Exploring Genome's Junkyard: In the Labyrinth of Evolution narrates the progress of biological evolution, beginning with the conceptual introspection of gene and continuing with the contemporary understanding of the structural and function aspects of the human genome. Recent advances in human genome research have led scientists to the term "biological dark matter," which refers to genetic material whose functionalities are not yet properly understood. Such "dark matter" has been recognized as non-coding, or "junk DNA," and non-coding RNA, which was thought to be devoid of protein encrypting potential but contained 98-99% of the human genome. The mysteries of missing genes from its "Dark DNA" region are a hotbed of recurrent mutations. Hence, the presence of "missing genes" in evolutionary sibling species has indicated that the "missing genes" are not really missing but rather hidden in the mutational hotbeds of "Dark DNA" where they have steered the continuation of life's evolutionary journey.

With recent advances of modern medicine more people reach the "elderly age" around the globe and the number of dementia cases are ever increasing. This book is about various aspects of dementia and provides its readers with a wide range of thought-provoking sub-topics in the field of dementia. The ultimate goal of this monograph is to stimulate other physicians' and neuroscientists' interest to carry out more research projects into pathogenesis of this devastating group of diseases.

Oligonucleotides represent one of the most significant pharmaceutical breakthroughs in recent years, showing great promise as diagnostic and therapeutic agents for malignant tumors, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, viral infections, and many other degenerative disorders. The Handbook of Analysis of Oligonucleotides and Related Products is an essential reference manual on the practical application of modern and emerging analytical techniques for the analysis of this unique class of compounds. A strong collaboration among thirty leading analytical scientists from around the world, the book provides readers with a comprehensive overview of the most commonly used analytical techniques and their advantages and limitations in assuring the identity, purity, quality, and strength of an oligonucleotide intended for therapeutic use. Topics discussed include: Strategies for enzymatic or chemical degradation of chemically modified oligonucleotides toward mass spectrometric sequencing Purity analysis by chromatographic or electrophoretic methods, including RP-HPLC, AX-HPLC, HILIC, SEC, and CGE Characterization of sequence-related impurities in oligonucleotides by mass spectrometry and chromatography Structure elucidation by spectroscopic methods (IR, NMR, MS) as well as base composition and thermal melt analysis (Tm) Approaches for the accurate determination of molar extinction coefficient of oligonucleotides Accurate determination of assay values Assessment of the overall quality of oligonucleotides, including microbial analysis and determination of residual solvents and heavy metals Strategies for determining the chemical stability of oligonucleotides The use of hybridization techniques for supporting pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism studies in preclinical and clinical development Guidance for the presentation of relevant analytical information towards meeting current regulatory expectations for oligonucleotide therapeutics This resource provides a practical guide for applying state-of-the-art analytical techniques in research, development, and manufacturing settings.

The Molecular Immunology of Neurological Diseases provides a comprehensive review of current updates in molecular immunogenetics of different neurological diseases. Readers will learn about the role of immune cells and their modulation strategies to help in the development of therapeutic approaches for both acute and chronic neurodegenerative disorders. There is no other book available on the topic. It has long been thought that the brain is an immune-privilege organ with very limited immune response. However recent studies have made clear that both systemic 'brain' and peripheral 'blood' immune cell responses play key roles in determining brain pathology in neurodegenerative disorders. This book summarizes the role of immune cell activation in the central nervous system microenvironment in acute and chronic neurodegenerative disorders. In addition, it discusses the key role of immune cells and their modulation strategies for the development of current therapeutic approaches.

Genome Editing: A Practical Guide to Research and Clinical Applications is geared towards investigators interested in learning how to use CRISPR-Cas9-based technologies, with a focus on cardiovascular research and clinical applications. Covering a range of topics from the basics of genome editing to design considerations, to assessments and applications, this reference allows readers to get started and establish a full workflow from the beginning of the project to its full completion. With worked examples drawn from real-life experiments, as well as troubleshooting and pitfalls to avoid, the book serves as an essential reference for researchers and investigators in both cardiovascular and biomedical research.

This is a uniquely comprehensive reference that summarizes the state of the art of signal processing theory and techniques for solving emerging problems in neuroscience, and which clearly presents new theory, algorithms, software and hardware tools that are specifically tailored to the nature of the neurobiological environment. It gives a broad overview of the basic principles, theories and methods in statistical signal processing for basic and applied neuroscience problems.
Written by experts in the field, the book is an ideal reference for researchers working in the field of neural engineering, neural interface, computational neuroscience, neuroinformatics, neuropsychology and neural physiology. By giving a broad overview of the basic principles, theories and methods, it is also an ideal introduction to statistical signal processing in neuroscience.
A comprehensive overview of the specific problems in neuroscience that require application of existing and development of new theory, techniques, and technology by the signal processing communityContains state-of-the-art signal processing, information theory, and machine learning algorithms and techniques for neuroscience researchPresents quantitative and information-driven science that has been, or can be, applied to basic and translational neuroscience problems

Biodiversity has been a key concept in international conservation since the 1980s, yet historians have paid little attention to its origins. Uncovering its roots in tropical fieldwork and the southward expansion of U.S. empire at the turn of the twentieth century, Megan Raby details how ecologists took advantage of growing U.S. landholdings in the circum-Caribbean by establishing permanent field stations for long-term, basic tropical research. From these outposts of U.S. science, a growing community of American ""tropical biologists"" developed both the key scientific concepts and the values embedded in the modern discourse of biodiversity. Considering U.S. biological fieldwork from the era of the Spanish-American War through the anticolonial movements of the 1960s and 1970s, this study combines the history of science, environmental history, and the history of U.S.-Caribbean and Latin American relations. In doing so, Raby sheds new light on the origins of contemporary scientific and environmentalist thought and brings to the forefront a surprisingly neglected history of twentieth-century U.S. science and empire.

In recent years, music theorists have been increasingly eager to incorporate findings from the science of human cognition and linguistics into their methodology. In the culmination of a vast body of research undertaken since his influential and award-winning Conceptualizing Music (OUP 2002), Lawrence M. Zbikowski puts forward Foundations of Musical Grammar, an ambitious and broadly encompassing account on the foundations of musical grammar based on our current understanding of human cognitive capacities. Musical grammar is conceived of as a species of construction grammar, in which grammatical elements are form-function pairs. Zbikowski proposes that the basic function of music is to provide sonic analogs for dynamic processes that are important in human cultural interactions. He focuses on three such processes: those concerned with the emotions, the spontaneous gestures that accompany speech, and the patterned movement of dance. Throughout the book, Zbikowski connects cognitive research with music theory for an interdisciplinary audience, presenting detailed musical analyses and summaries of the basic elements of musical grammar.

An introduction to the history of genetics and the rethinking of evolutionism.

The series Advances in Stem Cell Biology is a timely and expansive collection of comprehensive information and new discoveries in the field of stem cell biology. Recent Advances in iPSC-derived Cell Types, Volume 4 addresses how different cell types can be derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. Somatic cells can be reprogrammed into Induced pluripotent stem cells by the expression of specific transcription factors. These cells are transforming biomedical research in the last 15 years. The volume teaches readers about current advances in the field. This book describes the use of induced pluripotent stem cells to form different cell types which can be used in cell therapy as well as to model several diseases in vitro, enabling us to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in different pathologies. In recent years, remarkable progress has been made in the obtention of induced pluripotent stem cells and their differentiation into several cellular populations, tissues and organs using state-of-art techniques. This volume will cover what we know so far about the use of iPSCs to derive different cell types, such as: erythroid cells, mucosal-associated invariant T cells, megakaryocytes, cerebral cortical neurons, inner ear cell types, airway epithelial cells, male germ cells, trophoblasts, cardiomyocytes, sspancreatic cells, and more. The volume is written for researchers and scientists interested in stem cell therapy, cell biology, regenerative medicine, and organ transplantation; and is contributed by world-renowned authors in the field.

How do genes determine behavior? How much of behavior is nature versus nurture? How do behaviors evolve? Anholt and Mackay, leading scholars in the field of behavioral genetics, address these questions and much more in this comprehensive textbook that defines the emerging field of behavioral genetics. The provides a range of examples, such as laboratory studies on flies and mice, field observations on species as diverse as butterflies and meerkats, and human behavioral disorders. The book blends classical and modern genetic principles with neurobiological and ecological perspectives to teach students how to find and map genes that affect behaviors, as well as how the coordinated expression of ensembles of these genes enables the nervous system to express complex behaviors in response to changes in the environment. Principles of Behavioral Genetics introduces us to the fascinating science that aims to understand how our genes determine what makes us tick.
Principles of Behavioral Genetics presents a comprehensive overview of the relationship between genes, brain and behavior. Introductory chapters provide clear explanations of basic processes of the nervous system and fundamental principles of genetics of complex traits without excessive statistical jargon. Individual chapters describe the genetics of social interactions, olfaction and taste, memory and learning, circadian behavior, locomotion, sleep, and addiction, as well as the evolution of behavior. Whereas the focus is on genetics, neurobiological and ecological aspects are also included to provide intellectual breadth. The book uses examples that span the gamut from classical model organisms to non-model systems and human biology, and include both laboratory and field studies. Samples of historical information accentuate the text to provide the reader with an appreciation of the history of the field. All chapters contain general overviews, concise summaries, study questions that promote not only memorization but also contemplation of the material, and recommendations for further in-depth reading. An extensive glossary that defines the terminology used in the book is included. This textbook encompasses a broad definition of the emerging science of behavioral genetics.
* Defines the emerging science of behavioral genetics
* Engagingly written by two leading experts in behavioral genetics
* Clear explanations of basic quantitative genetic, neurogenetic and genomic applications to the study of behavior
* Numerous examples ranging from model organisms to non-model systems and humans
* Concise overviews and summaries for each chapter

The series Advances in Stem Cell Biology is a timely and expansive collection of comprehensive information and new discoveries in the field of stem cell biology. Recent Advances in iPSCs for Therapy, Volume 3 addresses the use of induced pluripotent stem cells for therapy of several disorders. The volume teaches the reader about the biology of induced pluripotent stem cells and their possible use as cell therapy. Remarkable progress has been made in the obtention of induced pluripotent stem cells and their differentiation into several cell types, tissues and organs using state-of-art techniques. This volume will cover what we know so far about the use of iPSCs for therapy of multiple diseases, such as: hair loss disorders, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, ischemic stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Glaucoma, Optic Neuropathy, Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Type 1 Diabetes, Heart Failure, liver diseases, infertility, Autoimmune Diseases, and more. The volume is written for researchers and scientists interested in cell therapy, stem cell biology, regenerative medicine, and organ transplantation and is contributed by world-renowned authors in the field.

The philosophically most challenging science today, arguably, is no longer physics but biology. It is hardly an exaggeration to state that Charles Darwin has shaped modern evolutionary biology more significantly than anyone else. Moreover, since Darwin's day, philosophers and scientists have realized the enormous philosophical potential of Darwinism and have tried to expand his insights well beyond the limits of biology. However, no consensus has been achieved. The aim of this collection of essays is to revive a comprehensive discussion of the meaning and the philosophical implications of "Darwinism." The contributors to Darwinism and Philosophy are international scholars from the fields of philosophy, science, and history of ideas. A strength of this collection is that it brings together sustained reflection from American and Continental philosophical traditions. The conclusions of the contributors vary, but taken together their essays successfully map the problems of interpreting "Darwinism."

Most projects in Landscape Ecology, at some point, define a species-habitat association. These models are inherently spatial, dealing with landscapes and their configurations. Whether coding behavioral rules for dispersal of simulated organisms through simulated landscapes, or designing the sampling extent of field surveys and experiments in real landscapes, landscape ecologists must make assumptions about how organisms experience and utilize the landscape. These convenient working postulates allow modelers to project the model in time and space, yet rarely are they explicitly considered. The early years of landscape ecology necessarily focused on the evolution of effective data sources, metrics, and statistical approaches that could truly capture the spatial and temporal patterns and processes of interest. Now that these tools are well established, we reflect on the ecological theories that underpin the assumptions commonly made during species distribution modeling and mapping. This is crucial for applying models to questions of global sustainability.

Due to the inherent use of GIS for much of this kind of research, and as several authors research involves the production of multicolored map figures, there would be an 8-page color insert. Additional color figures could be made available through a digital archive, or by cost contributions of the chapter authors. Where applicable, would be relevant chapters GIS data and model code available through a digital archive. The practice of data and code sharing is becoming standard in GIS studies, is an inherent method of this book, and will serve to add additional research value to the book for both academic and practitioner audiences."

Endothelial Signaling in Vascular Dysfunction and Disease: From Bench to Bedside provides a detailed understanding of the endothelium, its activation and their link to some common clinical disorders. In addition, the book covers earlier discoveries, including those from the last and 19th centuries. It is split into five sections that cover the vascular tree as an integrative structure, the endothelium in inflammation, endothelial signaling, activation and toxicity with chemotherapy, radiation induced endothelial dysfunction and vascular disease, and therapies in combating vascular diseases. Each section is discussed with a translational approach in order to make the content truly applicable. This book is a valuable source for basic researchers, clinicians in the fields of Oncology, Cardiovascular Medicine and Radiology, and members of the biomedical field who are conducting studies related to the endothelium and vascular disease.