Biological Sciences

by Kirkland, Kyle, Ph.d.

• ISBN13: 9780816074396
• ISBN10: 0816074399
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-01-01
• Publisher: Facts on File

Summary

The expansion of knowledge with the help of technology, such as with a microscope, is a common theme in biology, as it is in other sciences. Biology is the study of living organisms or processes involved in life. The word "biology" derives from a Greek word; "bios," meaning life or mode of life, and "logos," meaning word or knowledge. The biological sciences include physiology, genetics, ecology, botany, molecular biology, and the study of specific biological systems, such as the nervous system.

Author Biography

Kyle Kirkland, PH.D., received a doctorate in neuroscience in 1998 from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied the visual system and the statistical and computational properties of neural networks. His interdisciplinary background and interests have led him to publish articles on all aspects of science, including the history of science and its present and future impact on society. Kirkland is also the author of Facts On File's Physics in Our World set, acclaimed as a "top pick" by the Midwest Book Review.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. viii
Acknowledgments	p. xii
Introduction	p. xiii
Brain Imaging: Searching for Sites of Perception and Consciousness	p. 1
Introduction	p. 2
Peering Inside the Skull	p. 6
Brain Imaging and Metabolism	p. 12
Localization of Function	p. 14
Phrenology-"Reading" the Bumps of the Skull	p. 15
Perceiving the World	p. 20
Imaging the Mind: Neural Correlates of Consciousness	p. 23
Salk Institute for Biological Studies	p. 24
Neural Oscillations	p. 29
Conclusion	p. 30
Chronology	p. 32
Further Resources	p. 35
The Human Genome in Health and Disease	p. 39
Introduction	p. 40
Genes and DNA	p. 41
DNA Forensics	p. 48
Human Genome Project	p. 50
National Institutes of Health (NIH)	p. 52
Pharmacogenomics-Personalized Medications	p. 57
Genes and Diseases	p. 61
Understanding the Human Genome	p. 64
Noncoding "Junk" DNA	p. 67
Conclusion	p. 69
Chronology	p. 70
Further Resources	p. 73
Protein Structure and Function	p. 77
Introduction	p. 78
Proteins-Cellular Machines	p. 79
Amino Acids	p. 80
Protein Structure and Conformation	p. 84
X-ray Crystallography	p. 87
Out of Shape: Protein Misfolding	p. 94
Predicting and Modeling the Folding Process	p. 98
Protein Design	p. 101
Conclusion	p. 103
Chronology	p. 104
Further Resources	p. 106
Biodiversity-The Complexity of Life	p. 109
Introduction	p. 111
Coexistence-Living and Interacting Together	p. 115
Community Stability and Productivity	p. 118
Food Chain Analysis	p. 123
Food Chains and Isotopes	p. 124
Virtual Ecology	p. 127
Pacific Ecoinformatics and Computational Ecology Lab (PEaCE)	p. 129
The Environment and Biodiversity	p. 130
Conclusion	p. 133
Chronology	p. 134
Further Resources	p. 136
The Biology and Evolution of Viruses	p. 140
Introduction	p. 142
Antibodies	p. 146
Classification of Viruses	p. 148
Influenza-Birds, Pigs, and Humans	p. 152
Viral Evolution	p. 154
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)	p. 158
AIDS Epidemic	p. 160
Evolution and Epidemics	p. 163
The 1918 Influenza Virus	p. 165
Conclusion	p. 167
Chronology	p. 168
Further Resources	p. 171
Regeneration-Healing by Regrowing	p. 174
Introduction	p. 175
Stem Cells	p. 177
Planarians	p. 180
Growing Again-Regeneration	p. 181
Limitations of Tissue Regeneration in Humans	p. 185
Experimental Approaches to Spark Regeneration	p. 188
The Scripps Research Institute	p. 190
Cardiac Tissue Regeneration	p. 191
Neural and Spinal Cord Regeneration	p. 193
Conclusion	p. 197
Chronology	p. 198
Further Resources	p. 199
Final Thoughts	p. 203
Glossary	p. 207
Further Resources	p. 212
Index	p. 215
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

The expansion of knowledge with the help of technology, such as with a microscope, is a common theme in biology, as it is in other sciences. Biology is the study of living organisms or processes involved in life. The word "biology" derives from a Greek word; "bios,"meaning life or mode of life, and "logos," meaning word or knowledge. The biological sciences include physiology, genetics, ecology, botany, molecular biology, and the study of specific biological systems, such as the nervous system.Biological Sciencesfocuses on the scientists who explore the frontiers of this complex topic and their unexpected results. This new book examines the journals and reports in this field, offering students insight into the methods and applications of biology.Chapters include:

• Brain Imaging: Searching for Sites of Perception and Consciousness
• The Human Genome in Health and Disease
• Protein Structure and Function
• Biodiversity-The Complexity of Life
• The Biology and Evolution of Viruses
• Regeneration-Healing by Regrowing.

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Excerpted from Biological Sciences: Notable Research and Discoveries by Kyle Kirkland
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.