Gail Cardew

The mapping of human genes is proceeding rapidly. Genes associated with specific inherited diseases are being identified, often providing insight into the molecular cause of the disease. At the moment, however, little consideration is being given to the variation present in different human populations. Variation in the Human Genome discusses methods of analysing population genetic data and how contemporary genetic heterogeneity arises during the evolution and migration of human populations....

There is an urgent need to uncover new therapies that will protect against malaria, as the parasite becomes increasingly resistant to available drugs and this book offers insights into three interrelated aspects of the malaria-infected erythrocyte: * The transport of solutes into and out of the infected cell and the use of specific trafficking pathways in drug targeting * The traffic of proteins produced by the intracellular parasite as an essential process for the biogenesis of transport...

Asthma is a growing health problem throughout the developed world. This volume presents a critical review of all the possible factors for this rising trend and includes research that has not yet been published in the scientific literature. Discusses the basic biology of asthma and addresses genetic influences. Surveys the epidemiological evidence for the worldwide trends in morbidity and mortality.

This volume examines obesity disorders which can lead to diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia. It offers an interdisciplinary and international look at all aspects of the origins, consequences and treatment of obesity.

Telomeres and Telomerase Chairman: Sydney Brenner, 1997 Telomeres are the protective genetic elements located at the ends of chromosomes and are essential for correct chromosomal structure and function. They are not fully replicated by the conventional DNA polymerase system because DNA synthesis occurs only in the 5' to 3' direction and requires an RNA primer for initiation. Consequently, cells require a special enzyme to maintain the telomeric ends of chromosomes during each round of...

T cells are a specialized population of immune cells that aid the immune system in combating various types of invading pathogens. This book presents up-to-the-minute data on the role of T cells in autoimmune diseases.

This book describes a diverse analysis of the five somatostatin receptors; somatostatin gene regulation; promatostatin processing; mechanisms of signal transduction; and the design and use of somatostatin analogues, including their possible clinical implications. The book will provide a comprehensive summary of the cellular and molecular biology of somatostatin and its recently isolated receptors. The book will review the design and use of specific somatostatin analogues both biochemically to...

The use of oligonucleotides as therapeutic agents rests upon their ability to interfere, in a sequence-specific manner, with the fundamental machinery of protein synthesis either by binding to the mRNAs transcribed from a gene or by binding directly to a target gene. This approach can be used not only for inhibition of the synthesis of host proteins but also of those required by invading pathogens. Potential therapeutic applications are enormous, ranging over hypertension, cardiovascular...

This new work contains the first integrated discussion of the role of olfaction in mosquito-host interactions. It covers the practical applications of this knowledge in attempting to control malaria as a problem for world health. The volume begins with a general overview of mosquito life cycle styles and how odour-mediated host location fits into the repertoire of behaviours that a specific species may exhibit. Certain aspects of insect olfaction and its underlying physiological mechanisms are...

'Homology' as a concept became increasingly elusive during the course of the 20th century. The central debates and controversies concern both fundamental definitions and the nature of the criteria by which homology is judged. Attempts to move away from comparative morphology to ideas based on developmental pathways have tended to founder on the fact that developmental pathways evolve and that similar cells or tissues or structures in animals will often have different developmental origins. The...

This up-to-the-minute account examines how radionuclides affect human health. It explores how radionuclides travel through various food chains and how they are transported throughout the terrestrial and aquatic environments.

Gramicidin channels have been studied intensively for more than 25 years. They serve as model transport systems for large protein ion channels, since it is difficult to glean high-resolution structural information on the latter. This book includes contributions from virtually all the major scientists studying gramicidin channels and is the only compilation of work in this field. It discusses crystallographic, spectroscopic, electrophysiological and computational studies, especially in the light...

Gap junctions are key elements in communication between cells in multicellular organisms. It is clear that their activity is essential for normal embryonic development and normal function in adult organs, although the individual roles of the proteins that form the channels (connexins) are not yet fully understood. The last few years have seen considerable progress in this field and exciting new issues concerning gap junctional intercellular communication are being raised. Perturbed gap junction...

Epigenetics pertains to the development of an organism from an undifferential cell, resulting in the successive formation and development of organs and parts that did not pre-exist in the fertilized egg. An exciting and stimulating volume which used the extensive knowledge of basic transcriptional control as a foundation to explore the more complex and interesting level at which genes can be regulated.

This book details the rapidly advancing research on the development of the cerebral cortex. Topics covered include: new physiological data showing patterns in developing cortical organization; abnormalities of cortical development associated with psychiatric disorders; and research on cell identity and regionalization of the cortex.

The molecular mechanisms and protein species associated with the mineralization of mature dental enamel are active areas of research. This book focuses on specific areas of research including the structural chemistry, protein biochemistry and genetics of enamel development.

This book contains chapters by some of the leading figures in the field of evolutionary psychology. The latest data are presented on evolutionary theories in perception, information, various aspects of social behaviour, language, learning and aggression. A common theme running through the printed discussions in this book is the important problem of how we can develop and test rigorous characterizations of evolved mental adaptations.

Microbial responses to acidic and alkaline pH are important in many areas of bacteriology. For example, the mechanisms of resistance to acidic pH are important in the understanding of the passage of human pathogens through the acid of the stomach; and an understanding of microbial degradation of alkaline industrial waste is important for the environment. Bringing together contributions from an international and interdisciplinary group of experts working on the many aspects of bacterial cellular...