Download or read book A Guinea Pig s History of Biology written by Jim Endersby and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2007 with total page 544 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved," Darwin famously concluded The Origin of Species, and for confirmation we look to...the guinea pig? How this curious creature and others as humble (and as fast-breeding) have helped unlock the mystery of inheritance is the unlikely story Jim Endersby tells in this book. Biology today promises everything from better foods or cures for common diseases to the alarming prospect of redesigning life itself. Looking at the organisms that have made all this possible gives us a new way of understanding how we got here--and perhaps of thinking about where we're going. Instead of a history of which great scientists had which great ideas, this story of passionflowers and hawkweeds, of zebra fish and viruses, offers a bird's (or rodent's) eye view of the work that makes science possible. Mixing the celebrities of genetics, like the fruit fly, with forgotten players such as the evening primrose, the book follows the unfolding history of biological inheritance from Aristotle's search for the "universal, absolute truth of fishiness" to the apparently absurd speculations of eighteenth-century natural philosophers to the spectacular findings of our day--which may prove to be the absurdities of tomorrow. The result is a quirky, enlightening, and thoroughly engaging perspective on the history of heredity and genetics, tracing the slow, uncertain path--complete with entertaining diversions and dead ends--that led us from the ancient world's understanding of inheritance to modern genetics.

Download or read book Advanced Ceramic Materials written by Mohsen Mhadhbi and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines exciting advancements in the field of ceramics, including nanotechnology, clean energy, and tribology as well as fundamental concepts like defects and structure. It is a comprehensive discussion on how today's ceramics are processed and used in many of today's critical technologies. It discusses current techniques for synthesizing durable and cost-effective ceramic components with biocompatibility, complexity, and high precision. This book is a comprehensive reference for researchers, engineers, dental clinicians, biologists, academics, and students interested in ceramics.

Download or read book Model Organisms written by Rachel A. Ankeny and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2021-01-28 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This Element presents a philosophical exploration of the concept of the 'model organism' in contemporary biology. Thinking about model organisms enables us to examine how living organisms have been brought into the laboratory and used to gain a better understanding of biology, and to explore the research practices, commitments, and norms underlying this understanding. We contend that model organisms are key components of a distinctive way of doing research. We focus on what makes model organisms an important type of model, and how the use of these models has shaped biological knowledge, including how model organisms represent, how they are used as tools for intervention, and how the representational commitments linked to their use as models affect the research practices associated with them. This title is available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Download or read book Molecular Biology of the Cell written by and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Biological Resources of Model Organisms written by Robert L. Jarret and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2019-07-16 with total page 309 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book discusses 14 model organisms and are used by thousands of researchers, teachers, and students each year in laboratories and classrooms, around the globe. Though acknowledged in innumerable scientific journal articles, little is generally known about the origin of these collections, how the organisms contained within them have been acquired, and how they are maintained and distributed. While some collections such as Drosophila have long histories others, such as the collection of Brachionus, are relatively new. They vary greatly in size. Yet, all have contributed and are continuing to contribute to global research efforts in many areas of scientific research as diverse as tissue regeneration, skin cancer, evolution, water purity, gene function, and hundreds of others. In addition to providing the raw materials for national and international research programs, these collections also provide educational tools used by colleges and high schools. The chapters in this book attempt to provide a brief look at the individual organisms, how they came to be accepted as model organisms, the history of the individual collections, examples of how the organisms have been and are being used in scientific research, and a description of the facilities and procedures used to maintain them. Features: • Provides an in-depth look at the collections of 14 model organisms that have enabled innumerable scientific breakthroughs over decades, and that continue to do so. • Includes detailed descriptions of the operating procedures used for the maintenance of each model organism collection. • Discusses the holdings of the collections of model organisms and its relevance to past, current and future scientific research. • Written by the leaders in the field of the management of model organisms.

Download or read book Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2004-07-08 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Assists policymakers in evaluating the appropriate scientific methods for detecting unintended changes in food and assessing the potential for adverse health effects from genetically modified products. In this book, the committee recommended that greater scrutiny should be given to foods containing new compounds or unusual amounts of naturally occurring substances, regardless of the method used to create them. The book offers a framework to guide federal agencies in selecting the route of safety assessment. It identifies and recommends several pre- and post-market approaches to guide the assessment of unintended compositional changes that could result from genetically modified foods and research avenues to fill the knowledge gaps.

Download or read book Next Steps for Functional Genomics written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2020-12-18 with total page 201 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of the holy grails in biology is the ability to predict functional characteristics from an organism's genetic sequence. Despite decades of research since the first sequencing of an organism in 1995, scientists still do not understand exactly how the information in genes is converted into an organism's phenotype, its physical characteristics. Functional genomics attempts to make use of the vast wealth of data from "-omics" screens and projects to describe gene and protein functions and interactions. A February 2020 workshop was held to determine research needs to advance the field of functional genomics over the next 10-20 years. Speakers and participants discussed goals, strategies, and technical needs to allow functional genomics to contribute to the advancement of basic knowledge and its applications that would benefit society. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop.

Download or read book Genetic Data Analysis for Plant and Animal Breeding written by Fikret Isik and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-09-09 with total page 409 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book fills the gap between textbooks of quantitative genetic theory, and software manuals that provide details on analytical methods but little context or perspective on which methods may be most appropriate for a particular application. Accordingly this book is composed of two sections. The first section (Chapters 1 to 8) covers topics of classical phenotypic data analysis for prediction of breeding values in animal and plant breeding programs. In the second section (Chapters 9 to 13) we provide the concept and overall review of available tools for using DNA markers for predictions of genetic merits in breeding populations. With advances in DNA sequencing technologies, genomic data, especially single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, have become available for animal and plant breeding programs in recent years. Analysis of DNA markers for prediction of genetic merit is a relatively new and active research area. The algorithms and software to implement these algorithms are changing rapidly. This section represents state-of-the-art knowledge on the tools and technologies available for genetic analysis of plants and animals. However, readers should be aware that the methods or statistical packages covered here may not be available or they might be out of date in a few years. Ultimately the book is intended for professional breeders interested in utilizing these tools and approaches in their breeding programs. Lastly, we anticipate the usage of this volume for advanced level graduate courses in agricultural and breeding courses.

Download or read book Handbook of Maize written by Jeff L. Bennetzen and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2009-01-16 with total page 785 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Maize is one of the world’s highest value crops, with a multibillion dollar annual contribution to agriculture. The great adaptability and high yields available for maize as a food, feed and forage crop have led to its current production on over 140 million hectares worldwide, with acreage continuing to grow at the expense of other crops. In terms of tons of cereal grain produced worldwide, maize has been number one for many years. Moreover, maize is expanding its contribution to non-food uses, including as a major source of ethanol as a fuel additive or fuel alternative in the US. In addition, maize has been at the center of the transgenic plant controversy, serving as the first food crop with released transgenic varieties. By 2008, maize will have its genome sequence released, providing the sequence of the first average-size plant genome (the four plant genomes that are now sequenced come from unusually tiny genomes) and of the most complex genome sequenced from any organism. Among plant science researchers, maize has the second largest and most productive research community, trailing only the Arabidopsis community in scale and significance. At the applied research and commercial improvement levels, maize has no peers in agriculture, and consists of thousands of contributors worthwhile. A comprehensive book on the biology of maize has not been published. The "Handbook of Maize: the Genetics and Genomics" center on the past, present and future of maize as a model for plant science research and crop improvement. The books include brief, focused chapters from the foremost maize experts and feature a succinct collection of informative images representing the maize germplasm collection.

Download or read book Plant Genomics and Proteomics written by Christopher A. Cullis and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2004-01-20 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Plant research has stood at the forefront of the genomics revolution. One of the first genome projects, the sequencing of the commonly used model organism Arabidopsis, has already yielded important results for the study of a broad array of crops such as corn and soybeans. With crop and food bioengineering only in its infancy, the need to understand the fundamental genetic mechanisms of plants will only become more pressing. A comprehensive guide to this fascinating area of genomics, Plant Genomics and Proteomics presents an integrated, broadly accessible treatment of the complex relationship between the genome, transcriptome, and proteome of plants. This clearly written text introduces the reader to the range of molecular techniques applicable to investigating the unique facets of plant growth, development, and response to the environment. Coverage includes: Functional and structural genomics addressed within the context of current techniques and challenges to come How to utilize DNA and protein sequence data Practical considerations for choosing and employing the most commonly available computer applications A review of applications for biotechnology, including genetic modification and defense against pathogens Bioinformatics tools and Web resources Numerous examples from the latest research throughout Assuming no specialized knowledge of plant biology on the part of its reader, Plant Genomics and Proteomics provides an invaluable resource for students and researchers in biotechnology, plant biology, genomics, and bioinformatics.

Download or read book The Biology of Grasses written by Geoffrey Peter Chapman and published by Cabi. This book was released on 1996 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this book the biology of grasses is illustrated by many different grass genera and species, drawn from both temperate and tropical zones. Beginning with a discussion of the role of grasses in a changing world, the book provides a treatment of such topics as the generation and dispersal of grasses, their diversity, history, contrasting life styles, ecology and domestication. There is also a glossary of the terminology associated with grass science.

Download or read book Genetics Genomics and Breeding of Poplar written by C. P. Joshi and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2011-03-29 with total page 396 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Written by researchers representing six countries and 28 institutions, this book highlights the development of the genus Populus as a model organism for tree genomics. Reflecting an impressive depth of coverage, the contributors' thorough reviews and analyses of Populus genomics provide insight into future discoveries about the basic biology of thi

Download or read book Virus Induced Gene Silencing written by Annette Becker and published by Humana Press. This book was released on 2013-02-06 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Plants are amazing organisms to study, some are important sources for pharmaceuticals, and others can help to elucidate molecular mechanisms required for a plant’s development and its interactions with the biotic or abiotic environment. Functional genomics is vastly lagging behind the speed of genome sequencing as high-throughput gene function assays are difficult to design, specifically for non-model plants. Bioinformatics tools are useful for gene identification and annotation but are of limited value for predictions concerning gene functions as gene functions are uncovered best by experimental approaches. Virus-Induced-Gene-Silencing (VIGS) is an easy to use, fast, and reliable method to achieve down regulation of target gene expression. Virus-Induced Gene Silencing: Methods and Protocols provides detailed protocols for VIGS experiments in several plant species including model and non-model plants. Also included in this book are recently developed protocols for VIGS-derived microRNA production in the plant or protein over expression, as well as chapters devoted to summarizing the molecular mechanisms of VIGS action and the vector systems developed so far. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM 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, Virus-Induced Gene Silencing: Methods and Protocols serves as a valuable resource for researchers from diverse fields of plant biology interested in experimental approaches to analyzing gene functions.

Download or read book Current Protocols Essential Laboratory Techniques written by Sean R. Gallagher and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2012-03-19 with total page 679 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The latest title from the acclaimed Current Protocols series, Current Protocols Essential Laboratory Techniques, 2e provides the new researcher with the skills and understanding of the fundamental laboratory procedures necessary to run successful experiments, solve problems, and become a productive member of the modern life science laboratory. From covering the basic skills such as measurement, preparation of reagents and use of basic instrumentation to the more advanced techniques such as blotting, chromatography and real-time PCR, this book will serve as a practical reference manual for any life science researcher. Written by a combination of distinguished investigators and outstanding faculty, Current Protocols Essential Laboratory Techniques, 2e is the cornerstone on which the beginning scientist can develop the skills for a successful research career.

Download or read book Concepts and Techniques in Genomics and Proteomics written by N Saraswathy and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2011-07-01 with total page 271 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Concepts and techniques in genomics and proteomics covers the important concepts of high-throughput modern techniques used in the genomics and proteomics field. Each technique is explained with its underlying concepts, and simple line diagrams and flow charts are included to aid understanding and memory. A summary of key points precedes each chapter within the book, followed by detailed description in the subsections. Each subsection concludes with suggested relevant original references. - Provides definitions for key concepts - Case studies are included to illustrate ideas - Important points to remember are noted

Download or read book The Handbook of Plant Genome Mapping written by Khalid Meksem and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2006-03-06 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While the complete sequencing of the genomes of model organisms such as a multitude of bacteria and archaea, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the worm Caenorhabditis elegans, the fly Drosophila melanogaster, and the mouse and human genomes have received much public attention, the deciphering of plant genomeswas greatly lagging behind. Up to now, only two plant genomes, one of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and one of the crop species rice (Oryza sativa) have been sequenced, though a series of other crop genome sequencing projects are underway. Notwithstanding this public bias towards genomics of animals and humans, it is nevertheless of great importance for basic and applied sciences and industries in such diverse fields as agriculture, breeding in particular, evolutionary genetics, biotechnology, and food science to know the composition of crop plant genomes in detail. It is equally crucial for a deeper understanding of the molecular basis of biodiversity and synteny. The Handbook of Genome Mapping: Genetic and Physical Mapping is the first book on the market to cover these hot topics in considerable detail, and is set apart by its combination of genetic and physical mapping. Throughout, each chapter begins with an easy-to-read introduction, also making the book the first reference designed for non-specialists and newcomers, too. In addition to being an outstanding bench work reference, the book is an excellent textbook for learning and teaching genomics, in particular for courses on genome mapping. It also serves as an up-to-date guide for seasoned researchers involved in the genetic and physical mapping of genomes, especially plant genomes.

Download or read book Plant Genomes written by Jean-Nicolas Volff and published by Karger Medical and Scientific Publishers. This book was released on 2008-01-01 with total page 155 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recent major advances in the field of comparative genomics and cytogenomics of plants, particularly associated with the completion of ambitious genome projects, have uncovered astonishing facets of the architecture and evolutionary history of plant genomes. The aim of this book was to review these recent developments as well as their implications in our understanding of the mechanisms which drive plant diversity. New insights into the evolution of gene functions, gene families and genome size are presented, with particular emphasis on the evolutionary impact of polyploidization and transposable elements. Knowledge on the structure and evolution of plant sex chromosomes, centromeres and microRNAs is reviewed and updated. Taken together, the contributions by internationally recognized experts present a panoramic overview of the structural features and evolutionary dynamics of plant genomes.This volume of Genome Dynamics will provide researchers, teachers and students in the fields of biology and agronomy with a valuable source of current knowledge on plant genomes.