The Cell A Very Short Introduction

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The Cell: A Very Short Introduction

Terence Allen,Graham Cowling
The Cell A Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : Terence Allen,Graham Cowling
Publisher : OUP Oxford
Page : 160 pages
File Size : 43,6 Mb
Release : 2011-09-29
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780191620263

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The Cell: A Very Short Introduction by Terence Allen,Graham Cowling Pdf

All living things on Earth are composed of cells. A cell is the simplest unit of a self-contained living organism, and the vast majority of life on Earth consists of single-celled microbes, mostly bacteria. These consist of a simple 'prokaryotic' cell, with no nucleus. The bodies of more complex plants and animals consist of billions of 'eukaryotic' cells, of varying kinds, adapted to fill different roles - red blood cells, muscle cells, branched neurons. Each cell is an astonishingly complex chemical factory, the activities of which we have only begun to unravel in the past fifty years or so through modern techniques of microscopy, biochemistry, and molecular biology. In this Very Short Introduction, Terence Allen and Graham Cowling describe the nature of cells - their basic structure, their varying forms, their division, their differentiation from initially highly flexible stem cells, their signalling, and programmed death. Cells are the basic constituent of life, and understanding cells and how they work is central to all biology and medicine. 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.

Stem Cells: A Very Short Introduction

Jonathan Slack
Stem Cells A Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : Jonathan Slack
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 160 pages
File Size : 49,9 Mb
Release : 2021-09-23
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780192640390

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Stem Cells: A Very Short Introduction by Jonathan Slack Pdf

The topic of stem cells has a high profile in the media. We've made important advances in our scientific understanding, but despite this the clinical applications of stem cells are still in their infancy and most real stem cell therapy carried out today is some form of bone marrow transplantation. At the same time, a scandalous spread of unproven stem cell treatments by private clinics represents a serious problem, with treatments being offered which are backed by limited scientific rationale, and which are at best ineffective, and at worse harmful. This Very Short Introduction introduces stem cells, exploring what they are, and what scientists do with them. Introducing the different types of stem cells, Jonathan Slack explains how they can be used to treat diseases such as retinal degeneration, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, and spinal trauma. He also discusses the important technique of bone marrow transplantation and some other types of current stem cell therapy, used for the treatment of blindness and of severe burns. Slack warns against fake stem cell treatments and discusses how to distinguish real from fake treatments. He also describes the latest scientific progress in the field, and looks forward to what we can expect to happen in the next few years Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring 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.

Developmental Biology: A Very Short Introduction

Lewis Wolpert
Developmental Biology A Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : Lewis Wolpert
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 153 pages
File Size : 50,6 Mb
Release : 2011-08-25
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780199601196

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Developmental Biology: A Very Short Introduction by Lewis Wolpert Pdf

"A concise account of what we know about development discusses the first vital steps of growth and explores one of the liveliest areas of scientific research."--P. [2] of cover.

Molecular Biology: A Very Short Introduction

Aysha Divan,Janice Royds
Molecular Biology A Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : Aysha Divan,Janice Royds
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 144 pages
File Size : 47,7 Mb
Release : 2016-08-18
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780191035814

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Molecular Biology: A Very Short Introduction by Aysha Divan,Janice Royds Pdf

Molecular Biology is the story of the molecules of life, their relationships, and how these interactions are controlled. It is an expanding field in life sciences, and its applications are wide and growing. We can now harness the power of molecular biology to treat diseases, solve crimes, map human history, and produce genetically modified organisms and crops, and these applications have sparked a multitude of fascinating legal and ethical debates. In this Very Short Introduction, Aysha Divan and Janice Royds examine the history, present, and future of Molecular Biology. Starting with the building blocks established by Darwin, Wallace and Mendel, and the discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953, they consider the wide range of applications for Molecular Biology today, including the development of new drugs, and forensic science. They also look forward to two key areas of evolving research such as personalised medicine and synthetic biology. 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.

Bacteria: A Very Short Introduction

Sebastian G. B. Amyes
Bacteria A Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : Sebastian G. B. Amyes
Publisher : OUP Oxford
Page : 130 pages
File Size : 42,8 Mb
Release : 2013-05-30
Category : Medical
ISBN : 9780191654084

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Bacteria: A Very Short Introduction by Sebastian G. B. Amyes Pdf

Bacteria form a fundamental branch of life. They are the oldest forms of life as we know it, and they are still the most prolific living organisms. They inhabit every part of the Earth's surface, its ocean depths, and even terrains such as boiling hot springs. They are most familiar as agents of disease, but benign bacteria are critical to the recycling of elements and all ecology, as well as to human health. In this Very Short Introduction, Sebastian Amyes explores the nature of bacteria, their origin and evolution, bacteria in the environment, and bacteria and disease. In looking at our efforts to manage co-evolving bacteria, he also considers the challenges of resistance to antibiotics. 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.

The Immune System

Paul Klenerman
The Immune System Book PDF

Author : Paul Klenerman
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 145 pages
File Size : 48,7 Mb
Release : 2017
Category : Electronic books
ISBN : 9780198753902

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The Immune System by Paul Klenerman Pdf

The immune system is central to human health and the focus of much medical research. Growing understanding of the immune system, and especially the creation of immune memory (long lasting protection), which can be harnessed in the design of vaccines, have been major breakthroughs in medicine. In this Very Short Introduction, Paul Klenerman describes the immune system, and how it works in health and disease. In particular he focuses on the human immune system, considering how it evolved, the basic rules that govern its behavior, and the major health threats where it is important. The immune system comprises a series of organs, cells and chemical messengers which work together as a team to provide defence against infection. Klenerman discusses these components, the critical signals that trigger them and how they exert their protective effects, including so-called innate immune responses, which react very fast to infection, and adaptive immune responses, which have huge diversity and a capacity to recognize and defend against a massive array of micro-organisms. Klenerman also considers what happens when our immune systems fail to be activated effectively, leading to serious infections, problems with inherited diseases, and also HIV/AIDS. At the opposite extreme, as Klenerman shows, an over-exaggerated immune response leads to inflammatory diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis, as well as allergy and asthma. Finally he looks at the Immune system v2.o - how immune therapies and vaccines can be advanced to protect us against the major diseases of the 21st century. 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.

Viruses

Dorothy H. Crawford
Viruses Book PDF

Author : Dorothy H. Crawford
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 177 pages
File Size : 48,6 Mb
Release : 2018
Category : Medical virology
ISBN : 9780198811718

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Viruses by Dorothy H. Crawford Pdf

Viruses are big news. From pandemics such as HIV, swine flu, and SARS, we are constantly being bombarded with information about new lethal infections. In this Very Short Introduction, Dorothy Crawford demonstrates from their discovery and the unravelling of their intricate structures, how clever these entities really are.

Biochemistry: A Very Short Introduction

Mark Lorch
Biochemistry A Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : Mark Lorch
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 144 pages
File Size : 48,7 Mb
Release : 2021-05-27
Category : Medical
ISBN : 9780192570628

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Biochemistry: A Very Short Introduction by Mark Lorch Pdf

Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring From the simplest bacteria to humans, all living things are composed of cells of one type or another, all of which have fundamentally the same chemistry. This chemistry must provide mechanisms that allow cells to interact with the external world, a means to power the cell, machinery to carry out varied processes within the cell, a structure within which everything runs, and also governance through a web of interlocking chemical reactions. Biochemistry is the study of those reactions, the molecules that are created, manipulated, and destroyed as a result of them, and the massive macromolecules (such as DNA, cytoskeletons, proteins and carbohydrates) that form the chemical machinery and structures on which these biochemical reactions take place. It didn't take long for an understanding of the chemistry of life to turn into a desire to manipulate it. Drugs and therapies all aim to modify biochemical processes for good or ill: Penicillin, derived from mould, stops bacteria making their cell walls. Aspirin, with its origins in willow bark, inhibits enzymes involved in inflammatory responses. A few nanograms of botulinum toxin (botox), can kill by preventing the release of neurotransmitters from the ends of nerves and so leads to paralysis and death, or give a wrinkle free forehead (if administered in very tiny quantities).This Very Short Introduction discusses the key concepts of biochemistry, as well as the historical figures in the field and the molecules they studied, before considering the current science and innovations in the field, and the interaction between biochemistry, biotechnology, and synthetic biology. 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.

Stem Cells: a Very Short Introduction

Jonathan Slack
Stem Cells a Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : Jonathan Slack
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 161 pages
File Size : 50,7 Mb
Release : 2021
Category : Embryonic stem cells
ISBN : 9780198869290

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Stem Cells: a Very Short Introduction by Jonathan Slack Pdf

Stem cells are a rapidly developing area of research. This book explains the nature and different types of stem cells, explores their applications in medicine for treating diseases and injuries, and considers the major areas of current research.

Evolution

Brian Charlesworth,Deborah Charlesworth
Evolution Book PDF

Author : Brian Charlesworth,Deborah Charlesworth
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 169 pages
File Size : 44,9 Mb
Release : 2017
Category : Evolution
ISBN : 9780198804369

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Evolution by Brian Charlesworth,Deborah Charlesworth Pdf

This text is about the central role of evolution in shaping the nature and diversity of the living world. It describes the processes of natural selection, how adaptations arise, and how new species form, as well as summarizing the evidence for evolution

The History of Life: A Very Short Introduction

Michael J. Benton
The History of Life A Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : Michael J. Benton
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 185 pages
File Size : 45,9 Mb
Release : 2008-11-27
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780199226320

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The History of Life: A Very Short Introduction by Michael J. Benton Pdf

This Very Short Introduction presents a succinct and accessible guide to the key episodes in the story of life on earth - from the very origins of life four million years ago to the extraordinary diversity of species around the globe today.

Genes

Jonathan Slack
Genes Book PDF

Author : Jonathan Slack
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
Page : 137 pages
File Size : 49,8 Mb
Release : 2014
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780199676507

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Genes by Jonathan Slack Pdf

Explores the discovery, nature, and role of genes in evolution and development.

The Body: A Very Short Introduction

Chris Shilling
The Body A Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : Chris Shilling
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 144 pages
File Size : 55,6 Mb
Release : 2016-01-28
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 9780191059490

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The Body: A Very Short Introduction by Chris Shilling Pdf

The human body is thought of conventionally as a biological entity, with its longevity, morbidity, size and even appearance determined by genetic factors immune to the influence of society or culture. Since the mid-1980s, however, there has been a rising awareness of how our bodies, and our perception of them, are influenced by the social, cultural and material contexts in which humans live. Drawing on studies of sex and gender, education, governance, the economy, and religion, Chris Shilling demonstrates how our physical being allows us to affect the material and virtual world around us, yet also enables governments to shape and direct our thoughts and actions. Revealing how social relationships, cultural images, and technological and medical advances shape our perceptions and awareness, he exposes the limitations of traditional Western traditions of thought that elevate the mind over the body as that which defines us as human. Dealing with issues ranging from cosmetic and transplant surgery, the performance of gendered identities, the commodification of bodies and body parts, and the violent consequences of competing conceptions of the body as sacred, Shilling provides a compelling account of why body matters present contemporary societies with a series of urgent and inescapable challenges. 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.

Philosophy of Biology

Samir Okasha
Philosophy of Biology Book PDF

Author : Samir Okasha
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
Page : 153 pages
File Size : 42,7 Mb
Release : 2019-11-07
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780198806998

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Philosophy of Biology by Samir Okasha Pdf

Over the last forty years the philosophy of biology has emerged as an important sub-discipline of the philosophy of science. Covering some of science's most divisive topics, such as philosophical issues in genetics, it also encompasses areas where modern biology has increasingly impinged on traditional philosophical questions, such as free will, essentialism, and nature vs nurture. In this Very Short Introduction Samir Okasha outlines the core issues with which contemporary philosophy of biology is engaged. Offering a whistle-stop tour of the history of biology, he explores key ideas and paradigm shifts throughout the centuries, including areas such as the theory of evolution by natural selection; the concepts of function and design; biological individuality; and the debate over adaptationism. Throughout Okasha makes clear the relevance of biology for understanding human beings, human society, and our place in the natural world, and the importance of engaging with these issues. 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.

Astrobiology: A Very Short Introduction

David C. Catling
Astrobiology A Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : David C. Catling
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 161 pages
File Size : 46,8 Mb
Release : 2013-10-24
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780199586455

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Astrobiology: A Very Short Introduction by David C. Catling Pdf

Examines the origins of life on Earth and the search for extraterrestrial life, through an understanding of the factors that have allowed life to exist on this planet and the commonalities on others that may enable life elsewhere.