Systematic biology has a far wider application than merely the provision of a reliable classification scheme for new strains. With the framework of the hierarchic system stabilizing, genomes, noncoding regions, and genes and their products can now be evaluated in an evolutionary context. This book summarizes recent developments in the molecular characterization of cultured and as-yet uncultured prokaryotes, emphasizing the strengths and weaknesses of individual approaches. The chapters of the book are compiled to stimulate students to enter the field of bacterial diversity, presenting a broad spectrum of fascinating multifaceted disciplines that illuminate the paths to ecosystem functioning, communication within communities, symbiosis, life in extreme environments, astrobiology, and more.

There is growing enthusiasm in the scientific community about the prospect of mapping and sequencing the human genome, a monumental project that will have far-reaching consequences for medicine, biology, technology, and other fields. But how will such an effort be organized and funded? How will we develop the new technologies that are needed? What new legal, social, and ethical questions will be raised? Mapping and Sequencing the Human Genome is a blueprint for this proposed project. The authors offer a highly readable explanation of the technical aspects of genetic mapping and sequencing, and they recommend specific interim and long-range research goals, organizational strategies, and funding levels. They also outline some of the legal and social questions that might arise and urge their early consideration by policymakers.

For a long time microbial ecology has been developed as a distinct field within Ecology. In spite of the important role of microorganisms in the environment, this group of 'invisible' organisms remained unaccessable to other ecologists. Detection and identification of microorganisms remain largely dependent on isolation techniques and characterisation of pure cul tures. We now realise that only a minor fraction of the microbial com munity can be cultivated. As a result of the introduction of molecular methods, microbes can now be detected and identified at the DNA/RNA level in their natural environment. This has opened a new field in ecology: Molecular Microbial Ecology. In the present manual we aim to introduce the microbial ecologist to a selected number of current molecular techniques that are relevant in micro bial ecology. The first edition of the manual contains 33 chapters and an equal number of additional chapters will be added this year. Since the field of molecular ecology is in a continuous progress, we aim to update and extend the Manual regularly and will invite anyone to depo sit their new protocols in full detail in the next edition of this Manual. We hope this book finds its place where it was born: at the lab bench! Antoon D.L. Akkermans, Jan Dirk van Elsas and Frans J. de Bruijn March 1995 Molecular Microbial Ecology Manual 1.3.6: 1-8, 1996. © 1996 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

This second edition of Modern Bacterial Taxonomy has been completely revised and expanded to include detailed coverage of molecular systematics including relevant aspects of nucleic acid sequences, the construction of phylogenetic trees, typing of bacteria by restriction fragment length polymorphisms, DNA hybridization probes and the use of the polymerase chain reaction in bacterial systematics.

Holland-Frei Cancer Medicine, Ninth Edition, offers a balanced view of the most current knowledge of cancer science and clinical oncology practice. This all-new edition is the consummate reference source for medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, internists, surgical oncologists, and others who treat cancer patients. A translational perspective throughout, integrating cancer biology with cancer management providing an in depth understanding of the disease An emphasis on multidisciplinary, research-driven patient care to improve outcomes and optimal use of all appropriate therapies Cutting-edge coverage of personalized cancer care, including molecular diagnostics and therapeutics Concise, readable, clinically relevant text with algorithms, guidelines and insight into the use of both conventional and novel drugs Includes free access to the Wiley Digital Edition providing search across the book, the full reference list with web links, illustrations and photographs, and post-publication updates

Computer-Assisted Bacterial Systematics examines the theoretical basis of numerical taxonomy and its impact on microbial classification and identification. In addition to the principles of numerical taxonomy, computer-assisted identification and the stability of classifications are discussed, along with cladistics and the evolution of proteins. The impact of computer-assisted methods on the systematics of different bacteria and on the description of microbial populations in natural habitats is also considered. Comprised of 16 chapters, this book begins with an introduction to the origins of modern numerical taxonomy, with emphasis on the collaboration between P. H. A. Sneath and R. R. Sokal as well as the controversy concerning optimality criteria in numerical taxonomic research. Subsequent chapters deal with cladistics and the evolution of proteins; computer-assisted analysis of data from cooperative studies on mycobacteria; numerical analysis of various types of chemical data using multivariate statistics; and the value of non-hierarchical methods in bacterial taxonomy. The final chapter considers the future of numerical taxonomy and the shape of things to come. This monograph will be of interest to students, practitioners, and researchers in fields ranging from microbiology to biochemistry and bacteriology.

Current chemosystematics owes much to the availability of highly sensitive analytical techniques. Many of these involve a quantitative approach, utilising computers and a variety of statistical techniques. This book contains up-to-date procedures on chemical methods being developed and used for the classification and identification of bacteria, including medically and economically significant ones. Detailed protocols are given on how valuable taxonomic data can be derived from analyses of nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and whole-organisms. Of general interest to microbiologists, the volume should also be an essential reference to those actively engaged in diagnostic bacteriology or microbial systematics. FROM THE PREFACE: Chemical methods not only are well established in bacterial systematics but are also rapidly changing our views on how bacteria should be classified and identified. Chemotaxonomy, which owes much to the availability of new and highly sensitive analytical techniques, can be used to establish relationships between bacteria at all levels in the taxonomic hierarchy. However, many of the new approaches are designed for the identification of bacteria and some are quantitative, employing computers and a variety of statistical techniques. This book contains detailed procedures on many of the chemical methods currently being used for the classification and identification of bacteria. As such, it will be of value generally to microbiologists and is an essential reference for those actively engaged in diagnostic bacteriology.