Search

This manual covers all possible aspects of managing a child with differences in sex development, an entity easily missed by the unsuspecting clinician. Managing such children is challenging due to various processes (genetic, hormonal, environmental, chromosomal, and environmental) involved in developing gonads and brain imprinting. The entity of Gender dysphoria adds further to this complexity. With a global uproar caused by the cropping up of medicolegal issues concerning sex allotment and sex of rearing, a need is felt to know about the line of approach to address the problems of management of these children, which does not stop at medical and surgical treatment. Whereas many social and legal organizations are relentlessly working for the cause of such children, there is a lack of comprehensive literature on the round management of such children, which makes the book more of an essential addition to the existing reading material. Esteemed writers give all these aspects and explain lucidly with the help of tables, figures, and diagrams.

The book aims to be a handy compendium to the very voluminous texts of gastroenterology and hepatology existing in the knowledge market and provides the reader with an easy understanding of the bench knowledge (basic sciences) as they apply to bedside practice (clinical gastroenterology). With introduction and contributions from Prof Eamon Quigley, Former president of World Gastroenterology Organization and American College of Gastroenterology, the book covers the recent advances in the basic sciences that form an important pillar of the knowledge, thereby linking basic sciences such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, molecular medicine, etc. to clinical conditions, diseases and new therapeutic approaches in gastroenterology and hepatology. The book is written in a simple easy to read format, with a lot of diagrams and flowcharts, making it a handy guide. It also discusses in-depth about very common clinical conditions encountered in hospital settings such as ulcerative colitis, pseudomembranous colitis, colonic cancer, amebiasis, and various other syndromes and diseases. This book is a useful read for fellows and trainees in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, as well as gastroenterologists, hepatologists and physicians interested in digestive disorders.

Dieses klare und übersichtliche Buch bietet einen Einführungskurs in die Sprache des Genklonens und deckt dabei mikrobielle, pflanzliche und Säugetiersysteme ab. Es stellt die Grundlagen des Genklonens in einer gut organisierten und zugänglichen Weise dar. Teil I dieses Buches umreißt die Grundlagen der Biologie und Genetik, die für das Konzept des Genklonens relevant sind. Teil II beschreibt gängige Techniken und Ansätze des Genklonens, angefangen von den grundlegenden Mechanismen der DNA-Manipulation, Vektorsystemen, Prozesstransformation bis hin zur Genanalyse. In Teil III und IV werden Anwendungstechnologien vorgestellt, die in der Landwirtschaft, Biomedizin und verwandten Bereichen von großer Bedeutung sind. Das ABC des Genklonens, dritte Auflage, enthält Aktualisierungen, darunter ein Tutorial-Kapitel über die Konstruktion von Genvektoren, Methoden zur Exom-Sequenzierung bei der Suche nach Krankheitsgenen, überarbeitete Themen zur Gentherapie und zur Ganzgenom-Sequenzierung, neue Entwicklungen zum Gen-Targeting und zur Genom-Editierung sowie den aktuellen Stand des Next Generation Sequencing. Mit mehr als 140 Abbildungen ist diese neue Ausgabe ein unschätzbarer Text für Studenten und alle, die die Sprache des Genklonens lesen und sprechen wollen.

This SpringerBrief explores unconventional functions of eight different transcription factors and concludes with a discussion of their biological significance and impact, including effects on processes within the cell nucleaus during development and in adult organisms. Chapter One details unconventional functions of the transcription factors GAGA, HP1, Rb, STAT, ATF-2 and NF-kB. Surprisingly, all of these transcription factors can be found in association with heterochromatin as well as euchromatin, and in some cases unconventional functions have been demonstrated for these heterochromatin-associated factors. Chapter Two focuses on the unconventional functions of STAT and HP1 and discusses their roles in the promotion of longevity, and in protection from cancer and DNA damage. Chapter Three explores the biological significance of the findings presented in the first two chapters and considers how global changes in the epigenome brought about by factors such as STAT and HP1 might affect processes within the cell nucleus during development and in adult organisms. This succinct yet thorough SpringerBrief is essential for researchers studying epigenetics, and to instructors of the subject. It should also appeal to people interested in the control of gene transcription and other processes in the cell nucleus, and to those interested in development.

This book gives insight into the functional role of non-coding RNAs in central pathways contributing to the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. It also sheds light on the relationship of this cluster with cancer. Tumor cells, in contrast to cells in cardiometabolic tissues, can regulate this cluster of non-coding RNAs to escape from oxidative stress and anti-tumor immunity and maintain insulin sensitivity, facilitating cancer progression. The book presents a cluster of non-coding RNAs that may be prospectively analyzed in extensive cohort studies to determine their value in risk-predicting machine learning algorithms. In addition, it emphasizes the role of microvesicles in communication between tumor-adjacent tissue, inflammatory cells, and tumor cells, with a special focus on the role of miR-155. The book intends to promote interdisciplinary research. Due to the comprehensive background information provided in each chapter, it is suitable for researchers in academia and industry and for graduate students in biology, bioengineering, and medicine.

The purpose of this book is to introduce the readers on the perspective of the role that unsaturated fatty acids and complex lipids play on health and disease. Bioactive lipids can be modified affecting membrane composition, structure and fluidity in addition to changes in cell signaling associated to lipid-protein (membrane receptors) interactions, issues that are addressed by the authors. This book analyzes key topics involving bioactive lipids and their role in normal signaling and the mechanisms of disease. The book navigates from structural studies of oxidized and non-oxidized lipids to the reactions and cell signaling processes that bioactive lipids play in cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. The book contains the recent advances reported in the literature about lipidomics as well as the role that lipid-derived compounds exert on unfolded protein response and lipid metabolism and disease. This book represents a state of the art introduction to lipid metabolism from a biochemical to an in vivo overview being an useful tool for students and investigators. We hope the mechanistic observations on the role of bioactive lipids in health and disease serve a perspective to improve the existing treatments or propose new lipid-based pharmacology

The book aims to review knowledge on the disorders of eating behaviour and body composition in some of the non-primate higher animals and to relate these to similar conditions in humans. With advances in understanding the nature of these disorders and their biological basis, it seems timely to assess what cross-species comparisons can tell us about the general underlying factors at work. This may also help to delineate what may be a general biological basis that humans share with their higher animal comrade species and what may distinguish human from non-human, particularly in a cultural context. This could help in combating better the problems of these conditions in the animal species as well as in man and in suggesting well-based preventive measures. As far as people are concerned the last two decades of the 20th century have shown a significant increase in obesity in the richer countries, particularly the USA (Table 1). Possibly associated with the obesity boom, there is an increasing awareness of other disorders of eating behaviour and body composition. These range from anorexia nervosa, at the other end of body composition to obesity, to others, such as bulimia, with more variable effects on body composition.

During the last 40 years, the study of the biological basis of aging has progressed tremendously, and it has now become an independent and respectable field of study and research. This volume on'Aging of Organs and Systems', is an attempt to bring understanding to both the aging process and the disease processes of old age. Bringing together contributions from an international team of authors, it will be of interest to graduates and postgraduates in the fields of medicine and nursing, researchers of different aspects of biogerontology and those in the pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, nutriceutical and health-care industry.

During the last 40 years, the study of the biological basis of aging has progressed tremendously, and it has now become an independent and respectable field of study and research. The essential cause of aging is molecular damage that slowly overwhelms cellular and organismic defense, repair and maintenance systems. In recent years, a wealth of highly sophisticated research has transformed this idea from a credible hypothesis not only to a major theory, but essentially to accepted knowledge. Aging at the Molecular Level examines the key elements in this transformation. Bringing together contributions from an international team of authors, this volume will be of interest to graduates and postgraduates in the fields of medicine and nursing, researchers of different aspects of biogerontology and those in the pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, nutraceutical and health-care industry.

The Ninth Annual Pezcoller Symposium entitled'The Biology of Tumors'was held in Rovereto, Italy, June 4-7, 1997. It focused on the genetic mechanisms underlying het­ erogeneity of tumor cell populations and tumor cell differentiation, on interactions be­ tween tumor cells and cells of host defenses, and the mechanisms of angiogenesis. With presentations at the cutting edge of progress and stimulating discussions, this symposium addressed issues related to phenomena concerned with cell regulation and cell interactions as determined by activated genes through the appropriate and timely media­ tion of gene products. Important methodologies that would allow scientists to measure dif­ ferentially genes and gene products and thus validate many of the mechanisms of control currently proposed were considered, as were the molecular basis of tumor recognition by the immune system, interactions between cells and molecular mechanisms of cell regula­ tion as they are affected by or implemented through these interactions. The molecular and cellular mechanisms of tumor vascularization were also discussed. It was recognized that angiogenesis provides a potential site of therapeutic intervention and this makes it even more important to understand the mechanisms underlying it. We wish to thank the participants in the symposium for their substantial contribu­ tions and their participation in the spirited discussions that followed. We would also like to thank Drs.

Similarities in structure and function between pigs and human beings include size, feeding patterns, digestive physiology, dietary habits, kidney structure and function, pulmo­ nary vascular bed structure, coronary artery distribution, propensity to obesity, respiratory rates, tidal volumes and social behaviors. Since the pig is an omnivore, it provides an adaptable model to evaluate chronic and acute exposures to xenobiotics such as alcohoL caffeine, tobacco, food additives and environmental pollutants. Swine have been used successfully as models to evaluate alcoholism, diabetes, absorption, digestion, total paren­ teral nutrition, organ transplantation, atherosclerosis, exercise, hypertension. hemorrhagic hypotension, melanoma, gingivitis, obstructive and reflux nephropathy. osteochondrosis. dermal healing and septic shock. A severe and worsening shortage of organs and tissues for transplantation in patients with severe organ failure has encouraged the consideration of inter species or xenotransplan­ tation. In developing programs toward this end, the pig generally is viewed as the preferred donor because of its size, physiology and availability. The pig harbors relatively few diseases which could be transmitted inadvertently to human patients. The ability to genetically modify swine to ameliorate the consequences of the human immune response offers a further significant advantage. Another important consideration for an animal model is that basic biologic back­ ground information be available for investigators to design future prospective studies.

The Sixth International Meeting on Cholinesterases and Related Proteins, Choli­ nesterases'98, was organized by Palmer Taylor and his associates at the University of California-San Diego and convened in La Jolla, California, USA, in March of 1998. This was the first conference of the series to be held in the United States, let alone on the Pa­ cific Rim. Nearly 200 delegates from twenty countries-from Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America-heard 75 oral presentations and viewed 90 posters on current research on cholinesterases and related proteins. The meeting framework was structured to include two days of plenary sessions, followed by two days of concurrent sessions and workshops in specific areas. Communication at the concurrent sessions was facilitated by the conference settings of the Martin Johnson House, on a scenic bluff overlooking the blue Pacific Ocean, and the San Diego Supercomputer Center, which enabled projection and rotation of protein structures in three dimensions for a large audience. This book is the compilation of the presentations at the Sixth International Meeting on Cholinesterases and Related Proteins into a volume that describes recent investigations on the structure, catalytic and non-catalytic functions of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), and related proteins, as well as studies on the molecular and cellular biology of these enzymes and the genes that encode them.

The annual research conference for 1996 of the American Institute for Cancer Re­ search was again held at the Loews L'Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington, DC, August 29 and 30. The topic for this, the seventh in the series, was'Dietary Fat and Cancer: Genetic and Molecular Mechanisms.'Two separate presentations were given as the conference overview.'Fat and Cancer: The Epidemiologic Evidence in Perspective'noted that die­ tary fat can be saturated, largely from animal or dairy sources, or mono- or polyunsatu­ rated, mostly from plant sources. Unlike animal fats, fish contain relatively high levels of protective omega-3 fatty acids. Although the hypothesis that dietary fat is associated with cancer is plausible, the mechanisms involved are reasonable, and many animal studies support the hypothesis, there are many obstacles in any direct extrapolation to humans, in­ cluding imprecise measures of dietary fat intake, variability in individual diets, and spe­ cies variations. Despite these limitations, there is a weak positive correlation between colon cancer and dietary fat intake, but with substantial differences for various ethnic groups. In the case of breast cancer, there is substantial variation among countries and eth­ nic groups, but the overall evidence indicated an association with fat in the diet. Epidemiologic studies of dietary fat and prostate cancer are more consistent and most show a positive relationship. However, it was not clear which types of dietary fat were im­ plicated in the effect.

The double helix architecture of DNA was elucidated in 1953. Twenty years later, in 1973, the discovery of restriction enzymes helped to create recombinant DNA mol­ ecules in vitro. The implications of these powerful and novel methods of molecular biol­ ogy, and their potential in the genetic manipulation and improvement of microbes, plants and animals, became increasingly evident, and led to the birth of modern biotechnology. The first transgenic plants in which a bacterial gene had been stably integrated were produced in 1983, and by 1993 transgenic plants had been produced in all major crop species, including the cereals and the legumes. These remarkable achievements have resulted in the production of crops that are resistant to potent but environmentally safe herbicides, or to viral pathogens and insect pests. In other instances genes have been introduced that delay fruit ripening, or increase starch content, or cause male sterility. Most of these manipulations are based on the introduction of a single gene - generally of bacterial origin - that regulates an important monogenic trait, into the crop of choice. Many of the engineered crops are now under field trials and are expected to be commercially produced within the next few years.

Molecular farming has been hailed as the'third wave'of genetically-modified organisms produced through biotechnology for the bio-based economy of the future. Unlike products of the first wave, such as herbicide resistant crop plants, which were perceived to benefit only the farmers who used them and the agrochemical companies who developed them, products of molecular farming are designed specifically for the benefit of the consumer. Such products could be purified from food or non-food organisms for a range of applications in industry, as well as animal and human health. Alternatively, the products of this technology could be consumed more directly in some edible format, such as milk, eggs, fruits or vegetables. There is a rapidly-growing interest Qn the part of the public as well as in the medical community in the role food plays in health, especially in the immunophysiological impact of food over and above the role of basic nutrition.

Volume 18 explores the latest advances in recombinant DNA molecule techniques and how they are revolutionizing basic research in biology. Chapters discuss obtaining good expression of genetically engineered pest-resistant genes introduced in crop plants, cloning DNAs containing palindromes, and identifying genes by 3'terminal exon trapping and much more.

The current volume covers human gene therapy, improving the nutritional value of maize, restriction-modification enzymes, and eight other subjects.

Adverse environmental factors can impose stress on plants and influence the expression of the full genetic potential for growth and reproduction. The capability of plants to develop plastic response reactions, to adapt to environmental stress situations, is unique in the biological world. A goal of the research described in this volume is to increase crop productivity, particular in regions where the environment imposes stress. An understanding of the principles involved in plant adaptation to environmental stress will enable optimisation of practices to improve agronomic production and minimise damaging environmental impact. The aim of this volume is to link the rapidly advancing and increasingly specialist field of molecular biology with plant physiology at the ecosystem level. The book includes chapters focused on some principle methods and a series of up-to-date review chapters on plant adaptation to a variety of specific stresses. The utilisation of newly available genome information is emphasised. Of particular importance is the desire to highlight the current potential of such approaches, and how diverse disciplines can interact and complement one another. The book is aimed at both the specialist and the advanced student.

Eminent researchers provide broad coverage of plant molecular biology and genetic engineering, detailing technological advances in plant cell transformation and responses. This state-of-the-art text includes coverage of molecular action of plant growth hormone, signal transduction, light mediated expression of genes, and genetic engineering of crop plants and trees.

Dieser Buchtitel ist Teil des Digitalisierungsprojekts Springer Book Archives mit Publikationen, die seit den Anfängen des Verlags von 1842 erschienen sind. Der Verlag stellt mit diesem Archiv Quellen für die historische wie auch die disziplingeschichtliche Forschung zur Verfügung, die jeweils im historischen Kontext betrachtet werden müssen. Dieser Titel erschien in der Zeit vor 1945 und wird daher in seiner zeittypischen politisch-ideologischen Ausrichtung vom Verlag nicht beworben.

Sequence - Evolution - Function is an introduction to the computational approaches that play a critical role in the emerging new branch of biology known as functional genomics. The book provides the reader with an understanding of the principles and approaches of functional genomics and of the potential and limitations of computational and experimental approaches to genome analysis. Sequence - Evolution - Function should help bridge the'digital divide'between biologists and computer scientists, allowing biologists to better grasp the peculiarities of the emerging field of Genome Biology and to learn how to benefit from the enormous amount of sequence data available in the public databases. The book is non-technical with respect to the computer methods for genome analysis and discusses these methods from the user's viewpoint, without addressing mathematical and algorithmic details. Prior practical familiarity with the basic methods for sequence analysis is a major advantage, but a reader without such experience will be able to use the book as an introduction to these methods. This book is perfect for introductory level courses in computational methods for comparative and functional genomics.

This volume of Molecular Biology of Hematopoiesis is dedicated to many inter­ national scientists and clinicians for their contribution to the field of Hematology/ Oncology presented at the 11th International Symposium on Molecular Biology of Hematopoiesis, which was held in Bormio, Italy, June 25-29, 1998. The continuous support of the Presidents of the meeting, Professor F. Takaku, President of Jichi University, and E. D. Thomas, Nobel Laureate, was greatly acknowledged, especially Professor Takaku, for his vision and support for development of gene therapy in Japan. New information on BMT for autoimmune disease and organ transplantation was presented at the symposium and is published in this volume. Several new findings on gene therapy/transfer into HSC were presented by E. F. Vanin and A. Nienhuis, K. Humphries, 1. A. Nolta, H. E. Heslop, and M. K. Brenner. Professors S. Asano and K. Tani presented new studies on gene transfer into primates. Among the highlights were the new papers on gene transfer presented by G. Wage maker, N. G. Abraham, and M. Onoderea from R. M. BJaese's group. The use of BMT for organ transplant and autoim­ mune disease was updated and a representative paper is presented in this volume.

In 1984, we organized a two-day symposium on retinal degenerations as part of the biennial meeting of the VI International Society for Eye Research, held in Alicante, Spain. The success of this first meeting led to the second held, two years later in Sendai, Japan, organized as a satellite of the VII ISER. We were fortunate that these meetings began at a time of vigorous research activity in the area of retinal degenerations, thanks to the financial support of the Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation and the strong encouragement of its scientific director, Dr. Alan Laties. Significant advances were made so that every two years scientists were eager to meet to share their findings. The programs included presentations by both basic and clinical researchers with ample time for informal discussions in a relaxed atmos­ phere. Many investigators met for the first time at these symposia and a number of fruitful collaborations were established. This book contains the proceedings of the VI International Symposium on Retinal Degenerations held November 6-10, 1994, in Jerusalem. As with the other meetings, some new areas were covered. One session was devoted to apoptosis, an important process involved in cell death in inherited retinal degenerations. Another session was on invertebrate photoreceptors, where numerous mutations have now been identified that lead to altered function or degeneration of the retina. All participants were invited to submit chapters and most complied. We thank them for their contributions.

During the decade since the publication of the first edition of this important book, there has been a rapid advancement in the techniques of genetic engineering and molecular biology. In this edition Joseph Cooper takes those advances into account and includes such topics as gene therapy, immunosuppression and new viruses of human/veterinary significance. Much new information about virus transmission is also included and the most modern systems of virus taxonomy are used to emphasise the features shared between viruses in plants, animals and bacteria. This is the only book of its type which covers viruses in all forms of life.

Studies of selected model organisms have led to a greatly improved understanding not only of the molecular events which take place during development under the control of specific sets of genes, but also of epigenetic and environmental influences on these processes. This book gives an overview of all three of these levels and their relative importance, and as such will give the reader a clear picture of one of the most exciting areas of current biological research.

Proceedings of the Eighth Annual Pezcoller Symposium held in Trento, Italy, June 17-19, 1996

When the late Professor C. D. Darlington founded what developed into the International Chromosome Conferences in Oxford in 1964, he was concerned that scientists who worked on different aspects of chromosomes, or who studied them in different ways, should have the opportunity of'discussing the fundamental problems of chromosomes with one another'. The fact that well over 300 scientists with a wide variety of interests came to Edinburgh in August 1992 for the 11th International Chromosome Conference shows that there is still the same need, and also the desire among chromosomologists to have such discussions. The present volume contains almost all the invited contributions, and attests to the diversity of approaches and applications in chromosomal studies. A few years ago it may have seemed to some that chromosome studies were being superseded by molecular biology, but the molecular biologists have now realized that they need to know about chromosomes, and indeed an important, if ill-defined discipline of'molecular cytogenetics'has grown up in recent years. We are pleased that in planning the Conference and this book, so much of the work presented is at the interface between cytogenetics and molecular biology. This will surely continue in the future, as boundaries between disciplines are largely artificial, and each has much to learn from the others.

The enormous advances in molecular biology and genetics coupled with the progress in instrumentation and surgical techniques have produced a voluminous and often bewildering quantity of data. The need for a second edition of Cardiovascular Physiology in the Genetically Engineered Mouse is underscored not only by these rapid advances, but by the increasing numbers of scientists who have focussed their research on genetically engineered mice. It is the primary objective of this second edition to interpret critically the literature and to provide a framework for the enormous amount of information in this burgeoning field. As in the first edition, the monograph serves as a practical guide for the investigator interested in the functional methods used to characterize the murine cardiovascular phenotype. However, this guidebook is a more comprehensive text than its predecessor; although the major objectives enumerated in the first edition have not substantially changed, they have been refined in keeping with the increased sophistication of the molecular biologist, geneticist, and physiologist in each other's discipline. Each chapter has been expanded and updated, richly enhanced with original tables and figures, and in many cases, extensively rewritten. Eight chapters written by internationally recognized experts have been added; this represents a 43% increase from the first edition.

Damage to DNA by both exogenous and endogenous sources is increasingly regarded as highly important in the initiation and progression of cancer and in the occurance of other pathological events. DNA damage caused by reactive oxygen-derived species, also called oxidative DNA damage, is most the frequent type encountered by aerobic cells. Mechanistic studies of carcinogenesis indicate an important role of this type of damage to DNA. There is also strong evidence to support the role of oxidative DNA damage in the aging process. DNA damage is opposed in vivo by repair systems. If not repaired, DNA damage may lead to detrimental biological consequences. Therefore, the repair of DNA damage is regarded as one of the essential events in all life forms. In recent years the field of DNA repair has flourished due to new findings on DNA repair mechanisms and the molecular basis of cancer. A detailed knowledge of mechanisms of DNA damage and repair, and how individual repair enzymes function may lead to manipulation of DNA repair in cells and ultimately to an increase of the resistence of human cells to DNA-damaging agents. This volume covers the most recent devlopments in this research field and contains contributions from scientists working in the fields of biochemistry, molecular biology, enzymology, biomedical science, and radiation biology.

Although debated since the time of Darwin, the evolutionary role of mutation is still controversial. In over 40 chapters from leading authorities in mutation and evolutionary biology, this book takes a new look at both the theoretical and experimental measurement and significance of new mutation. Deleterious, nearly neutral, beneficial, and polygenic mutations are considered in their effects on fitness, life history traits, and the composition of the gene pool. Mutation is a phenomenon that draws attention from many different disciplines. Thus, the extensive reviews of the literature will be valuable both to established researchers and to those just beginning to study this field. Through up-to-date reviews, the authors provide an insightful overview of each topic and then share their newest ideas and explore controversial aspects of mutation and the evolutionary process. From topics like gonadal mosaicism and mutation clusters to adaptive mutagenesis, mutation in cell organelles, and the level and distribution of DNA molecular changes, the foundation is set for continuing the debate about the role of mutation, fitness, and adaptability. It is a debate that will have profound consequences for our understanding of evolution.

I am pleased to introduce this volume on Myoblast Transfer Therapy on behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and all of its Advisory Committees. The international conference which led to this volume brought together leading basic scientists and clinical investigators for the purpose of coordinating the development of this new field in the fight against muscular dystrophy. The Muscular Dystrophy Association is the nation's most rapidly growing voluntary health agency in terms of its programs of patient care, research, and professional and public education. Success is attributable to its National Chairman, Jerry Lewis, to its effective corporate membership, and to the many physicians and scientists who give their time freely to advise on policies, to review grant applications, and to participate in meetings such as this. I should like to acknowledge a large number of other individuals to whom we are indebted: the broad segment of the American public which continually and generously supports our spectrum of services. The Muscular Dystrophy Association, next year, should raise in excess of $115,000,000. These contributions are derived from more than 10 million American families. These families are not only pledging their money but expressing their hopes that we will find answers to the tragic problem of neuromuscular disease. We are confident that the fruits of this meeting will move the frontier of research forward toward that goal.

Grauzone and Completion of Meiosis During Drosophila Oogenesis describes the work behind a major, award winning discovery: the establishment of a new pathway that specifically regulates the female meiosis, a process essential for sexual reproduction. This book chronicles a new gene mapping method and the cloning and documentation of several types of genes that were proven to have significant influence on the cell cycle. It is of interest to anyone doing work with fruit flies, both graduate students and principal investigators.

The'Progress in Cell Cycle Research'series is dedicated to serve as a collection of reviews on various aspects of the cell division cycle, with special emphasis on less studied aspects. We hope this series will continue to be helpful to students, graduates and researchers interested in the cell cycle area and related fields. We hope that reading of these chapters will constitute a'point of entry'into specific aspects of this vast and fast moving field of research. As PCCR4 is being printed several other books on the cell cycle have appeared (ref. 1-3) which should complement our series. This fourth volume of PCCR starts with a review on RAS pathways and how they impinge on the cell cycle (chapter 1). In chapter 2, an overview is presented on the links between cell anchorage -cytoskeleton and cell cycle progression. A model of the Gl control in mammalian cells is provided in chapter 3. The role of histone acetylation and cell cycle contriol is described in chapter 4. Then follow a few reviews dedicated to specific cell cycle regulators: the 14-3-3 protein (chapter 5), the cdc7/Dbf4 protein kinase (chapter 6), the two products of the pI6/CDKN2A locus and their link with Rb and p53 (chapter 7), the Ph085 cyclin-dependent kinases in yeast (chapter 9), the cdc25 phophatase (chapter 10), RCCI and ran (chapter 13). The intriguing phosphorylation­ dependent prolyl-isomerization process and its function in cell cycle regulation are reviewed in chapter 8.

Since 1984, we have organized satellite symposia on retinal degenerations that are held in conjunction with the biennial International Congress of Eye Research. The timing and location of our Retinal Degeneration Symposia have allowed scientists and clinicians from around the world to convene and present their exciting new findings. The symposia have been arranged to allow ample time for discussions and one-on-one interactions in a relaxed atmosphere, where international friendships and collaborations could be established. The IXth International Symposium on Retinal Degeneration was held on October 9-14, 2000 in Durango, Colorado and was attended by over 100 scientists from six continents. This book contains many of their presentations. Several events of note occurred at this meeting. First, thanks to the generous support of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, we were able to sponsor the travel of 11 young scientists from six countries. Most of them have contributed chapters to this volume. The response to the travel program was so overwhelming that we will make it regular feature of our meeting. This will allow other bright, young investigators to be introduced to the world experts who study retinal degenerations. Second, about 40% of the scientists who attended this meeting were there for the first time. We believe that this indicates a growing interest in retinal degeneration research and ensures that new talent will be attracted to this important area of investigation. The symposium received support from several organizations.

Aaron I. Vinik, M.D., Ph.D. I IEastem Virginia Medical School The Diabetes Institutes Norfolk, Virginia 23510 This symposium, held in June 1991, was a gathering of international scientists to exchange their views on current concepts of cell growth and differentiation. Each scientist was asked to present a topic of their research related to cell growth and regeneration and to participate in a round table conference elaborating on current knowledge and sharing their experiences. By furthering this promising area of endeavor, a means of understanding ontogeny of cell development and of providing insights into tumor biology would prevail. Of prime importance was the anticipation that new information from a better understanding of the normal evolution of the pancreatic islet would generate alternative approaches to curing diabetes. This forward serves as a short introduction to the concept of pancreatic islet regeneration and the models currently in use to study the process. DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGIN OF ISLETS DURING EMRYOGENESIS The developing pancreas appears as a protrusion from the dorsal surface of the l embryonic gut. The different islet cell types appear sequentially during development in vivo. It therefore seems reasonable to propose that coordinated growth is dependent upon specificity of growth factors.

During the last 50 years, the perception oftransposable elements (TEs) has changed considerably from selfish DNA to sequences that may contribute significantly to genome function and evolution. The recent increased interest in TEs is based on the realization that they are a major genetic component (at least 10--20%) of all organisms and a major contributor to the mutation process. It is currently estimated that 70--80% of spontaneous mutations are the result of TE-mediated insertions, deletions, or chromosomal rearrangements. Thus, it seems at least plausible that TEs may playa significant role in the adaptation and evolution of natural populations and species. The ubiquity of TEs suggests that they are an old component of genomes which have been vertically transmitted through generations over evolutionary time. However, detailed analyses carried out over the last 20 years have revealed several unusual features of TE evolution: (i) TEs can be horizontally transferred between species; (ii) TE evolutionary rates can be dramatically increased by specific inactivation processes, such as the RIP (Repeat Induced Point mutation) mechanism in fungi; (iii) TEs can influence the regulation of other TEs by insertion or deletion; (iv) different classes of TEs in even distantly related species can be remarkably similar in both structure and function.

Members of the family Littorinidae are among the most widely studied gastropod molluscs and the more questions we answer about this group, the more questions are inevitably posed. Littorinid research spans diverse disciplines, from molecular biology, physiology, ecology, systematics and evolutionary biology to elegant anatomical studies. The papers n this volume reflect the current research being carried out on littorinids, and fall into three broad themes: systematics, ecology, and pollution studies. This book is primarily targeted at the research level, while providing useful information for advanced first-degree students conducting research projects.

The VIIth International Conference on Aspartic Proteinases was held in Banff, Alberta, Canada, from October 22 to 27, 1996. The venue was the Banff Centre in the Canadian Rockies, a setting well known worldwide for the scenic beauty and mountain grandeur. It was perhaps presumptuous of the organizers to call this the seventh Aspartic Proteinase Conference but it was felt that the meeting in 1982, organized by Tom Blundell and John Kay, was of an international stature and covered topics sufficiently broad to constitute a conference. Thus, there is a discontinuity in that the Gifu Conference organized by Prof. Kenji Takahashi was the fifth International Conference on Aspartic Proteinases. Officially, there has not been a sixth Conference and if there is confusion, it is the result of my desire to recognize the importance of the London meeting. Banffhosted 106 scientists from 14 different countries. There were 26 invited speak­ ers among the 44 oral presentations of the 7 main sessions. In addition, there were 53 con­ tributed poster presentations that spanned the whole range of interest in aspartic proteinases.

Numerous studies have proven the biological basis of memory formation and have begun to identify the biochemical traces and cellular circuits that are formed by experience, and which participate int the storage of information in the brain, its retention for long durations, and its retrieval upon demand. Cells in the nervous system have the capability of undergoing extremely long-lasting alterations in response to hormonal, pharmacological, and environmental stimulations. The mechanisms underlying this neuronal plasticity are activated by experiential inputs and operate in the process of learning and the formation of memories in the brain. This volume presents research areas which have not been highlighted in the past. In addition to studies on the involement of functional proteins in neuronal adaptation, this volume presents recent developments on the critical roles of bioactive lipids and nucleotides in these processes. In addition to the widely studied role of second messengers, a review of studies on extracellular phosphorylation systems operating on the surface of brain neurons is presented.The first section of the volume presents studies of basic mechanisms operating in a wide range of adaptive processes. The second section presents recent advances in investigations that have demonstrated the clinical implications of this research. These include: state of the art use of transgenic models in studies of molecular and cellular mechanisms implicated in familial Alzheimer's disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; studies of specific proteins implicated in Alzheimer's disease, including an adapter that binds to the beta-amyloid precurser protein (beta-APP) and the microtubular protein Tau and its membrane-bound counterpart. The advantages of using cell culture models for elucidating the causes of neuronal degeneration and for identifying mechanisms of neuroprotection are also presented among the chapters in the section on clinical implications.

Nearly 10 years have elapsed since I finished writing the first edition of Intro­ duction to Molecular Embryology. During this period, molecular embryology has made great strides forward, but without undergoing a major revolution; there­ fore, the general philosophy and outline of the book have remained almost un­ changed. However, all the chapters had to be almost completely rewritten in or­ der to introduce new facts and to eliminate findings which have lost interest or have been disproved. There was a major gap in the first edition of this book: very little was said about mammalian eggs despite their obvious interest for mankind. Research on mammalian eggs and embryos is so active today that this important topic deserves a full chapter in a book concerned with molecular embryology. Therefore, I am very thankful to my colleague Dr. Henri Alexandre, who has written a chapter on mammalian embryology (Chap. 9) and has prepared all the illustrations for this book.

Once considered merely `selfish'or `parasitic'DNA, transposable elements are today recognized as being of major biological significance. Not only are these elements a major source of mutation, they have contributed both directly and indirectly to the evolution of genome structure and function. On October 8-10, 1999, 100 molecular biologists and evolutionists representing 11 countries met on the campus of The University of Georgia in Athens for the inaugural Georgia Genetics Symposium. The topics of presentations ranged from how the elements themselves have evolved to the impact transposable elements have had on the evolution of their host genomes. The papers in this volume therefore represent state-of-the-art thinking, by leading world experts in the field, on the evolutionary significance of transposable elements.