered in each volume. Outstanding researchers are recruited to highlight developments and remaining challenges in both the basic research and clinical arenas. This current book is the thirteenth volume of a continuing series.

Mammalian cells have evolved a complex multicomponent machinery that enables them to sense and respond to a wide variety of potentially toxic agents present in their environment. These stress responses are often associated with an increased cellular capacity to tolerate normally lethal levels of an insult. The realization that the mammalian stress response may be intimately linked with many human diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, ischemia, fever, infection, and cancer, has led to an explosion of interest in this research area. Stress Response: Methods and Protocols brings together a diverse array of practical methodologies that may be employed to address various aspects of the response of mammalian cells to environmental stress. The p- tocols are carefully described by authors who have both devised and succe- fully employed them, and they represent a mixture not only of well-established techniques, but also new technologies at the leading edge of research. The areas covered include the detection and assay of stress-induced damage, the acti- tion of signal transduction pathways, stress-inducible gene expression, and stress protein function. Although no volume of this size can be comprehensive and the topics covered reflect a personal choice, it is hoped that it will prove of subst- tial interest and use to a wide range of research workers in the field.

Learning and Memory provides a balanced review of the core methods and the latest research on animal learning and human memory. Topical coverage ranges from the basic and central processes of learning, including classical and instrumental conditioning and encoding and storage in long-term memory, to topics not traditionally covered, such as spatial learning, motor skills, and implicit memory. The general rules of learning are reviewed along with the exceptions, limitations, and best applications of these rules. Alternative approaches to learning and memory, including cognitive, neuroscientific, functional, and behavioral, are also discussed. Individual differences in age, gender, learning abilities, and social and cultural background are explored throughout the text and presented in a dedicated chapter. The relevance of basic principles is highlighted throughout the text with everyday examples that ignite reader interest in addition to more traditional examples from human and animal laboratory studies. Research examples are drawn from education, neuropsychology, psychiatry, nursing, and ecological (or everyday) memory. Each chapter begins with an outline and concludes with a detailed summary. Applications and extensions are showcased in text boxes as well as in distinct applications sections in every chapter, and review and recapitulation sections are interspersed throughout the chapters.

This book describes how the genome sequence contributes to our understanding of allopolyploidisation and the genome evolution, genetic diversity, complex trait regulation and knowledge-based breeding of this important crop. Numerous examples demonstrate how widespread homoeologous genome rearrangements and exchanges have moulded structural genome diversity following a severe polyploidy bottleneck. The allopolyploid crop species Brassica napus has the most highly duplicated plant genome to be assembled to date, with the largest number of annotated genes. Examples are provided for use of the genome sequence to identify and capture diversity for important agronomic traits, including seed quality and disease resistance. The increased potential for detailed gene discovery using high-density genetic mapping, quantitative genetics and transcriptomic analyses is described in the context of genome availability and illustrated with recent examples. Intimate knowledge of the highly-duplicated gene space, on the one hand, and the repeat landscape on the other, particularly in comparison to the two diploid progenitor genomes, provide a fundamental basis for new insights into the regulatory mechanisms that are coupled with selection for polyploid success and crop evolution.

Protein Interactions as Targets in Drug Discovery, Volume 121, is dedicated to the design of therapeutics, both experimental and computational, that target protein interactions. Chapters in this new release include Trends in structure based drug design with protein targets, From fragment- to peptide-protein interaction: addressing the structural basis of binding using Supervised Molecular Dynamics (SuMD), Protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions: identification of potential inhibitors through computational analysis, Aromatic-aromatic interactions in protein-drug and protein-protein interactions, Role of protein-protein interaction in allosteric drug design within the human methyltransferome, and much more.

From the cells of aquatic algae to the majestic redwoods towering 100 metres above the California coast, the history of plant evolution has been one of increasing complexity. The underlying rationale for this book is to answer the question: How, when land plant embryos at a few-celled stage are essentially comparable, do plants achieve such radically different adult phenotypes, from mosses to tree-ferns, and grasses to oak trees?
The Molecular Organography of Plants chronicles the origin, and importance, of the complex plant organs that have allowed plants to shape the earth's biosphere, and seeks to explain why and how the genetic mechanisms governing these developmental trajectories have diverged so much. It provides a detailed account of the organs produced by land plants (stems, roots, leaves, seeds, flowers) into which is incorporated what is rapidly becoming known of the molecular mechanisms responsible. Plant organs are therefore discussed in the context of the evolution of development ("evo-devo"), and their basis in molecular developmental genetics is described. The result is a novel synthesis of classical morphology and molecular developmental biology that takes a broad look at the evolution of plant form.

This volume provides readers with wide-ranging coverage of CRISPR systems and their applications in various plant species. The chapters in this book discuss topics such as plant DNA repair and genome editing; analysis of CRISPR-induced mutations; multiplexed CRISPR/Cas9 systems; CRISPR-Cas12a (Cpf1) editing systems; and non-agrobacterium based CRISPR delivery systems. 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. Comprehensive and thorough, Plant Genome Editing with CRISPR Systems: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for any researcher interested in learning about and using CRISPR systems in plants.

The purpose of this primer is to provide students, teachers as well as academic and industry researchers with a succinct account of the chemical and structural features of chromatin and the role that these features play in the maintenance and function of the genetic material.It is universally accepted that DNA is the carrier of the genetic information that is transmitted from parents to their offspring and that it is responsible for the anatomy, physiology and behavior of all individuals throughout development and adult life. Yet, how this information is retrieved and used selectively to allow a fertilized egg to become an organism made up of myriads of different cells and tissues is not as evident and easily understood.Dr Lucchesi, an internationally known researcher and teacher, provides an easily opened window into the role that the complex of proteins and nucleic acids that are associated with the DNA play in mediating gene expression and in responding to environmental circumstances.

Reticulate Evolution and Humans is the first book to describe the effect of genetic exchange on the origin and evolution of our own species as well as those species with which we have and continue to interact closely, both evolutionarily and culturally. After demonstrating how genetic exchange has affected H. Sapiens, the book goes on to describe how the same processes have structured the evolution of organisms on which the human species depends for shelter, sustenance and companionship. It also considers the "dark-side" of gene transfer as it pertains to the evolution and adaptation of human disease vectors and diseases.
The development of the central thesis of this book - that reticulate evolution via introgressive hybridization and lateral gene transfer has been a pervasive factor in the evolution and cultural development of H. sapiens, its ancestors, sister taxa and associated organisms - reveals the extent of these processes across the widest of taxonomic, temporal and spatial bounds. We cannot escape the conclusion that we are constantly fed, entertained, sheltered, attacked and killed by organisms that possess mosaic genomes reflective of widespread genetic exchange during evolutionary diversification.

The mouse is a perfect model organism to study mammalian, and thus indirectly also human, embryology. Most scientific achievements that have had an important impact on the understanding of basic mechanisms governing embryo development in humans, originated from mouse embryology. Stem cell research, which now offers the promise of regenerative medicine, began with the isolation and culture of mouse embryonic stem cells by Martin Evans (who received the Nobel Prize in medicine in 2007 for this achievement) and Matthew Kaufman.

This book provides an overview of mouse development, spanning from oocytes before fertilization to the state-of-the-art description of embryonic and adult stem cells. The chapters, written by the leading specialists in the field, deal with the most recent discoveries in this extremely fast-developing area of research.

This second volume provides new and updated methods detailing advancements in CRISPR-Cas technical protocols. Chapters guide readers through protocols on prime editing, base editing, multiplex editing, editing in cell-free extract, in silico analysis of gRNA secondary structure and CRISPR-diagnosis. Authoritative and cutting-edge, CRISPR-Cas Methods, Volume 2 aims to serves as a laboratory manual providing scientists with a holistic view of CRISPR-Cas methodologies and its practical application for the editing of crop plants, cell lines, nematode and microorganism. The chapter "CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing in human induced pluripotent stem cells" is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

GPCR Signaling in Cancer, Volume 145, the latest release in the Advances in Cancer Research series, highlights recent developments in the area of GPCRs and cancer biology. Chapters included in this volume cover several GPCRs and their downstream effectors as case examples to highlight their fundamental understanding and therapeutic potential. Specific chapters address the Role of GRKs and beta-arrestins in cancer, Atypical GPCRs in cancer, the Role of a chemokine receptor (CCR) 5 in cancer, Targeting G protein-coupled receptors for therapeutics in cancer, Emerging GPCR signaling pathways in cancer, and more. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute a large family of cell surface receptors which are involved in nearly every cellular and physiological event. These receptors can recognize a broad array of ligands and they are targeted by nearly one third of the currently prescribed drugs including anti-cancer therapeutics.