Best of
Biology

1983

Molecular Biology of the Cell


Bruce Alberts - 1983
    By extracting the fundamental concepts from this enormous and ever-growing field, the authors tell the story of cell biology, and create a coherent framework through which non-expert readers may approach the subject. Written in clear and concise language, and beautifully illustrated, the book is enjoyable to read, and it provides a clear sense of the excitement of modern biology. Molecular Biology of the Cell sets forth the current understanding of cell biology (completely updated as of Autumn 2001), and it explores the intriguing implications and possibilities of the great deal that remains unknown. The hallmark features of previous editions continue in the Fourth Edition. The book is designed with a clean and open, single-column layout. The art program maintains a completely consistent format and style, and includes over 1,600 photographs, electron micrographs, and original drawings by the authors. Clear and concise concept headings introduce each section. Every chapter contains extensive references. Most important, every chapter has been subjected to a rigorous, collaborative revision process where, in addition to incorporating comments from expert reviewers, each co-author reads and reviews the other authors' prose. The result is a truly integrated work with a single authorial voice. Features : - Places the latest hot topics sensibly in context - including genomics, protein structure, array technology, stem cells and genetics diseases. - Incorporates and emphasises new genomic data. - All of molecular biology is brought together into one section (chapters 4-7) covering classically defined molecular biology and molecular genetics. - Two chapters deal exclusively with methods and contain information on the latest tools and techniques. - New chapters on "Pathogens, Infection, and Innate Immunity". - Cell Biology Interactive CD-ROM is packaged with every copy of the book. - Contains over 1,600 illustrations, electron micrographs and photographs, of which over 1,000 are originally conceived by the authors.

The Mushroom Cultivator: A Practical Guide to Growing Mushrooms at Home


Paul Stamets - 1983
    The Mushroom Cultivator by Paul Stamets and J.S. Chilton is easily the best source of information on growing mushrooms at home. The authors demystify the art of mushroom cultivation and put mastery of it within everyone's reach. If you have been searching for information on this topic, you will find it to be all that you have been looking for. Includes detailed growth requirements for 15 mushroom species, sterile culture and mushroom spawn preparation techniques, procedures for strain selection and development, practical preparation methods for compost and bulk substrates, the mushroom life cycle and mushroom genetics, identification of the major competitor molds, pathogens and pests, and guidelines for the construction of mushroom growing rooms.

Hen's Teeth and Horse's Toes: Further Reflections in Natural History


Stephen Jay Gould - 1983
    Exploring the "peculiar and mysterious particulars of nature," Gould introduces the reader to some of the many and wonderful manifestations of evolutionary biology.

The Youngest Science


Lewis Thomas - 1983
    Thomas first learned about medicine by watching his father practice in an era when doctors comforted rather than healed. Looking back upon his experiences as a medical student, young doctor, and senior researcher, Thomas notes that medicine is now rich in possibility and promise.

Cartoon Guide to Genetics


Larry Gonick - 1983
    Have you ever asked yourself:Are spliced genes the same as mended Levis?Watson and Crick? Aren't they a team of British detectives?Plant sex? Can they do that?Is Genetic Mutation the name of one of those heavy metal bands?Asparagine? Which of the four food groups is that in?Then you need The Cartoon Guide to Genetics to explain the important concepts of classical and modern genetics—it's not only educational, it's funny too!

Wilderness Medicine


Paul S. Auerbach - 1983
    Whether these victims are stranded on mountain tops, lost in the desert, trapped deep in the woods, or injured far out at sea, this indispensable resource equips rescuers and health care professionals to diagnose and treat the full range of emergencies and health problems encountered in the wilderness

Walker's Mammals of the World


Ronald M. Nowak - 1983
    Walker's Mammals of the World is the most comprehensive--the preeminent--reference work on mammals. Now, completely revised and updated, this fascinating guide is better than ever--covering more than 1,000 genera of mammals, including nearly one hundred that did nor appear in previous editions, and describing more than 4,000 different species.The newest Walker's Mammals offers, for the first time in a single publication, a complete account of world mammals in all of historical time--that is, since about 3,000 B.C. Another new feature is that species are arranged within each genus in the order of simple to more advanced life forms, so that species are shown in their closest relation to one another. No other work contains illustrations--more than 1,700--of virtually every genus of mammals. Included are pictures by such noted wildlife photographers as Leonard Lee Rue III, Bernhard Grzimek, David Pye, and Warren T. Houck. Many new photographs of rarely seen animals have been added and, as in previous editions, most photographic illustrations are of live animals rather than of skins or skeletons.Each section of the book describes one genus and includes facts such as scientific and common names, the number and distribution of species, measurements and physical traits, habitat, locomotion, daily and seasonal activity, population dynamics, home range, social life, reproduction, and longevity. Textual summaries present accurate, well-documented descriptions of the physical characteristics and living habits of mammals in every part of the world. Endangered species and those having singular economic importance are givenparticular attention, and the names and ranges of all the species within a given genus are listed at the beginning of each entry.Since its publication in 1964, Walker's Mammals of the World has become a favorite guide to the natural world for general readers and an invaluable resource for professionals. This fifth edition represents more than half a century of scholarship--Ernest P. Walker himself devoted more than thirty years to the original project--and remains true to Walker's vision, smoothly combining thorough scholarship with a popular, readable style to preserve and enhance what the Washington Post called "a landmark of zoological literature."

The Marsh Lions: The Story of an African Pride


Brian Jackman - 1983
    In time they came to regard them as old and familiar friends and real individuals. The Marsh Lions were the most successful group to be filmed for Big Cat Diary, the BBC’s hugely successful TV series presented by Jonathan Scott.

Botanical Latin


William T. Stearn - 1983
    For gardeners, too, a working knowledge of botanical Latin is essential for the accurate identification of plants in the garden. Now available in paperback, the fourth edition of this internationally renowned handbook summarizes the grammar and syntax of botanical Latin, and covers the origins of Latin and latinized geographical names, color terms, symbols and abbreviations, diagnoses and descriptions, the formation of names and epithets, and much more.

Neuronal Man: The Biology of Mind


Jean-Pierre Changeux - 1983
    While psychology has advanced our understanding of human behavior, various other sciences, such as anatomy, physiology, and biology, have determined the critical importance of synapses and, through the use of advanced technology, made it possible actually to see brain cells at work within the skull's walls. Here Jean-Pierre Changeux elucidates our current knowledge of the human brain, taking an interdisciplinary approach and explaining in layman's terms the complex theories and scientific breakthroughs that have significantly improved our understanding in the twentieth century.

Promethean Fire: Reflections on the Origin of Mind


Charles J. Lumsden - 1983
    It is not any one of the intermediate forms connecting modern man to his apelike ancestors. It is something much more challenging -- the early human mind. How did it come into existence? And why?

The Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution


Motoo Kimura - 1983
    He first proposed the theory in 1968 to explain the unexpectedly high rate of evolutionary change and very large amount of intraspecific variability at the molecular level that had been uncovered by new techniques in molecular biology. The theory - which asserts that the great majority of evolutionary changes at the molecular level are caused not by Darwinian selection but by random drift of selectively neutral mutants - has caused controversy ever since. This book is the first comprehensive treatment of this subject and the author synthesises a wealth of material - ranging from a historical perspective, through recent molecular discoveries, to sophisticated mathematical arguments - all presented in a most lucid manner.

Laboratory Studies in Integrated Principles of Zoology


Cleveland P. Hickman Jr. - 1983
    This introductory lab manual is ideal for a one- or two-semester course. The new edition expertly combines up-to-date coverage with the clear writing style and dissection guides that have distinguished this manual from edition to edition.. .

Color Atlas of Physiology


Stefan Silbernagl - 1983
    The extensive introductory chapter focuses on aspects of cytophysiology. Owing to the considerably expanded text and improved illustrative material, functional connections are easily recognized; new concepts and current advances in research are taken fully into account.Main features are:General and cellular physiology; Nerve and muscle; Autonomic nervous system; Blood; respiration; Acid-base balance; Kidney salt and water balance; Heart and circulation; Thermal balance and thermoregulation; Nutrition and digestion; Hormonal control; Central nervous system and senses

Numerical Ecology: Volume 24


Pierre Legendre - 1983
    These methods are derived from the fields of mathematical physics, parametric and nonparametric statistics, information theory, numerical taxonomy, archaeology, psychometry, sociometry, econometry and others. Compared to the first edition of Numerical Ecology, this second edition includes three new chapters, dealing with the analysis of semiquantitative data, canonical analysis and spatial analysis. New sections have been added to almost all other chapters. There are sections listing available computer programs and packages at the end of several chapters. As in the previous English and French editions, there are numerous examples from the ecological literature, and the choice of methods is facilitated by several synoptic tables.

Late Night Thoughts On Listening to Mahler's Ninth Symphony


Lewis Thomas - 1983
    Luminous, witty, and provocative, the essays address such topics as "The Attic of the Brain," "Falsity and Failure," "Altruism," and the effects the federal government's virtual abandonment of support for basic scientific research will have on medicine and science.Profoundly and powerfully, Thomas questions the folly of nuclear weaponry, showing that the brainpower and money spent on this endeavor are needed much more urgently for the basic science we have abandoned--and that even medicine's most advanced procedures would be useless or insufficient in the face of the smallest nuclear detonation. And in the title essay, he addresses himself with terrifying poignancy to the question of what it is like to be young in the nuclear age."If Wordsworth had gone to medical school, he might have produced something very like the essays of Lewis Thomas."--TIME "No one better exemplifies what modern medicine can be than Lewis Thomas."--The New York Times Book Review

Neurobiology


Gordon M. Shepherd - 1983
    A new feature is an introductory discussion of the mechanisms of gene regulation, while the superfamily of molecules responsible formembrane signaling is given new emphasis as a unifying theme throughout molecular and cellular neurobiology. The roles of these molecules in impulse conduction and synaptic transmission are fully explained, and illustrated by computer models. For the first time in a neurobiology text, thesemechanisms can be explored by using a state-of-the-art interactive computer program provided with an accompanying tutorial handbook. In the sections dealing with neural systems, the comparative approach continues to be used to illustrate general principles. Students learn about the progress beingmade toward a molecular basis for sensory perception and new methods for revealing the neural activity underlying sensory and motor functions are described. There is an emphasis on the plasticity of both sensory and the motor circuits in mediating functions that reflect the effects of activity orrecovery from injury. Central systems continue to be featured as the culmination of neural evolution. These include the systems vital for all animals, such as sleeping, feeding and reproduction, as well as the systems for language, emotion and higher cognitive functions that reach their peak inhumans. There is special emphasis on recent work on memory, contrasting the mechanisms for short-term working memory and long-term memory and summarizing the present understanding of the mechanisms of long-term potential. The twin themes of organizational levels and comparative systems help bringtogether the vast range of studies and provides a conceptual framework that unifies the field of neurobiology. As in previous editions, the text continues to draw on the advantages of having a single author. In addition, leaders in a number of specialties have assisted the author, so that the textrepresents the most up-to-date views of current research on the nervous system.

Mycorrhizal Symbiosis


J.L. Harley - 1983
    Mycorrhizal Symbiosis is recognized as the definitive work in this area. Since the last edition was published there have been major advances in the field, particularly in the area of molecular biology, and the new edition has been fully revised and updated to incorporate these exciting new developments.

The Audubon Society Master Guide to Birding: Old World Warblers to Sparrows


John Farrand - 1983
    Its three volumes contain, in all, 1245 full-color photographs, 193 paintings, 422 drawings, and 650 range maps, while 61 of the nation's top field ornithologists and experts contribute their special knowledge to the 370,000 words of text. Entries are arranged taxonomically according to the new American Ornithologists' Union classification.This volume contains:Old World Warblers and Thrushes, Mimic-Thrushes, Accentors, Wagtails and Pipits, Waxwings, Silky-Flycatchers, Shrikes, Starlings, Vireos, Wood Warblers, Bananaquits, Tanagers, Cardinals and Thier Allies, New World Blackbirds and Orioles, Finches, Old World SparrowsVolume 1 contains:Loons, Grebes, Albatrosses, Shearwaters and Petrels, Storm-Petrels, Tropicbirds, Boobies and Gannets, Pelicans, Cormorants, Anhingas, Frigatebirds, Herons, Ibises and Spoonbills, Storks, Flamingos, Swans, Geese, and Ducks, New World Vultures, Hawks and Eagles, Falcons, Chachalacas, Pheasants, Grouse, and Quails, Rails, Limpkins, Cranes, Thick-knees, Plovers, Oystercatchers, Stilts and Avocets, Jacanas. SandpipersVolume 2 contains:Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers, Auks, Pigeons and Doves, Parrots, Cuckoos, Barn-Owls, Typical Owls, Nightjars, Swifts, Hummingbirds, Trogons, Hoopoes, Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, Tyrant-Flycatchers, Larks, Swallows, Jays and Crows, Titmice, Verdins, Bushtits, Nuthatches, Creepers, Bulbuls, Wrens, Dippers

The Audubon Society Master Guide to Birding: Gulls to Dippers


John Farrand - 1983
    

Plants from Test Tubes: An Introduction to Micropropagation


Lydiane Kyte - 1983
    This expanded edition introduces new developments in biotechnology, such as genetic engineering and cell culture. It provides detailed recipes for propagating plants from more than 30 families. It explains clearly how to set up a propagating laboratory, from a hobbyist's kitchen to an elaborate commercial enterprise.

Complete Book Of Australian Mammals


Ronald Straham - 1983