Filippo Castiglione, Francesco Pappalardo, Carlo Bianca, Giulia Russo, Santo Motta, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Get a feel for biology with hands-on activities Biology Workbook For Dummies is a practical resource that provides you with activities to help you better understand concepts in biology. Covering all the topics required in high school and college biology classes, this workbook gives you the confidence you need to ace the test and get the grade you need. Physiology, ecology, evolution, genetics, and cell biology are all covered, and you can work your way through each one or pick and choose the topics where you could use a little extra help. This updated edition is full of new workbook problems, updated study questions and exercises, and fresh real-world examples that bring even the tough concepts to life. Get extra practice in biology with activities, questions, and exercises Study evolution, genetics, cell biology, and other topics in required biology classes Pass your tests and improve your score in high school or college biology class Demystify confusing concepts and get clear explanations of every idea Great as a companion to Biology For Dummies or all on its own, Biology Workbook For Dummies is your practice supplement of choice.
An NPR Best Book of the Year An authoritative history of the race to unravel DNA's structure, by one of our most prominent medical historians. James Watson and Francis Crick's 1953 discovery of the double helix structure of DNA is the foundation of virtually every advance in our modern understanding of genetics and molecular biology. But how did Watson and Crick do it--and why were they the ones who succeeded? In truth, the discovery of DNA's structure is the story of five towering minds in pursuit of the advancement of science, and for almost all of them, the prospect of fame and immortality: Watson, Crick, Rosalind Franklin, Maurice Wilkins, and Linus Pauling. Each was fascinating and brilliant, with strong personalities that often clashed. Howard Markel skillfully re-creates the intense intellectual journey, and fraught personal relationships, that ultimately led to a spectacular breakthrough. But it is Rosalind Franklin--fiercely determined, relentless, and an outsider at Cambridge and the University of London in the 1950s, as the lone Jewish woman among young male scientists--who becomes a focal point for Markel. The Secret of Life is a story of genius and perseverance, but also a saga of cronyism, misogyny, anti-Semitism, and misconduct. Drawing on voluminous archival research, including interviews with James Watson and with Franklin's sister, Jenifer Glynn, Markel provides a fascinating look at how science is done, how reputations are undone, and how history is written, and revised. A vibrant evocation of Cambridge in the 1950s, Markel also provides colorful depictions of Watson and Crick--their competitiveness, idiosyncrasies, and youthful immaturity--and compelling portraits of Wilkins, Pauling, and most cogently, Rosalind Franklin. The Secret of Life is a lively and sweeping narrative of this landmark discovery, one that finally gives the woman at the center of this drama her due.
These pages include the final edition of Charles Darwin's groundbreaking work that introduced the theory of evolution by means of natural selection. First published in 1859, Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species introduced the scientific theory of evolution by means of natural selection, a revolutionary idea at the time. Fiercely debated on its release, Darwin's famous work was revised several times over the following decade, partly to refute the scientific and religious objections of the author's contemporaries. In this sixth edition of On the Origin of Species, Darwin lays out his theory by citing his studies done in the Galápagos aboard the HMS Beagle in the 1830s, as well as his follow-up research over the ensuing two decades.
Need quick review and practice to help you excel in Biology? Barron's Biology Practice Plus features more than 400 online practice questions and a concise review guide that covers the basics of Biology. Inside you'll find: Concise review on the basics of Biology--an excellent resource for students who want a quick review of the most important topics Access to 400+ online questions arranged by topic for customized practice Online practice includes answer explanations with expert advice for all questions plus scoring to track your progress This essential guide is the perfect practice supplement for students and teachers!
A comprehensive and richly illustrated introduction to the world of viruses As parasites that are often hundreds of times smaller than bacteria, viruses exist in and on everything, everywhere. Rapidly evolving, they are highly opportunistic and relentlessly efficient. While some viruses are obviously agents of disease, as the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded the world only too well, others can be beneficial, helping to protect their hosts from other microbes, or allowing hosts to function in otherwise impossible ways. In Viruses, virus expert and author Marilyn Roossinck presents a comprehensive and richly illustrated introduction to viruses that reveals their true nature. Using lively text, clear graphics, and beautiful imagery, Viruses examines all the aspects of viruses that are essential for understanding them--their diversity, behaviors, life cycles, and much more. Written in a nontechnical and easy-to-follow style, the book covers what viruses are and where they come from; how they transmit and evolve; the battle between viruses and hosts, including immunity and vaccination; viruses that are good for us; the critical role viruses play in the balance of earth's ecosystems; what makes a virus--including COVID-19 and influenza--become pandemic in plants or animals; and the cutting-edge research that is discovering thousands of new viruses. Each chapter concludes with stunningly illustrated profiles that highlight key viruses. In a world where understanding viruses is more important than ever, Viruses offers a rich and inviting introduction to organisms that, for all the harm they can do, are also essential for the health of animals, plants, and the world we share.
Nowadays, genetics focuses on DNA. Just like the first edition, the theme of this new edition, Introduction to Genetics: A Molecular Approach, is therefore the progression from molecules (DNA and genes) to processes (gene expression and DNA replication) to systems (cells, organisms and populations). This progression reflects both the basic logic of life and the way in which modern biological research is structured. The molecular approach is particularly suitable for students for whom genetics is part of a broader program in biology, biochemistry, the biomedical sciences or biotechnology. This book presents the basic facts and concepts with enough depth of knowledge to stimulate students to move on to more advanced aspects of the subject. This second edition has been thoroughly updated to cover new discoveries and developments in genetics from the last ten years. There are new chapters that introduce important techniques such as DNA sequencing and gene editing, and the applications of genetics in our modern world are covered in chapters describing topics as diverse as gene therapy and the use of ancient DNA to study prehistoric ecosystems. Key Features: This book provides a molecular approach to the study of genetics. It is a highly accessible and well-structured book with chapters organized into four parts to aid navigation. It presents high-quality illustrations to elucidate the various concepts and mechanisms. Each chapter ends with a Key Concepts section, which serves to summarize the most essential points. Self-study questions enable the reader to assess their comprehension of chapter content, and discussion topics facilitate a deeper understanding of the material by encouraging conversation and critical evaluation. Key terms are emboldened throughout the text and are listed at the end of each chapter, and definitions can be found in the Glossary. For instructors who adopt the book, an affiliated question bank is free to download.
This book is a comprehensive text on plant tissue culture, with its past, present, and future prospects and techniques discussed in detail. In the first three chapters, the history, terminologies, and applications are given in detail. The fourth chapter is dedicated to the instrumentation of plant tissue culture. The basic techniques used in PTC are described in the sixth chapter. The details of the constituents and types of different nutrient media are discussed in the eighth chapter. In chapter number 9, methods of haploid production have been described. Bioreactors are the instruments that are used for the large-scale production of plantlets and plant products. This book is useful for all the students, researchers, teachers, and industrialists interested in plant tissue culture.
Creating Future People offers readers a fast-paced primer on how advances in genetics will enable parents to influence the traits of their children, including their children's intelligence, moral capacities, physical appearance, and immune system. It explains the science of gene editing and embryo selection and motivates the moral questions it raises by thinking about the strategic aspects of parental choice. Professor Anomaly takes seriously the diversity of preferences parents have, and the limits policymakers face in regulating what will soon be a global market for reproductive technology. Anomaly argues that once embryo selection for complex traits happens it will change the moral landscape by altering the incentives each person faces. All of us will take an interest in the traits everyone else selects, and this will present coordination problems that previous writers on genetic enhancement have failed to consider. Anomaly ends by considering how genetic engineering will transform humanity. Key Updates to the Second Edition Significant revisions to include more details about what will be scientifically possible in the coming years and the moral issues these developments will raise. New and substantial coverage of embryo selection (guided by polygenic scores) for minimizing the risk of genetic diseases. Engagement with all important, new publications on the science of genetic enhancement
Cell Signaling provides undergraduate and graduate students with the conceptual tools needed to make sense of the dizzying array of pathways that cells use to detect, process, and respond to signals from the environment. By emphasizing the common design principles and molecular processes that underlie all signaling mechanisms, the book develops a broad conceptual framework through which students can understand diverse signaling pathways and networks. The book first examines the common currencies of cellular information processing and the core components of the signaling machinery. It then shows how these individual components link together into networks and pathways to perform more sophisticated tasks. Many specific examples are provided throughout to illustrate common principles, and to provide a comprehensive overview of major signaling pathways. Thoroughly revised, this second edition includes two new chapters and substantial updates to the text and figures throughout the book. Key features: The book provides a conceptual framework through which all signaling pathways can be understood without memorization of details It is extensively illustrated, including high-quality diagrams and schematics to elucidate important concepts and processes Each chapter concludes with a useful summary section that brings together the key concepts End-of-chapter review questions test the reader's understanding of the material covered Two new chapters have been written especially for this edition: "Signaling and Disease" and "Diversity in Signaling across Phylogeny"
This biography of Nobel Laureate Barbara McClintock (1902-1992) places her life and work in its social, scientific and personal context. The author examines the development of Barbara McClintock's scientific work and her influence upon individuals and upon the fields of cytogenetics and evolutionary biology in the period from 1902 to the present. The history documents years of McClintock's notable and lauded scientific work long before she discovered and named transposable elements in the mid-1940s for which she ultimately received the Nobel Prize. The biography employs documented evidence to expose, demystify, and provide clarity for legends and misinterpretations of McClintock's life and work. Key Features Exposes and demystifies myths and legends told about McClintock's time in Missouri Clarifies the changing language of genes and genetics Places in perspective the history of McClintock's research Documents McClintock's family and early life before college Provides documented details of McClintock's time in Nazi Germany
Introduction to Protein Mass Spectrometry, Second Edition provides a comprehensive overview of this increasingly important, yet complex, analytical technique. This book enables readers to understand how determinations about protein identity from mass spectrometric data are made. Coverage begins with the technical basics, including preparations, instruments, and spectrometric analysis of peptides and proteins, before exploring applied use in biological applications, bioinformatics, database, and software resources. This new edition is fully updated to include the latest developments in the field and will feature new content covering recent progress in the areas where there have been the most exciting advances. These include PNNL's multilevel-PCB-based SLIM realization, SLIM-Agilent QQQ field trials; employment of SLIM-IMS-cryo-IR combination in molecular structure determination; proximity-labelling mass spectrometry, and applications in neuroscience.
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