Biology Now

Drawing upon almost three years of ethnographic research in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, the author describes a world in which physiological reproduction is not perceived to ground human kinship or human beings' relationships to the organic world. Using indigenous understandings as a counter-reflexive voice through which to consider recent social and technological developments in Europe and North America, the author exposes the ways in which Western ideas about relatedness depend on a notion of physiological reproduction. In the process, she challenges many taken-for-granted assumptions about biology that have underpinned a great deal of social science theory.

This book offers comprehensive coverage of all the core topics of bioinformatics, and includes practical examples completed using the MATLAB bioinformatics toolboxTM. It is primarily intended as a textbook for engineering and computer science students attending advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in bioinformatics and computational biology. The book develops bioinformatics concepts from the ground up, starting with an introductory chapter on molecular biology and genetics. This chapter will enable physical science students to fully understand and appreciate the ultimate goals of applying the principles of information technology to challenges in biological data management, sequence analysis, and systems biology. The first part of the book also includes a survey of existing biological databases, tools that have become essential in today’s biotechnology research. The second part of the book covers methodologies for retrieving biological information, including fundamental algorithms for sequence comparison, scoring, and determining evolutionary distance. The main focus of the third part is on modeling biological sequences and patterns as Markov chains. It presents key principles for analyzing and searching for sequences of significant motifs and biomarkers. The last part of the book, dedicated to systems biology, covers phylogenetic analysis and evolutionary tree computations, as well as gene expression analysis with microarrays. In brief, the book offers the ideal hands-on reference guide to the field of bioinformatics and computational biology.

CELL BIOLOGY The ultimate concise introduction to modern cell biology, now updated Taking an “essentials only” approach, Cell Biology: A Short Course, Third Edition tells the story of cells as the unit of life in a uniquely accessible, student-friendly manner. Completely updated from the previous edition and now in full color, this accessible text features new chapters, a supporting website for students, and online supplemental material including PowerPoint slides for instructors. As in earlier editions, the authors combine their expertise in the areas of cell biology, physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology to skillfully present key concepts, illustrating them with clear diagrams and numerous examples from current research. Special sections focus on the importance of cell biology in medicine and industry today, with extensive cross-referencing to real-world research and development. In updating this text, the authors have provided such new material as: A chapter on the cell biology of the immune system Discussion of stem cells, cytokine receptors, the cell biology of cancer, and cell division “Medical Relevance” text boxes A family tree of organisms to reinforce cell biology differences among major taxa Online supplemental information for students, including interactive quizzes and animations Also included are a detailed description of intercellular signaling and a chapter devoted to a case study of cystic fi brosis. Review questions are included at the end of each chapter, as well as a full glossary of key words and phrases to help make even the most complex concepts easy to master. Ideally suited for undergraduate cell biology/biology majors, pre-med students, and graduate and medical school courses in cell biology, this Third Edition of Cell Biology is the most integrated introduction available on this fascinating and timely subject Visit the companion website www.wileyshortcourse.com/cellbiology for supplementary material, including animations, video, and useful links and references

Human Paleobiology explores the adaptability and variation in past and present human populations under a range of changing environmental conditions. Using a historical approach emphasising phenotypic features instead of complex taxonomy, it will be a stimulating and challenging read for all those interested in human paleobiology, evolutionary biology and anthropology.

Over a very short period, only a few hundred years, our understanding of the cosmos, our planet Earth, the evolution of life on it, and the beginnings of our very own human endeavor have radically changed. These revolutions in science and technology have dramatically altered our societies in many ways. For quite some time it seemed as if our planets resources were unlimited. Today we know that this is not the case. Human civilizations are shaping our planets future in ways that have profound consequences for all other life on Earth as well as for us. We need to reflect broadly on what defines our human condition if we wish our societies to be successful in navigating a future that cannot be just ours but must include the broad diversity of life on Earth without which humankind will not survive. This book tells the story of how we discovered the universe, how we learned about our planet and the life evolving on it, how humanity emerged from pre-history, and what some of the future of our civilizations could hold.

Genome sequences are now available that enable us to determine the biological components that make up a cell or an organism. The discipline of systems biology examines how these components interact and form networks, and how the networks generate whole cell functions corresponding to observable phenotypes. This textbook, devoted to systems biology, describes how to model networks, how to determine their properties, and how to relate these to phenotypic functions. The prerequisites are some knowledge of linear algebra and biochemistry. Though the links between the mathematical ideas and biological processes are made clear, the book reflects the irreversible trend of increasing mathematical content in biology education. Therefore to assist both teacher and student, in an associated website Palsson provides problem sets, projects and Powerpoint slides, and keeps the presentation in the book concrete with illustrative material and experimental results.

Brief chapters are written like science news articles, combining compelling science with intriguing stories. The Second Edition features NEW stories on exciting topics such as CRISPR and the human microbiome, and expanded coverage of the course's most important content areas. Biology Now is written by an author team made up of a science writer and two experienced teachers. Expanded pedagogy in the book and online encourages students to think critically and engage with biology in the world around them.