This detailed volume collects commonly used and cutting-edge methods to analyze alternative splicing, a key step in gene regulation. After an introduction of the alternative splicing mechanism and its targeting for therapeutic strategies, the book continues with techniques for analyzing alternative splicing profiles in complex biological systems, visualizing and localizing alternative spliced transcripts with cellular and sub-cellular resolution, probing regulators of alternative splicing, as well as assessing the functional consequences of alternative splicing. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introduction to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, reproducible protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Alternative Splicing: Methods and Protocols serves as an ideal guide for both RNA aficionados that want to implement novel approaches in their labs and novices undertaking alternative splicing projects.

Longlisted for the National Book Award for Nonfiction and A New York Times Notable Book of 2018. Our understanding of the 'tree of life', with powerful implications for human genetics, human health and our own human nature, has recently completely changed. This book is about a new method of telling the story of life on earth - through molecular phylogenetics. It involves a fairly simple method - the reading of the deep history of life by looking at the variation in protein molecules found in living organisms. For instance, we now know that roughly eight per cent of the human genome arrived not through traditional inheritance from directly ancestral forms, but sideways by viral infection. In The Tangled Tree, acclaimed science writer David Quammen chronicles these discoveries through the lives of the researchers who made them - such as Carl Woese, the most important little-known biologist of the twentieth century; Lynn Margulis, the notorious maverick whose wild ideas about 'mosaic' creatures proved to be true; and Tsutomu Wantanabe, who discovered that the scourge of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a direct result of horizontal gene transfer, bringing the deep study of genome histories to bear on a global crisis in public health. Quammen explains how molecular studies of evolution have brought startling recognitions about the tangled tree of life - including where we humans fit into it. Thanks to new technologies, we now have the ability to alter even our genetic composition - through sideways insertions, as nature has long been doing. The Tangled Tree is a brilliant exploration of our transformed understanding of evolution and of life's history itself.

Documents the utility of Next Generation Sequencing and RNAseq to a wide array of aquatic environmental and physiological issues as well as to human health. Provides insights into the ways transcriptomics of aquatic animals and fish ecology can contribute to the understanding of human diseases Gives an account of the evolution of the techniques used to determine the transcriptome in crustacean aquaculture. Describes the mechanisms of genetic interaction between different pathogens and the human host and their effects modifying gene expression levels. Intended for undergraduate and graduate students interested in subjects related to physiology of aquatic animals, aquaculture, ecology and phylogeny of fishes, and human health.

Originally published in 1987 Rates of Evolution is an edited collection drawn from a symposium convened to bring together palaeontologists, geneticists, molecular biologists and developmental biologists to examine some aspects of the problem of evolutionary rates. The book asks questions surrounding the study of evolution, such as did large morphological changes really occur rapidly at various times in the geological past, or is the fossil record too imperfect to be of value in assessing rates of morphological change? What is the measure of 'rapid' change? Is stasis at any taxonomic level established? Is it possible to relate genomic and morphological change? What is the role of regulatory and executive genes in controlling evolutionary change? Does the transfer of genetic material between different taxa provide the possibility of increasing evolutionary rates? Featuring contributions from leading researchers, this book will interest anthropologists, palaeontology and scientists of evolution and genetics.

Are you considering to test your own DNA? Do you want to learn more about your health and ancestry? Understand your DNA - A Guide is about what you can use genetics for. For a few hundred dollars, you can now scan your own genes. Millions of people all over the world have already done so. Everyone wants to see what they can get to know about themselves, and the market growing rapidly. But what does it require from you? And what can you really use a DNA test for? Understand your DNA - A Guide helps you put the plots and charts of consumer genetics into perspective and enables you to figure out what's up and down in the media headlines. The book is also a key input for today's debate about what we as a society can and want to do with medical genetics. Genetics will play a growing role in the future. Understand your DNA - A Guide is an easy-to-read and necessary guide to that future. The book is provided with a foreword by Professor Sham Pak-Chung of Hong Kong University.While there are many books about genetics, they typically take the perspective of a scientist wanting to understand the molecular levels. At the same time, direct-to-consumer genetics is a booming market, with millions of people already tested. Very little has been published that will guide them for real, because the need here is more focused on medical and practical understanding, than focussed on molecules.This book therefore aims to hit that vacant spot in the market. It's a walk-through of all concepts that are necessary to understand in your own analysis. Meanwhile, it is also limited in scope to only those concepts - thus distinguishing it from broader works.The book is appropriate for the readerships in modern multi-ethnic metropolises because it mixes European and Asian examples, both from the collaboration between the author from Europe and the foreword-writer, Prof. Pak Sham of Hong Kong University. But also, because many of the examples in the book concerns differences and similarities between Asian and European ethnicities, something the author believes is a trend in time.Related Link(s)

Computational thinking is increasingly gaining importance in modern biology, due to the unprecedented scale at which data is nowadays produced. Bridging the cultural gap between the biological and computational sciences, this book serves as an accessible introduction to computational concepts for students in the life sciences. It focuses on teaching algorithmic and logical thinking, rather than just the use of existing bioinformatics tools or programming. Topics are presented from a biological point of view, to demonstrate how computational approaches can be used to solve problems in biology such as biological image processing, regulatory networks, and sequence analysis. The book contains a range of pedagogical features to aid understanding, including real-world examples, in-text exercises, end-of-chapter problems, colour-coded Python code, and 'code explained' boxes. User-friendly throughout, Computational Thinking for Life Scientists promotes the thinking skills and self-efficacy required for any modern biologist to adopt computational approaches in their research with confidence.

This book is a critical summary and exegesis of the work of Nicole Rafter, who was a leading scholar of the history of biological theories of crime causation as well as a profound theorist of the role of history within criminology. It introduces Rafter's key works and assesses her contributions to the fields of feminist criminology, cultural criminology, visual criminology and historical criminology. It also explores her theorization of criminology's identity, scientific status, and possible futures. While many books on criminological theory explain and historically contextualize theory, they do not interrogate the production of theory or the epistemological assumptions behind it. Drawing on the world of Nicole Rafter, this book offers an accessible handbook to her extensive historical studies and to how her work demonstrated the importance of historical theory to criminological knowledge. Furthermore, the author brings Rafter's historical research to life and shows how it speaks to contemporary issues in criminology and punishment. Written in a clear and direct style, this book will appeal to students and scholars of criminological theory, intellectual history, sociology, comparative criminology, and feminist criminology.

How to design, execute, and interpret experiments for protein sequencing using mass spectrometry

The rapid expansion of searchable protein and DNA databases in recent years has triggered an explosive growth in the application of mass spectrometry to protein sequencing. This timely and authoritative book provides professionals and scientists in biotechnology research with complete coverage of procedures for analyzing protein sequences by mass spectrometry, including step-by-step guidelines for sample preparation, analysis, and data interpretation.

Michael Kinter and Nicholas Sherman present their own high-quality, laboratory-tested protocols for the analysis of a wide variety of samples, demonstrating how to carry out specific experiments and obtain fast, reliable results with a 99% success rate. Readers will get sufficient experimental detail to apply in their own laboratories, learn about the proper selection and operation of instruments, and gain essential insight into the fundamental principles of mass spectrometry and protein sequencing. Coverage includes:

• Peptide fragmentation and interpretation of product ion spectra
  
• Basic polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
  
• Preparation of protein digests for sequencing experiments
  
• Mass spectrometric analysis using capillary liquid chromatography
  
• Techniques for protein identification by database searches
  
• Characterization of modified peptides using tandem mass spectrometry
  

And much more

The advanced AI techniques are essential for resolving various problematic aspects emerging in the field of bioinformatics. This book covers the recent approaches in artificial intelligence and machine learning methods and their applications in Genome and Gene editing, cancer drug discovery classification, and the protein folding algorithms among others. Deep learning, which is widely used in image processing, is also applicable in bioinformatics as one of the most popular artificial intelligence approaches. The wide range of applications discussed in this book are an indispensable resource for computer scientists, engineers, biologists, mathematicians, physicians, and medical informaticists. Features: Focusses on the cross-disciplinary relation between computer science and biology and the role of machine learning methods in resolving complex problems in bioinformatics Provides a comprehensive and balanced blend of topics and applications using various advanced algorithms Presents cutting-edge research methodologies in the area of AI methods when applied to bioinformatics and innovative solutions Discusses the AI/ML techniques, their use, and their potential for use in common and future bioinformatics applications Includes recent achievements in AI and bioinformatics contributed by a global team of researchers

* Focuses on human identification using traditional DNA typing methods targeting short tandem repeats (STRs) * Applies the technology and usage to law enforcement investigations and identity and ancestry single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for investigational leads, mass disaster, and ancestry cases * Introduces the underlying principles of NGS, focusing forensic application and the introduction of NGS into forensic labs in the coming years

Cash crops are grown and sold for monetary gain and not necessarily for sustenance. They include coffee, tea, coconut, cotton, jute, groundnut, castor, linseed, cocoa, rubber, cassava, soybean, sweet potato, potato, wheat, corn and teff. While some of these crops have been improved for realizing yield potential, breeding of many of them is still in infancy. Crops that underwent rigorous breeding have eventually lost much of the diversity due to extensive cultivation with a few improved varieties and the diversity in less bred species is to be conserved. Over the past years, scholars and policy makers have become increasingly aware of the short and long-run impact of climatic factors on economic, food security, social and political outcomes . Genetic diversity, natural and induced, is much needed for the future generations to sustain food production with more climate resilient crops. In contrast, crop uniformity produced across the farm fields in the form of improved varieties is genetically vulnerable to biotic and abiotic stresses. Thus, it is essential and challenging to address the issue of compromising between maximizing crop yield under a given set of conditions and minimizing the risk of crop failure when conditions change. Cash crops are grown in an array of climatic conditions. Many of the world's poor still live in rural areas. Many are subsistence farmers, operating very small farms using very little agricultural inputs for achieving marketable outputs. Conserving the diversity of these crops and addressing all issues of crop culture through modern tools of biotechnology and genomics is a real challenge. We believe the focus of this book is to fill an unmet need of this and other grower communities by providing the necessary knowledge, albeit indirectly via the academics, to manage the risks of cash crops breeding through managing genetic diversity.

Why do twins look alike? How are we similar to our parents? What is the genetic code? Professor Lin He, an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, shares his childhood stories and knowledge of genetics in this vividly illustrated popular science book.

This book represents the first comprehensive compilation of deliberations on botany; genetic resources; genetic diversity analysis; classical genetics & traditional breeding; in vitro culture & genetic transformation; detailed information on molecular maps & mapping of economic genes and QTLs; whole genome sequencing of the nuclear genome and sequencing of chloroplast genome; and elucidation of functional genomics. It also addresses alternate flowering, a unique problem in mango, and discusses currently available genomic resources and databases. Gathering contributions by globally reputed experts, the book will benefit the students, teachers, and scientists in academia and at private companies interested in horticulture, genetics, breeding, pathology, entomology, physiology, molecular genetics and breeding, in vitro culture & genetic engineering, and structural and functional genomics.

This volume looks at the framework in which different scientific disciplines are integrated into the latest studies in behavioral neurogenetics, and covers new approaches toward understanding the system that controls behavior across the animal kingdom. Chapters in this book cover topics such as mapping brain-wide mesoscale connectome from single animals with BRICseq; gut microbes and Drosophila behavior; bioassaying the function of pheromones in Drosophila melanogaster's social behavior; automated behavior analysis using a YOLO-based object detection system; and proteomic analysis of C. elegans neurons using TurboID-based proximity labeling. In the Neuromethods series style, chapters include the kind of detail and key advice from the specialists needed to get successful results in your laboratory. Cutting-edge and practical, Behavioral Neurogenetics is a valuable resource for experienced and novice researchers interested in learning more about this field and its future developments.

This book offers a unique balance between a basic introductory knowledge of bioinformatics and a detailed study of algorithmic techniques. Bioinformatics and RNA: A Practice-Based Approach is a complete guide on the fundamental concepts, applications, algorithms, protocols, new trends, challenges, and research results in the area of bioinformatics and RNA. The book offers a broad introduction to the explosively growing new discipline of bioinformatics. It covers theoretical topics along with computational algorithms. It explores RNA bioinformatics, which contribute to therapeutics and drug discovery. Implementation of algorithms in a DotNet Framework with code and complete insight on the state-of-the-art and recent advancements are presented in detail. The book targets both novice readers as well as practitioners in the field. FEATURES Offers a broad introduction to the explosively growing new discipline of bioinformatics Covers theoretical topics and computational algorithms Explores RNA bioinformatics to unleash the potential from therapeutics to drug discovery Discusses implementation of algorithms in DotNet Frameworks with code Presents insights into the state of the art and recent advancements in bioinformatics The book is useful to undergraduate students with engineering, science, mathematics, or biology backgrounds. Researchers will be equally interested.

* Focuses on human identification using traditional DNA typing methods targeting short tandem repeats (STRs) * Applies the technology and usage to law enforcement investigations and identity and ancestry single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for investigational leads, mass disaster, and ancestry cases * Introduces the underlying principles of NGS, focusing forensic application and the introduction of NGS into forensic labs in the coming years

Plasticity in Plant-Growth-Promoting and Phytopathogenic Bacteria brings together the expertise of a panel of researchers from around the world to provide comprehensive up-to-date reviews on the most interesting aspects of genomic and phenotypic plasticity in plant-beneficial and phytopathogenic bacteria. The book covers various topics, including common and specific features in the genomes of symbiotic, plant-growth-promoting, and phytopathogenic bacteria; regulation of conjugative plasmid transfer in rhizobia; genetic and phenotypic variability in plant-beneficial pseudomonads and azospirilla; genomic fluxes in phytopathogenic xanthomonads and pseudomonads; genome plasticity in obligate parasitic Phytoplasmas; comparative genomics of plant-growth-promoting and phytopathogenic Herbaspirillum species; horizontal gene transfer in planta and microevolution of plant-associated bacteria in the phytosphere. Plasticity in Plant-Growth-Promoting and Phytopathogenic Bacteria is recommended for all microbiology and plant biology laboratories.

Applied Mathematics and Omics to Assess Crop Genetic Resources for Climate Change Adaptive Traits focuses on practical means and approaches to further the use of genetic resources for mitigating the effects of climate change and improving crop production. Genetic diversity in crop plants is being further explored to increase yield, disease resistance, and nutritional value by employing recent advances in mathematics and omics technologies to promote the adaptation of crops to changing climatic conditions. This book presents a broad view of biodiversity and genetic resources in agriculture and provides answers to some current problems. It also highlights ways to provide much-needed information to practitioners and innovators engaged in addressing the effects of global climate change on agriculture. The book is divided into sections that cover: The implications of climate change for drylands and farming communities The potential of genetic resources and biodiversity to adapt to and mitigate climate change effects Applications of mathematics and omics technologies Genomics and gene identification We are in the midst of significant changes in global climates, and its effects are already being felt throughout the world. The increasing frequency of droughts and heat waves has had negative impacts on agricultural production, especially in the drylands of the world. This book shares the collective knowledge of leading scientists and practitioners, giving readers a broader appreciation and heightened awareness of the stakes involved in improving and sustaining agricultural production systems in the face of climate change.

Critical to the accurate diagnosis of human illness is the need to distinguish clinical features that fall within the normal range from those that do not. That distinction is often challenging and not infrequently requires considerable experience at the bedside. It is not surprising that accurate cytogenetic diagnosis is also often a challenge, especially when chromosome study reveals morphologic findings that raise the question of normality. Given the realization that modern human cytogenetics is just over five decades old, it is noteworthy that thorough documentation of normal chromosome var- tion has not yet been accomplished. One key diagnostic consequence of the inability to distinguish a "normal" variation in chromosome structure from a pathologic change is a missed or inaccurate diagnosis. Clinical cytogeneticists have not, however, been idle. Rather, progressive biotechnological advances coupled with virtual completion of the human genome project have yielded increasingly better microscopic resolution of chromosome structure. Witness the progress from the early short condensed chromosomes to the later visualization of chromosomes through banding techniques, hi- resolution analysis in prophase, and more recently to analysis by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH).

Interpreting Complex Forensic DNA Evidence is a handy guide to recent advances-and emerging issues-in interpreting complex DNA evidence and profiles for use in criminal investigations. In certain cases, DNA cannot be connected to a specific biological material such as blood, semen or saliva. How or when the DNA was deposited may be an issue. The possibility of generating DNA profiles from touched objects, where there may not be a visible deposit, has expanded the scope and number of exhibits submitted for DNA analysis. With such advances, and increasing improvements in technological capabilities in testing samples, this means it is possible to detect ever smaller amounts of DNA. There are also many efforts underway to seek was to interpret DNA profiles that are sub-optimal-either relative to the amount required by the testing kit and, potentially, the quality of the obtained sample. Laboratories often use enhancements in order to obtain a readable DNA profile. The broad-reaching implications of improving DNA sensitivity have led to this next, emerging generation of more complex profiles. Examples partial profiles that do not faithfully reflect the proposed donor, or mixtures of partial DNA from multiple people. A complexity threshold has been proposed to limit interpretation of poor-quality data. Research is now addressing the interpretation of transfer of trace amounts of DNA. Complex issues are arising in trial that need to be reconciled as such complexity has added challenges to the interpretation of evidence and its introduction or dismissal in certain cases in the courts. Key Features: Addresses DNA transfer, from person-to-person as well as to objects Outlines each stage required to produce a DNA profile from an exhibit-including collection, handling, storage, and analysis Discusses ethics, subjectivity, and bias-including cognitive dissonance-as they relate specifically to complex DNA evidence Highlights current techniques and the latest advances in DNA analysis, including advances in familial DNA searches Interpreting Complex Forensic DNA Evidence provides tools to assist the criminal investigator, forensic expert, and legal professional when posed with a DNA result in a forensic report or testimony. The result-and any associated statistic-may not reveal any ambiguity, complexity, or the assumptions involved in deriving it. Questions from resolved criminal cases are posed, and the relevant forensic literature, provided for the reader to assess a DNA result and any associated statistic. Case studies throughout illustrate concepts and emphasize the need for conclusions in the forensic report that are supported by the data.

Advances in Genetics 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.

The scope and significance of cytoplasmic inheritance has been the subject of one of the longest controversies in the history of genetics. In the first major book on the history of this subject, Jan Sapp analyses the persistent attempts of investigators of non-Mendelian inheritance to establish their claims, in the face of strong resistance from nucleo-centric geneticists and classical neo-Darwinians. A new perspective on the history of genetics is offered, as he explores the oppositions which have shaped theoretical thinking about heredity and evolution throughout the century: materialism/vitalism, reductionism/holism, preformation/epigenesis, neo-Darwinism/neo-Lamarckism, gradualism/saltationism.

Colleagues and former students of the late Professor Pritchard (aka Bob), an eminent UK geneticist, have gathered memories about his scientific and personal life. Bob's early, crucial contributions to decipher gene structure and mechanism of recombination in fungi, and those in bacterial physiology and the cell cycle, are briefly summarized. Bob was appointed as a young professor (34 years old) to open a new Department of Genetics at the University of Leicester, a department that thrived under his leadership to become internationally recognized for the quality of its scientific research and teaching. Pritchard's research studies on Microbial Genetics and Physiology and his intellectual leadership were pioneering and instrumental in the development of Molecular Biology and Bacterial Cell Biology.Recollections from the contributors about their interactions with Bob will be enjoyed by anyone interested in the history of Genetics in the UK, during the 1960s and 1970s. To future generations of investigators, they provide insights into how unbiased honesty, humbleness, incisiveness, generosity and friendship are cornerstones for the advancement of human knowledge.The book has been compiled from articles by 26 colleagues, former students and friends of Bob Pritchard, and of his surviving daughter, each from his/her personal viewpoint. They include 17 Professors, 2 Readers, 4 Doctors (all PhD's), 2 politicians and an Attorney, and are citizens of 6 countries (UK-14, USA-5, FR-3, ES-2, IL-1, AU-1). Each chapter has been written independently of the others hence marked differences in length (between 1-10 pp) and style. The 44 photographs were gathered from their personal collections.

This book addresses the issue of improving the accuracy in exon prediction in DNA sequences using various adaptive techniques based on different performance measures that are crucial in disease diagnosis and therapy. First, the authors present an overview of genomics engineering, structure of DNA sequence and its building blocks, genetic information flow in a cell, gene prediction along with its significance, and various types of gene prediction methods, followed by a review of literature starting with the biological background of genomic sequence analysis. Next, they cover various theoretical considerations of adaptive filtering techniques used for DNA analysis, with an introduction to adaptive filtering, properties of adaptive algorithms, and the need for development of adaptive exon predictors (AEPs) and structure of AEP used for DNA analysis. Then, they extend the approach of least mean squares (LMS) algorithm and its sign-based realizations with normalization factor for DNA analysis. They also present the normalized logarithmic-based realizations of least mean logarithmic squares (LMLS) and least logarithmic absolute difference (LLAD) adaptive algorithms that include normalized LMLS (NLMLS) algorithm, normalized LLAD (NLLAD) algorithm, and their signed variants. This book ends with an overview of the goals achieved and highlights the primary achievements using all proposed techniques. This book is intended to provide rigorous use of adaptive signal processing algorithms for genetic engineering, biomedical engineering, and bioinformatics and is useful for undergraduate and postgraduate students. This will also serve as a practical guide for Ph.D. students and researchers and will provide a number of research directions for further work. Features Presents an overview of genomics engineering, structure of DNA sequence and its building blocks, genetic information flow in a cell, gene prediction along with its significance, and various types of gene prediction methods Covers various theoretical considerations of adaptive filtering techniques used for DNA analysis, introduction to adaptive filtering, properties of adaptive algorithms, need for development of adaptive exon predictors (AEPs), and structure of AEP used for DNA analysis Extends the approach of LMS algorithm and its sign-based realizations with normalization factor for DNA analysis Presents the normalized logarithmic-based realizations of LMLS and LLAD adaptive algorithms that include normalized LMLS (NLMLS) algorithm, normalized LLAD (NLLAD) algorithm, and their signed variants Provides an overview of the goals achieved and highlights the primary achievements using all proposed techniques Dr. Md. Zia Ur Rahman is a professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at Koneru Lakshmaiah Educational Foundation (K. L. University), Guntur, India. His current research interests include adaptive signal processing, biomedical signal processing, genetic engineering, medical imaging, array signal processing, medical telemetry, and nanophotonics. Dr. Srinivasareddy Putluri is currently a Software Engineer at Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Hyderabad. He received his Ph.D. degree (Genomic Signal Processing using Adaptive Signal Processing algorithms) from the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at Koneru Lakshmaiah Educational Foundation (K. L. University), Guntur, India. His research interests include genomic signal processing and adaptive signal processing. He has published 15 research papers in various journals and proceedings. He is currently a reviewer of publishers like the IEEE Access and IGI.

The oil palm is a remarkable crop, producing around 40% of the world's vegetable oil from around 6% of the land devoted to oil crops. Conventional breeding has clearly been the major focus of genetic improvement in this crop. A mix of improved agronomy and management, coupled with breeding selection have quadrupled the oil yield of the crop since breeding began in earnest in the 1920s. However, as for all perennial crops with long breeding cycles, oil palm faces immense challenges in the coming years with increased pressure from population growth, climate change and the need to develop environmentally sustainable oil palm plantations. In Oil Palm: Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, world leading organizations and individuals who have been at the forefront of developments in this crop, provide their insights and experiences of oil palm research, while examining the different challenges that face the future of the oil palm. The editors have all been involved in research and breeding of oil palm for many years and use their knowledge of the crop and their disciplinary expertise to provide context and to introduce the different research topics covered.