Books in Life sciences

Elsevier's Life Sciences collection helps researchers get comprehensive coverage and up-to-date information on the study of living organisms, their processes, and interrelationships, spanning disciplines like biology, genetics, and biochemistry, and addressing emerging trends such as genomics, biotechnology, and sustainability, essential for advancing knowledge and driving innovation in the field.

Books Journals

Microbial Transformations of Steroids

1st Edition
June 28, 2014
William Charney + 1 more
English
eBook
9 7 8 1 4 8 3 2 6 1 5 5 3

Microbial Transformations of Steroids: A Handbook aims to provide those who wish to use microbial transformations of steroids with a single source book starting from 1937 to the present. The handbook first offers information on the history of the microbial transformations of organic compounds, including earliest works on the study of nonsteroids and steroids; significance of discovery of anti-inflammatory action of cortisone; first hydroxylations and dehydrogenations; manufacture of natural and synthetic corticosteroids; and trends in research. The text then ponders on chemical classification of microbial transformations of steroids, as well as the role of enzymes in microbial transformations and the classes of reactions. The publication elaborates on the construction and use of the table. Topics include order of the table, nomenclature, description of the transformation leading to the product, yield, organism, and constants. The book also focuses on taxonomy and use of the table, including system of classification, specific notes on divisions of the table, and source of cultures. The handbook is a valuable source of data for readers interested in the microbial transformations of steroids.

Insecticides

1st Edition
June 28, 2014
R. D. O'Brien
English
eBook
9 7 8 1 4 8 3 2 7 0 6 8 5

Insecticides: Action and Metabolism provides a comprehensive review of the action of insecticides and a survey of their metabolism. This book discusses the toxicology of insecticides. Organized into 17 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the mechanisms whereby toxicants exert their effects. This text then discusses the insecticidal action of organophosphates, which is described as the toxic organic compounds containing phosphorus. Other chapters consider the mode of action of organophosphates by inhibiting cholinesterase with consequent disruption of nervous activity caused by accumulation of acetylcholine at nerve endings. This book discusses as well the erratic patterns of selective toxicity to insects of the carbamates. The final chapter deals with the real hazard to human health as well as the effects upon wild life of insecticides and chlorinated pesticides. This book is a valuable resource for organic and agricultural chemists, as well as biologists, agriculturists, neurophysiologists, environmental scientists, and research workers.

Structure and Functions of Contractile Proteins

1st Edition
June 28, 2014
Boris F. Poglazov
English
eBook
9 7 8 1 4 8 3 2 7 0 8 6 9

Structure and Functions of Contractile Proteins focuses on the analysis of problems on the structure and functions of contractile proteins in which substantial progress has been achieved. The book first offers information on the protein constitution of myofibrils and myosin, including adenosinetriphosphat... activity, reaction with actin, and myosin molecule. The text also ponders on the polymerization of actin, tropomyosin, and the theory of contraction. Discussions focus on model experiments and molecular basis of contraction; structural interrelations of muscle proteins; features of the process of polymerization of actin; and size of the actin molecule. The text elaborates on the contractile proteins of the elementary motor structures of cells, as well as the chemical composition and physicochemical and enzymic properties of flagella and cilia; achromatin apparatus and movement of chromosomes; and structure of the flagella and cilia. Motor apparatus of bacteriophage and features of the movement of protoplasm and the mechanism of permeability are also discussed. The manuscript is a reliable source of data for readers interested in the structure and functions of contractile proteins.

Introduction to Genetics

1st Edition
June 28, 2014
A. J. S. McMillan
English
eBook
9 7 8 1 4 8 3 2 8 2 5 1 0

Introduction to Genetics: Science of Heredity presents a linear programmed text about hereditary and genetics. This book discusses a variety of topics related to heredity and genetics, including chromosomes, genes, Mendelism, mitosis, and meiosis. Organized into six chapters, this book begins with an overview of some of the experiments that first provide an understanding of heredity and laid the foundation of the science of genetics. This text then provides detailed information about the cell and explains how the essential parts of it reproduce and divide. Other chapters consider how the chromosome theory can explain not only the facts of Mendelism, but also the many complications that arise in genetics. This book discusses as well the problems that can happen during the process of mitosis and meiosis. The final chapter deals with the practical problems that confront the plant breeder. This book is a valuable resource for teachers and students of biology.

The Foundations of Genetics

1st Edition
June 28, 2014
F. A. E. Crew
J. M. Dodd + 1 more
English
eBook
9 7 8 1 4 8 3 2 8 2 6 5 7

The Foundations of Genetics describes the historical development of genetics with emphasis on the contributions to advancing genetical knowledge and the various applications of genetics. The book reviews the work of Gregor Mendel, his Law of Segregation, and of Ernst Haeckel who suggested that the nucleus is that part of the cell that is responsible for heredity. The text also describes the studies of W. Johannsen on "pure lines," and his introduction of the terms gene, genotype, and phenotype. The book explains the theory of the gene and the notion that hereditary particles are borne by the chromosomes (Sutton-Boveri hypothesis). Of the constituent parts of the nucleus only the chromatin material divides at mitosis and segregates during maturation. Following studies confirm that the chromatin material, present in the form of chromosomes with a constant and characteristic number and appearance for each species, is indeed the hereditary material. The book describes how Muller in 1927, showed that high precision energy radiation is the external cause to mutation in the gene itself if one allele can mutate without affecting its partner. The superstructure of genetics built upon the foundations of Mendelism has many applications including cytogenetics, polyploidy, human genetics, eugenics, plant breeding, radiation genetics, and the evolution theory. The book can be useful to academicians and investigators in the fields of genetics such as biochemical, biometrical, microbial, and pharmacogenetics. Students in agriculture, anthropology, botany, medicine, sociology, veterinary medicine, and zoology should add this text to their list of primary reading materials.

Bacterial Metabolism

1st Edition
June 28, 2014
H. W. Doelle
English
eBook
9 7 8 1 4 8 3 2 7 2 7 4 0

Bacterial Metabolism focuses on metabolic events that occur in microorganisms, as well as photosynthesis, oxidation, polysaccharide formation, and homofermentation. The book first discusses the thermodynamics of biological reactions, photosynthesis and photometabolism, and chemosynthesis. Free energy, photosynthesis, enzymes, and terminology in bacterial metabolism are elaborated. The manuscript then examines acetic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria. Discussions focus on lactate, ethanol, glucose, and glycerol metabolism, glycol oxidation, homofermentation, polysaccharide formation, and electron transport systems. The publication takes a look at pseudomonadaceae and nitrogen metabolism as an energy source for anaerobic microorganisms. Topics include metabolism of pairs of amino acids, single amino acid metabolism, oxidation of glycolate and malonate, and oxygenases. The book is a dependable source of information for readers interested in bacterial metabolism.

Bacterial Physiology and Metabolism

1st Edition
June 28, 2014
J. R. Sokatch
English
eBook
9 7 8 1 4 8 3 2 6 1 3 8 6

Bacterial Physiology and Metabolism focuses on research on bacteria, as well as metabolism of carbohydrates, fermentation, and oxidation of acids. The book first offers information on nutrition and growth of bacterial cultures, including requirements for growth, nutritional classification of bacteria, measurement of bacterial growth, and synchronous growth of bacterial cultures. The manuscript then considers the chemical composition of bacteria, oligosaccharide catabolism, and transport of sugars. The publication takes a look at the fermentation of sugars and aerobic metabolism of carbohydrates. Discussions focus on Embden-Meyerhof fermentations, miscellaneous pathways, and hexose, pentose, polyol, and hexuronic acid oxidation. The text also elaborates on oxidation of organic acids, electron transport, oxidation of hydrocarbons, and protein and amino acid catabolism. The text is a dependable reference for readers interested in bacterial physiology and metabolism.

Enzymes of the Arterial Wall

1st Edition
June 28, 2014
John Esben Kirk
English
eBook
9 7 8 1 4 8 3 2 6 1 4 6 1

Enzymes of the Arterial Wall is a comprehensive up-to-date monograph, and is the first publication dealing specifically with quantitative determinations of enzyme activities in human and animal vascular tissue. All available information concerning this subject is included. This summary of all current knowledge will be very useful to scientists who lack extensive library facilities and knowledge of foreign languages necessary for a thorough and time-consuming personal search of the original literature. A systematic description is made of 98 different enzymes; nearly all enzymes in the carbohydrate metabolic pathways are included. Brevity of discussion has made it possible to incorporate all available data. The results represent 27,200 quantitative biochemical assays performed with reliable analytical techniques on both normal and arteriosclerotic tissue; 70 enzymic procedures are described. The framework for the arrangement of facts throughout the book was designed to make information easily accessible. Each enzyme is described separately, using the sequence of The Commission on Enzymes of The International Union of Biochemistry, and is followed by literature references with full titles.

Gene Activity in Early Development

1st Edition
June 28, 2014
Eric H. Davidson
English
eBook
9 7 8 1 4 8 3 2 6 1 4 7 8

Gene Activity in Early Development reviews the state of knowledge regarding genomic function in the programming and operation of what Bonnet, in 1762, described as "the miracle of epigenesis." The book is divided into four sections. Section I is concerned with gene activity in early embryogenesis, with the time of onset and the nature of embryo genome control, and with recent attempts to analyze the shifting patterns of gene expression as development proceeds. Section II reviews various classic and recent studies relevant to the phenomenon of cytoplasmic localization of morphogenetic potential and discusses the significance, from a contemporary vantage point, of this often neglected area of developmental biology. Section III deals with genomic function in oogenesis, beginning with a general survey of what could be described loosely as the natural history of the oocyte nucleus, and proceeding to current attempts to understand the character and the ultimate function of the oocyte gene products. Section IV discusses various aspects of the general problem of gene regulation in animal cells.

Sex Chromosomes

1st Edition
June 28, 2014
Ursula Mittwoch
English
eBook
9 7 8 1 4 8 3 2 5 8 5 8 4

Sex Chromosomes focuses on the study of sex chromosomes, including human chromosomal abnormalities, behavior and characteristics of chromosomes, and cell division. The book first offers information on the chromosomal basis of sex determination, as well as development of the cell theory, mitosis, fertilization, meiosis, and discovery of sex chromosomes. The publication also ponders on the mitosis, meiosis, and formation of gametes. Discussions focus on the special characteristics of sex chromosomes, abnormalities of cell division, and sexual differentiation. The manuscript reviews sex chromosomes in plants, Drosophila, and Lepidoptera. The book also examines sex-chromosome mechanisms that differ the classic type; sex chromosomes in fishes, amphibia, reptiles, and birds; and sex chromosomes in man. Discussions focus on normal human sex chromosomes, Turner's syndrome, Klinefelter's syndrome, true hermaphrodites, testicular feminization, and pseudohermaphrodites... Sex chromosomes in mammals other than man, including monotremata, marsupialia, insectivora, rodentia, and carnivora, are discussed. The publication is a dependable reference for readers interested in the study of sex chromosomes.

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