Hot Topics in Cell Biology


Book Description

Summary This book is a definitive overview of the current 'state of the art' in cell biology. It is based on papers presented by leading researchers at the Spanish Society for Cell Biology's XIV Congress - a Congress that strives to achieve scientific excellence. Each participant was asked to prepare a 'mini review' of current and likely future development in their area of research. This book is based on those reviews. As such, it is therefore an analysis of current and future trends. Key Features Contains contributions from some of the world's leading researchers. The book is multidisciplinary, covering almost all topics in cell biology: from basic to applied cell biology, and a wide variety of models: from in vitro to vivo models, ranging from fish to rodents and humans. Each 'mini review' is an easy-read piece, describing the state of the art on a topic with clear language and in a summary format. The mini review format makes the book attractive not only to readers involved in cell biology research and teaching, but also professionals from other disciplines and students. The book takes a truly multidisciplinary approach; it covers a wide array of topics, and the book reflects how cell biology interacts with other disciplines The Editors Jose Becerra is Professor of Cell Biology at the University of Málaga (Spain) since 1989. He has been Dean Secretary, Vice-Dean and Dean of the Faculty of Sciences of Málaga, and is now the Head of the Department of Cell Biology, Genetics and Physiology. From 2001 to 2003 he was the Director of the Andalusian Laboratory of Biology (LAB, Seville), which was converted in the Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology (CABD) under his term. He is a member of the Technical Committee of the National Stem Cell Bank since 2007, patron of the Board of Trustees of IMABIS Foundation (Mediterranean Institute for the Advance of Biotechnology and Health Research), coordinator of the Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Area of the the Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), and member of the Direction Committee of the CIBER-BBN. Leonor Santos-Ruiz is Senior Researcher of the CIBER-BBN network at the Andalusian Center for Nanomedicine and Biotechnology (BIONAND). She started her career studying the cellular and molecular basis of lower vertebrates' amazing ability for tissue regeneration, with a special attention to bone and spinal cord repair. Readership Cell biology academics and researchers Contents Introduction Dynamics of cell compartments The intracellular trafficking Cell signaling Autophagy, apoptosis and cell homeostasis Cell biology of aging Plant cell biology Methods in cell biology Applied cell biology Cell biology of cancer Cell therapies and tissue engineering Neurodegeneration and cell biology Nanotechnology and cell biology: challenges and opportunities




Stem Cells: A Very Short Introduction


Book Description

The topic of stem cells has been very high profile in the media in recent years. There is much public interest in stem cells but also much confusion and misinformation, with some companies already offering 'stem cell products' and bogus 'stem cell therapies'. In this Very Short Introduction, Jonathan Slack introduces stem cells; what they are, what scientists do with them, what stem cell therapies are available today, and how they might be used in future. Despite important advances, clinical applications of stem cells are still in their infancy. Most real stem cell therapy today is some form of bone marrow transplantation. Slack introduces stem cells by explaining the difference between embryonic stem cells, which exist only in laboratory cultures, and tissue-specific stem cells, which exist in our bodies. Embryonic stem cells can become any cell type in the body, so diseases that may in future be treated by functional cells derived from these sorts of stem cell include diabetes, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, and spinal trauma. He then goes on to discuss the properties of tissue-specific stem cells and the important technique of bone marrow transplantation. Slack concludes by analysing how medical innovation has occurred in this area in the past, and draws out some of the lessons for the development of new therapies in the future. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.




Intestinal Stem Cell Niche


Book Description

Advances in Stem Cells and Their Niches addresses stem cells during development, homeostasis, and disease/injury of the respective organs, presenting new developments in the field, including new data on disease and clinical applications. Video content illustrates such areas as protocols, transplantation techniques, and work with mice. Explores not only reviews of research, but also shares methods, protocols, and transplantation techniques Contains video content to illustrate such areas as protocols, transplantation techniques, and work with mice Each volume concentrates on one organ, making this a unique publication




Cellular and Molecular Approaches in Fish Biology


Book Description

Cellular and Molecular Approaches in Fish Biology is a highly interdisciplinary resource to bring industry professionals, students and researchers up-to-date with the latest developments and information on fish biology research combining a historical overview of the different research areas in fish biology and detailed descriptions of cellular and molecular approaches with explanations and recommendations for research. The book presents a global perspective of each research area with detailed analytical methodologies on the cellular and molecular mechanisms within fish biology for expermentation. The book provides different points of view on how researchers have addressed timely issues, while describing and dissecting some of the new experimental/analytical approaches used to answer the key questions at cellular and molecular levels, making this a valuable resource to those in industry and academia as well as those entering the field. - Provides detailed descriptions of each research approach, highlighting the tricks of the trade for its effective and successful application - Includes the latest developments in fish reproduction, fish development and nutrition, fish welfare, fish immunology, ecology and biomedics - Presents hot topics of research such as genetics, transcriptomics and epigenetics




Cellular and Molecular Immunology


Book Description

The 5th Edition of this comprehensive title continues the tradition of delivering an accessible, engaging, and current introduction to this essential subject. The authors describe the principles of basic and applied immunology in a concise, straightforward manner, while incorporating the most up-to-date information. Over 400 illustrations help readers quickly and easily grasp key concepts. The entire text has been revised and includes new information about the organization of lymphoid organs and the mechanisms of innate immunity. (Midwest).




Morphology Methods


Book Description

The past several decades have witnessed an impressive array of conceptual and techno logical advances in the biomedical sciences. Much of the progress in this area has developed directly as a result of new morphology-based methods that have permitted the assessment of chemical, enzymatic, immunological, and molecular parameters at the cellular and tissue levels. Additional novel approaches including laser capture microdissection have also emerged for the acquisition of homogeneous cell popula tions for molecular analyses. These methodologies have literally reshaped the approaches to fundamental biological questions and have also had a major impact in the area of diagnostic pathology. Much of the groundwork for the development of morphological methods was estab th lished in the early part of the 19 century by Francois-Vincent Raspail, generally acknowledged as the founder of the science of histochemistry. The earliest work in the field was primarily in the hands of botanists and many of the approaches to the under standing of the chemical composition of cells and tissues involved techniques such as microincineration, which destroyed structural integrity. The development of aniline th dyes in the early 20 century served as a major impetus to studies of the structural rather than chemical composition of tissue. Later in the century, however, the focus returned to the identification of chemical constituents in the context of intact cell and tissue structure.




Human Spatial Navigation


Book Description

The first book to comprehensively explore the cognitive foundations of human spatial navigation Humans possess a range of navigation and orientation abilities, from the ordinary to the extraordinary. All of us must move from one location to the next, following habitual routes and avoiding getting lost. While there is more to learn about how the brain underlies our ability to navigate, neuroscience and psychology have begun to converge on some important answers. In Human Spatial Navigation, four leading experts tackle fundamental and unique issues to produce the first book-length investigation into this subject. Opening with the vivid story of Puluwat sailors who navigate in the open ocean with no mechanical aids, the authors begin by dissecting the behavioral basis of human spatial navigation. They then focus on its neural basis, describing neural recordings, brain imaging experiments, and patient studies. Recent advances give unprecedented insights into what is known about the cognitive map and the neural systems that facilitate navigation. The authors discuss how aging and diseases can impede navigation, and they introduce cutting-edge network models that show how the brain can act as a highly integrated system underlying spatial navigation. Throughout, the authors touch on fascinating examples of able navigators, from the Inuit of northern Canada to London taxi drivers, and they provide a critical lens into previous navigation research, which has primarily focused on other species, such as rodents. An ideal book for students and researchers seeking an accessible introduction to this important topic, Human Spatial Navigation offers a rich look into spatial memory and the neuroscientific foundations for how we make our way in the world.




Current Topics In Bone Biology


Book Description

This book covers a wide spectrum of areas related to basic bone research. While bone remodeling, bone development, and osteoclast biology constitute the main contents, topics important to the understanding of bone metabolism and treatment of bone-related diseases are also intensively reviewed. Three chapters are dedicated to the classic topic of bone mechanics, which include a brief overview of the mechanostat hypothesis, a more detailed review on mechanotransduction and bone adaptation, and a chapter illustrating the basic principles of bone mechanical testing. New emerging fields such as skeletal stem cells, bone tissue engineering, phytoestrogens applications, and bone genetics study using mouse models, are also covered in detail. The book closes with a special chapter dedicated to state-of-the-art advances in bone biology research.




Molecular Biology of the Neuron


Book Description

Nerve cells - neurons - are arguably the most complex of all cells. From the action of these cells comes movement, thought and consciousness. It is a challenging task to understand what molecules direct the various diverse aspects of their function. This has produced an ever-increasing amount of molecular information about neurons, and only in Molecular Biology of the Neuron can a large part of this information be found in one source. In this book, a non-specialist can learn about the molecules that control information flow in the brain or the progress of brain disease in an approachable format, while the expert has access to a wealth of detailed information from a wide range of topics impacting on his or her field of endeavour. The text is designed to achieve a balance of accessibility and broad coverage with up-to-date molecular detail. In the six years since the first edition of Molecular Biology of the Neuron there has been an explosion in the molecular information about neurons that has been discovered, and this information is incorporated into this second edition. Entirely new chapters have been introduced where recent advances have made a new aspect of neuronal function more comprehensible at the molecular level. Written by leading researchers in the field, the book provides an essential overview of the molecular structure and function of neurons, and will be an invaluable tool to students and researchers alike.