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A. W. F. Edwards is one of the most influential mathematical geneticists in the history of the discipline. One of the last students of R. A. Fisher, Edwards pioneered the statistical analysis of phylogeny in collaboration with L. L. Cavalli-Sforza, and helped establish Fisher's concept of likelihood as a standard of statistical and scientific inference. In this book, edited by philosopher of science Rasmus Grønfeldt Winther, Edwards's key papers are assembled alongside commentaries by leading scientists, discussing Edwards's influence on their own research and on thinking in their field overall. In an extensive interview with Winther, Edwards offers his thoughts on his contributions, their legacy, and the context in which they emerged. This book is a resource both for anyone interested in the history and philosophy of genetics, statistics, and science, and for scientists seeking to develop new algorithmic and statistical methods for understanding the genetic relationships between and among species both extant and extinct.

Initiation and Promotion in Skin or Liver Neoplasia is the only source of its kind that presents a comprehensive compilation of in vivo initiation/promotion studies that involve neoplastic changes in the skin or liver of experimental animals. The book surveys world literature over the past 65 years from almost 2,000 original studies covering nearly 200 journals in 9 languages. Publications reviewed consist of primary peer-reviewed papers, as well as those abstracts, meeting reports, and review articles, containing original data. Papers measuring both pre-neoplastic or neoplastic changes are included.The summaries for each study included in the book are highly formatted resumes that have four principal components which indicate:1) What was done in the study;2) How the study was done (e.g, methods);3) The precise results obtained;4) Individual critiques using GLP (Good Lab Practice) standards.Initiation and Promotion in Skin or Liver Neoplasia provides an indispensable abstracted reference resource for scientists, toxicologists, cancer researchers, litigators, regulators, environmentalists, policy analysts, and industry-based investigators.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2020 in the subject Biology - Genetics / Gene Technology, grade: 1,1, Management Center Innsbruck, course: Biotechnology, language: English, abstract: CRISPR continues to drive the world of gene editing. About seven years ago, scientists reported that CRISPR technology can enable precise and efficient genome editing in living eukaryotic cells. Since then, interest in the method has spread extensively across the globe. Not long after its sudden headstart in 2013, already thousands of laboratories started taking up the technique and investors began funding startups to harness its potential. This ultimately resulted in major improvements being made in incredibly short periods of time. Simultaneously, this also initiated and continues to drive an increasing gap between new innovative applications in the field of gene editing and the overall awareness of the general public. Ethical concerns have remained a steady companion of this rise. With myriads of research papers about CRISPR related topics being published every year, trying to stay on top of developments can be a cumbersome task. The goal of this paper is to summarize current practice and research areas that are part of modern gene editing. Following a brief summary of CRISPR basics, used endonucleases and techniques, its impact on the treatment of hereditary diseases, viral infections and cancer is illustrated based on recent examples. Effects of gene editing on cell line engineering efforts are described using studies focusing on glycosylation, impurities, cultivation and production efficiency issues of CHO cell lines. Besides discussing CRISPR applications for rapid SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, current challenges for clinical use including off-targets, immune responses and lacking drug delivery efficiencies as well as promising developments are being reviewed. This paper is supposed to support quick elucidation of future potential of the rapidly evolving world of CRISPR Cas genome editing and facilitate retrieval of further literature.

Are there any commonalities between Transhumanism and the WHO framework for global governance of human genome editing? If yes, what are they and what are the implications for Bioethics? To find possible common themes, the author applied the reflective thematic analysis (RTA) method to a set of texts on Transhumanism and a set of texts on the global governance of human genome editing. The selected transhumanist texts were the three documents Humanity+, the former World Transhumanist Association, calls the “original documents on Transhumanism” (The Transhumanist Declaration, Transhumanist FAQ 3.0, The Transhumanist Manifesto v.4). The selected texts to represent the global governance of human genome editing were the three documents published by WHO on the topic in 2021, the only plan for the global governance of this biotechnology to date (Human genome editing: a framework for governance, Human genome editing: recommendations, Human genome editing: position paper). As a result of the application of the RTA method to the selected texts, the author presents and explains three common themes. What does this mean for our society? What are the implications of the current situation? What are the tasks for Bioethics? There are emerging questions on the human condition and new concerns to be addressed by Bioethics, such as the do-it-yourself mentality. The limitations of “therapy vs. enhancement” ask for serious work on a better bioethical paradigm. This book analyses the object, intentions, and circumstances of enhancement in general and recommends the principle of proportionality. The author questions the predominant values and propose a refinement to some conceptions of autonomy, protection, and equality. Finally, this book offers key elements for the bioethical evaluation of each type of human genome editing. Recognising the current situation and working on the identified tasks has become crucial for contemporary Bioethics.

This book offers an insightful exploration into the relationship between diet and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), aiming to address a crucial question: Can dietary interventions serve as effective preventative and therapeutic measures for patients with MS? Delving into this question, the book examines various nutritional components and regimens, shedding light on their potential impacts on the progression, relapse rate, and development of MS. It offers readers valuable insights into how dietary choices can influence the management of this condition. Backed up by evidence gathered from review and clinical trial papers, the book discusses the role of vitamins such as A, B, and D, as well as dietary supplements like caffeine, carnitine, and lipoic acid in benefiting patients with MS. Particular attention is given to the significance of vitamin D in lowering the risk of developing MS and its immunomodulatory effects on the inflammatory processes associated with the disease. In parallel, the book also addresses the detrimental effects of diets such as the Western or high salt diet (HSD) on MS prognosis, emphasizing how these dietary regimens can harm the gut microbiome and exacerbate inflammatory responses, ultimately promoting demyelination of the central nervous system (CNS). The book then explores alternative dietary approaches that confer a protective effect on the gut microbiome and the CNS, including whole grain, fasting, Mediterranean, and ketogenic diets. This comprehensive resource is an essential reading for patients with MS seeking to understand the potential impacts of diet on their overall health, as well as healthcare professionals and researchers interested in exploring dietary interventions for MS management.

This book reviews key advances and new fundamentals in genetics. The increasing importance of genetic approaches in diverse areas of biology and medical sciences constantly requires in-depth information on genetic discoveries and research strategies for advanced graduate-level students as well as current researchers. This book focuses on genetic studies of various animal model systems and their major contributions to establishing modern genetics. Information covered in this book is mostly based on original research papers that extend from classical to modern genetics and applications. The contents are organized into four parts. Part I introduces fundamental concepts and experimental strategies in classical genetics. Part II discusses molecular genetics with transposons, transgenesis, clonal analysis, and gene editing technologies. Part III emphasizes epigenetic regulation of genome organization and gene expression. Part IV integrates earlier parts with landmark genetic studies on non-coding RNAs in dosage compensation, programmed cell death, growth control related to cancer, and behavioral neurobiology.

This volume offers a collection of carefully selected, peer-reviewed papers presented at the BIOMAT 2018 International Symposium, which was held at the University Hassan II, Morocco, from October 29th to November 2nd, 2018. The topics covered include applications of mathematical modeling in hepatitis B, HIV and Chikungunya infections; tumor cell dynamics; inflammatory processes; chemotherapeutic drug effects; and population dynamics. Also discussing the application of techniques like the generalized stochastic Milevsky-Promislov model, numerical simulations and convergence of discrete and continuous models, it is an invaluable resource on interdisciplinary research in mathematical biology for students, researchers, and professionals.Held every year since 2001, the BIOMAT International Symposium gathers together, in a single conference, researchers from Mathematics, Physics, Biology, and affine fields to promote the interdisciplinary exchange of results, ideasand techniques, promoting truly international cooperation for problem discussion. The 2018 edition of BIOMAT International Symposium received contributions by authors from seventeen countries: Algeria, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Colombia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Russia, and Senegal. Selected papers presented at the 2017 edition of this Symposium were also published by Springer, in the volume “Trends in Biomathematics: Modeling, Optimization and Computational Problems” (978-3-319-91091-8).

Grassland covers 26% of the world's total land area. It produces feed for livestock; maintains soil fertility; protects and conserves soil and water resources; creates a habitat for wildlife; provides recreational space for sport and leisure and contributes to the general landscape. This book provides an up-to-date account of progress and potential in the genetic improvement of grassland to meet all needs. It encompasses work on a wide range of temperate and tropical grassland species (including grasses, clovers and other forage legumes) and will interest all those concerned with grassland use in livestock-based agriculture, recreation, environmental protection, bio-industry etc. Specifically, it demonstrates how recent advances in molecular techniques are being used to develop breeding objectives and strategies with key-note papers on: Objectives and benefits of molecular breeding, Linkage/physical mapping and map-based cloning, QTL analysis and trait dissection, Genomics, model species, gene discovery and functional analysis, Use of molecular markers and bioinformatics for breeding, Molecular genetics and breeding of endosymbiont and grass/legume associations, Transgenics, Genetic diversity, breeding systems and resources Future directions for research and breeding. State-of-the-art molecular techniques and resources are described that encompass a unique range of expertise in genetic mapping, trait dissection, comparative genomics, bioinformatics, gene discovery and risk assessment. Examples of work in progress or recently completed are provided from across the world. The book has broad educational value and will interest plant geneticists and breeders as well as grassland users and policy makers.

Seminar paper from the year 2023 in the subject Biology - Genetics / Gene Technology, grade: 3.95, Haramaya University (CAES), course: Animal and Range Scineces, language: English, abstract: There is an urgent need to document the diversity of our livestock genetic resources and to design strategies for their sustainable conservation and the main objective of this review is to exploring. The world watch list for domestic animal diversity documents more than 6 300 breeds and 7616 breeds of livestock belonging to 30 domesticated species. These breeds were developed following domestication and natural and human selection over the past 12 000 years. The current number of breeds is likely an underestimation since a large proportion of indigenous livestock populations of the developing world, where most animal genetic resources are found today; have yet to be described at phenotypic and genetic levels. The predominant species include cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, horses and buffalo. Several other domesticated animals like camels, donkeys, elephants, reindeer and rabbits are also valuable to different regions of the world. Cattle, sheep, chickens, are predominantly found all over the world, while goats and pigs are less uniformly distributed. Livestock populations have evolved a unique adaptation to their agricultural production system and agro ecological environments. Their genetic diversity has provided the material for the very successful breeding improvement programmes of the developed world in the 19th and 20th century. This represents a unique resource to respond to the present and future needs of livestock production, both in developed and developing countries. Recognizes The well importance of animal production for food security and rural livelihoods and particularly AnGR supply over 30% of total human requirements for food and agriculture and contribute to the livelihood of 70% of the world's rural poor. However, the purposes of raising livestock go beyond their direct output functions and include other significant economic and cultural roles. These include savings, insurance, cyclical buffering, accumulation and diversification, as well as various cultural roles related to status and the obligations of their owners.

Bio-based materials, including those containing wood, will become increasingly important as we move to a bio-based economy. Among their many attributes, it is vitally important that these materials are renewable, sustainable with proper management and environmentally benign. Wood remains one of our most important bio-based materials. While it is an amazing material, wood still has negative attributes and drawbacks that can affect performance, including dimensional instability when wetted, vulnerability to fire and high temperatures, and susceptibility to biodeterioration. A variety of treatments have been developed to overcome these weaknesses. Among the most exciting of these treatments are nanomaterials. These materials have some exceptionally attractive properties for improving timber performance and have been the subject of intensive research over the past decade. There is a tremendous need for a single comprehensive source of information on this rapidly emerging subject withtremendous potential to enhance the performance of a variety of bio-based materials. This book contains 10 chapters, each compiled by different author(s) who are considered the top researcher(s) in their respective fields. The chapters begin with some basic background on nanomaterials and their synthesis, then explore different areas for potential applications and conclude with a review of the emerging questions about nanomaterial safety. The book is designed to provide the latest information and know-how on application and utilization of different nanomaterials to improve the properties of wood and wood-based composite panels. The contents cover some main topics in the industry including improving physical and mechanical properties, increasing resistance to biodegradation (including fungi and insects), developing wood-plastic composites (WPC), applying nanomaterials in paper and board industry, and emergence of transparent wood and radiation shielding. It also covers the use of nanomaterials to improve the performance of paints and finishes used for forest products. The book provides a single location for those interested in the field to begin.

Over the course of a scientific career spanning more than fifty years, Alex Grossmann (1930-2019) made many important contributions to a wide range of areas including, among others, mathematics, numerical analysis, physics, genetics, and biology. His lasting influence can be seen not only in his research and numerous publications, but also through the relationships he cultivated with his collaborators and students. This edited volume features chapters written by some of these colleagues, as well as researchers whom Grossmann's work and way of thinking has impacted in a decisive way. Reflecting the diversity of his interests and their interdisciplinary nature, these chapters explore a variety of current topics in quantum mechanics, elementary particles, and theoretical physics; wavelets and mathematical analysis; and genomics and biology. A scientific biography of Grossmann, along with a more personal biography written by his son, serve as an introduction. Also included are the introduction to his PhD thesis and an unpublished paper coauthored by him. Researchers working in any of the fields listed above will find this volume to be an insightful and informative work.

Plant adaptation is a fundamental process in plant breeding. It was the first criterion in the initial domestication of plants thousands of years ago. Adaptedness is generally a quantitative complex feature of the plant, involving many traits, many of which are quantitative. Adaptation to stresses like cold, drought or diseases are among the most central problems in a world grappling with global food security. Modern plant breeding, based on mendelian genetics, has made plant improvement more effective and more precise and selective. Molecular genetics and genetic engineering has considerably increased this selectivity down to single genes affecting single traits. The time has come when plant breeding efficiency may cause loss of genetic resources and adaptation. In these proceedings an effort is made to merge modern plant breeding efficiency with ecological aspects of plant breeding, reflected in adaptation. It is hoped that this merger results in more sustainable use ofgenetic resources and physical environments. The book is based on 10 keynotes addressing a wide spectrum of themes related to adaptation. In addition each subject is further elaborated in up to three case studies on particular plant species or groups of plants. The keynotes do in fact overlap to some degree and there are articles in this volume that seemingly contradict each other, a common aspect in advanced fields of research. The keen reader may conclude that, in a world where climates and environments are under continuous change and where human society is more and more polarized into a developed and a developing part, adaptation of our cultivated plants has different constraints on yields depending on ecology, and indeed economy.

The book presents a machine-generated literature review on CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) from 114 selected papers published by Springer Nature in the last few years, which are then organized by the book editors with a human-written introduction to each chapter. Each chapter presents summaries of predefined themes and provides the reader with a basis for further exploration of the topic. As one of the experimental projects initiated by Springer Nature for AI book content generation, this book shows the latest developments in the CRISPR field. It will be a useful reference for graduate students who are interested in CRISPR-related research and early-career researchers who need an overview of the current development of the field.

DNA and RNA extraction methods from a variety of tissues and samples are now routine, including extraction from single cells. Many methods are now automated. Sequencing efficiency has reached the point where it is now possible to obtain gigabases of data, both quickly and inexpensively. Such methods permit the identification of gene versions, including those associated with disease (e.g. small nucleotide polymorphism analyses, or SNPs). The general public as well as clinicians can now access a wide variety of literature on the molecular bases of diseases, allowing them to better assess disease risks and treatments. This volume concentrates on medically-focused methods, and therefore the major audience will be medical professionals, students, and those involved in medically-related research endeavors. There are also papers in this volume dealing specifically with methods developed to analyze large sequence data sets. Many methods reviewed herein are more broadly applicable to other fields in biology, chemistry, bioinformatics, and bioengineering, and are intended for a broad readership.Key Features Summarizes nucleic acid extractions from a wide variety of tissues and cells Describes processes of nucleic acid preservation Reviews forensic sampling, detection of nucleic acids, and delivery of nucleic acids to multicellular organisms Provides essential guidance for sequencing, sequence analysis, database searches, and phylogenetic analyses Includes additional methods useful for analysis of nucleic acids and proteins Related TitlesDeSalle, et al. Phylogenomics: A Primer (ISBN 978-0-3670-2849-7).Jennings, W. B. Phylogenomic Data Acquisition: Principles and Practice (ISBN 978-0-3678-6980-9).Wang, X. Next-Generation Sequencing Data Analysis (ISBN 978-1-4822-1788-9)Sung, W.-K. Algorithms for Next-Generation Sequencing (ISBN 978-0-3676-5797-0)

Focussing on the work of Sir John Kingman, one of the world's leading researchers in probability and mathematical genetics, this book touches on the important areas of these subjects in the last 50 years. Leading authorities give a unique insight into a wide range of currently topical problems. Papers in probability concentrate on combinatorial and structural aspects, in particular exchangeability and regeneration. The Kingman coalescent links probability with mathematical genetics and is fundamental to the study of the latter. This has implications across the whole of genomic modelling including the Human Genome Project. Other papers in mathematical population genetics range from statistical aspects including heterogeneous clustering, to the assessment of molecular variability in cancer genomes. Further papers in statistics are concerned with empirical deconvolution, perfect simulation, and wavelets. This book will be warmly received by established experts as well as their students and others interested in the content.

An anthropological study based on ethnographic work in Israel and Qatar explores the relationship between science, particularly genetics, and national identity.Based on ethnographic work in Israel and Qatar, two small Middle Eastern ethnonations with significant biomedical resources, Genomic Citizenship explores the relationship between science and identity. Ian McGonigle, originally trained as a biochemist, draws on anthropological theory, STS, intellectual history, critical theory, Middle Eastern studies, cultural studies, and critical legal studies. He connects biomedical research on ethnic populations to the political, economic, legal, and historical context of the state; to global trends in genetic medicine; and to the politics of identity in the context of global biomedical research. Genomic Citizenship is more an anthropology of scientific objects than an anthropology of scientists or an ethnography of the laboratory. McGonigle bases his untraditional project on traditional anthropological methods, including participant observation. Some of the most persuasive data in the book are from public records, legal and historical sources, published scientific papers, institutional reports, websites, and brochures. McGonigle discusses biological understandings of Jewishness, especially in relation to the intellectual history of Zionism and Jewish political thought, and considers the possibility of a novel application of genetics in assigning Israeli citizenship. He also describes developments in genetic medicine in Qatar and analyzes the Qatari Biobank in the context of Qatari nationalism and state-building projects. Considering possible consequences of findings on the diverse origins of the Qatari population for tribal identities, he argues that the nation cannot be defined as either a purely natural or biological entity. Rather, it is reified, reinscribed, and refracted through genomic research and discourse.

The book is mainly written to update the students regarding the latest trend in agriculture competitive examinations. The book will equip the students with the latest trend and to upgrade them with the pattern and style of questions generally asked in such examinations. This book contains eight solved papers of States and also includes FAQs covering eight discipline of agriculture.

This book comprises selected papers of the 25th International Conference on Difference Equations and Applications, ICDEA 2019, held at UCL, London, UK, in June 2019. The volume details the latest research on difference equations and discrete dynamical systems, and their application to areas such as biology, economics, and the social sciences. Some chapters have a tutorial style and cover the history and more recent developments for a particular topic, such as chaos, bifurcation theory, monotone dynamics, and global stability. Other chapters cover the latest personal research contributions of the author(s) in their particular area of expertise and range from the more technical articles on abstract systems to those that discuss the application of difference equations to real-world problems. The book is of interest to both Ph.D. students and researchers alike who wish to keep abreast of the latest developments in difference equations and discrete dynamical systems.

Several years ago, Thomas Steitz agreed to contribute a volume to the'World Scientific Series in Structural Biology'that would deal with the contributions he and his coworkers have made to structural biology during his remarkable career. Sadly, Tom died in the fall of 2018 before he had had time to do more than produce an outline for this book, and a list of the reprints he wanted it to contain.Fortunately, Tom's colleagues and coworkers responded enthusiastically when they were informed later that fall that if they were willing to help out, a volume would be published to commemorate his career. It fell to Anders Liljas, Peggy Eatherton, Tom's longtime administrative assistant, and Peter Moore, a close colleague, to oversee their efforts. Thomas Steitz is best known for the work he and his coworkers did to elucidate the biochemical basis of gene expression. The structures of a large number of the macromolecules involved in transcription and translation emerged from his laboratory over the course of his career. This book includes reprints of the most important papers he had published, grouped according to the structures they relate to, and commentaries written by the scientists who collaborated with him to solve each of them. It thus summarizes the achievements of one of the most distinguished biochemists of the second half of the 20th century.

This proceedings is a collection of 46 selected papers that were presented at the 12th International Wheat Genetics Symposium (IWGS). Since the launch of the wheat genome sequencing project in 2005, the arrival of draft genome sequences has marked a new era in wheat genetics and genomics, catalyzing rapid advancement in the field. This book provides a comprehensive review of the forefront of wheat research, across various important topics such as germplasm and genetic diversity, cytogenetics and allopolyploid evolution, genome sequencing, structural and functional genomics, gene function and molecular biology, biotic stress, abiotic stress, grain quality, and classical and molecular breeding. Following an introduction, 9 parts of the book are dedicated to each of these topics. A final, 11th part entitled “Toward Sustainable Wheat Production” contains 7 excellent papers that were presented in the 12th IWGS Special Session supported by the OECD. With rapid population growth and radical climate changes, the world faces a global food crisis and is in need of another Green Revolution to boost yields of wheat and other widely grown staple crops. Although this book focuses on wheat, many of the newly developed techniques and results presented here can be applied to other plant species with large and complex genomes. As such, this volume is highly recommended for all students and researchers in wheat sciences and related plant sciences and for those who are interested in stable food production and food security.

This volume gathers papers originally presented at the 3rd Workshop on Branching Processes and their Applications (WBPA15), which was held from 7 to 10 April 2015 in Badajoz, Spain (http://branching.unex.es/wbpa15/index.htm). The papers address a broad range of theoretical and practical aspects of branching process theory. Further, they amply demonstrate that the theoretical research in this area remains vital and topical, as well as the relevance of branching concepts in the development of theoretical approaches to solving new problems in applied fields such as Epidemiology, Biology, Genetics, and, of course, Population Dynamics.The topics covered can broadly be classified into the following areas:1. Coalescent Branching Processes2. Branching Random Walks3. Population Growth Models in Varying and Random Environments4. Size/Density/Resource-Dependent Branching Models5. Age-Dependent Branching Models6. Special Branching Models7. Applications in Epidemiology8. Applications in Biology and GeneticsOffering a valuable reference guide to contemporary branching process theory, the book also explores many open problems, paving the way for future research.

This book gathers selected studies on the industrial applications of glycoside hydrolases (GHs), presenting an updated classification of these enzymes, and discussing their structure, mechanisms, and various approaches to improve their catalytic efficiency. Further, it explains the various industrial applications of glycoside hydrolases in food, effluent treatment, biofuel production, and the paper and pulp industries. Lastly, the book provides a comparative analysis of glycoside hydrolases and discusses the role of metagenomics in the discovery of industrially important enzymes. As such it is a thought-provoking, instructive and informative resource for biochemists, enzymologists, molecular biologists and bioprocess technologists.

The global population is increasing rapidly, and feeding the ever-increasing population poses a serious challenge for agriculturalists around the world. Seed is a basic and critical input in agriculture to ensure global food security. Roughly 90 percent of the crops grown all over the world are propagated by seed. However, seed can also harbour and spread pathogens, e.g. fungi, bacteria, nematodes, viruses etc., which cause devastating diseases. Seed-borne pathogens represent a major threat to crop establishment and yield. Hence, timely detection and diagnosis is a prerequisite for their effective management. The book'Seed-Borne Diseases of Agricultural Crops: Detection, Diagnosis & Management'addresses key issues related to seed-borne/transmitted diseases in various agricultural crops. Divided into 30 chapters, it offers a comprehensive compilation of papers concerning: the history of seed pathology, importance of seed-borne diseases, seed-borne diseases and quarantine, seed health testing and certification, detection and diagnosis of seed-borne diseases and their phytopathogens, host-parasite interactions during development of seed-borne diseases, diversity of seed-borne pathogens, seed-borne diseases in major agricultural crops, non-parasitic seed disorders, mechanisms of seed transmission and seed infection, storage fungi and mycotoxins, impact of seed-borne diseases on human and animal health, and management options for seed-borne diseases. We wish to thank all of the eminent researchers who contributed valuable chapters to our book, which will be immensely useful for students, researchers, academics, and all those involved in various agro-industries.

This book offers a comprehensive collection of papers on CRISPR/Cas genome editing in connection with agriculture, climate-smart crops, food security, translational research applications, bioinformatics analysis, practical applications in cereals, floriculture crops, engineering plants for abiotic stress resistance, the intellectual landscape, regulatory framework, and policy decisions. Gathering contributions by internationally respected experts in the field of CRISPR/Cas genome editing, the book offers an essential guide for researchers, students, teachers and scientists in academia; policymakers; and public companies, private companies and cooperatives interested in understanding and/or applying CRISPR/Cas genome editing to develop new agricultural products.

The application of Biotechnology dates back to the early era of civilization, when people first started to cultivate food crops. While the early applications are certainly still relevant, modern biotechnology is primarily associated with molecular biology, cloning and genetic engineering not only to increase the yield and to improve the quality of the crop but also its potential impact has touched upon virtually all domains of human interactions. Within the last 50 years, several key scientific discoveries revolutionized the biological sciences that facilitated the rapid growth of the biotechnology industry.'Biotechnology and Biological Sciences III'contains the contributions presented at the 3rd International Conference on Biotechnology and Biological Sciences (BIOSPECTRUM 2019, Kolkata, India, 8-10 August 2019). The papers discuss various aspects of Biotechnology such as: microbial biotechnology, bioinformatics and drug designing, innovations in pharmaceutical industries and food processing industries, bioremediation, nano-biotechnology, and molecular-genetics, and will be of interest to academics and professionals involved or interested in these subject areas.

Green genetic engineering is one of the most controversial technologies in recent history. On the basis of a qualitative content analysis of German position papers criticising this technology, this book clarifies three questions: Why is the controversy so vehement and emotional? Why is there no prospect of a compromise on this matter? And what ideas of the relationship between humans and nature play a role in the dispute? ‘Nature'is omnipresent and dazzling, but how is this term used in current social debates? What concrete interpretations is ‘nature'associated with? This study understands the controversy over green genetic engineering as an exemplary controversy that exposes fundamental aspects of the modern age and its relationship to nature.

Cellulase is a key enzyme of industrial interest and plays a crucial role in the hydrolysis of cellulose, a prime component of plant cell walls. Cellulase covers a broad area in the global market of industrially important enzymes and it is considered as the third largest industrial enzyme globally. Additionally, cellulase contributes about 20% of the total enzyme market globally because of its massive demand in various industries such as in biofuel production, pulp, paper, textile, food, and beverages, as well as in detergent industries. Among these, the demand of cellulase may become frequently selected in the commercial production of biofuels in the future and thus will further increase demand of cellulase in the biofuel industry. Because biofuel production is still not realized in a cost-effective, practical implementation due to its high cost (the higher cost of biofuels is due to higher production costs of enzymes), there is a need to introduce these types of approaches, which will help to lower the cost of enzyme production for developing overall economic biofuel production.

The green revolution led to the development of improved varieties of crops, especially cereals, and since then, classical or molecular breeding has resulted in the creation of economically valuable species. Thanks to recent developments in genetic engineering, it has become possible to introduce genes from different sources, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, mice and humans, to plants. This technology has made the scientific community aware of the critical role of transgenics, not only as a means of producing stress tolerant crops but also as a platform for the production of therapeutics through molecular farming. This book discusses the commercial applications of plant transgenic technologies, including the use of transgenic cell culture approachesto improve the production of metabolites and high-value therapeutics as well as transgenic plants in pest management. It also explores generation of novel vectors, protein production using chloroplast engineering and the latest developments in this area, such as genome editing in plants. Featuring general discussions and research papers by leading international experts, it is a valuable resource for scientists, teachers, students and industrialists working in the field.

Self-driving cars, natural language recognition, and online recommendation engines are all possible thanks to Machine Learning. Now you can create your own genetic algorithms, nature-inspired swarms, Monte Carlo simulations, cellular automata, and clusters. Learn how to test your ML code and dive into even more advanced topics. If you are a beginner-to-intermediate programmer keen to understand machine learning, this book is for you. Discover machine learning algorithms using a handful of self-contained recipes. Build a repertoire of algorithms, discovering terms and approaches that apply generally. Bake intelligence into your algorithms, guiding them to discover good solutions to problems. In this book, you will: Use heuristics and design fitness functions.Build genetic algorithms.Make nature-inspired swarms with ants, bees and particles.Create Monte Carlo simulations.Investigate cellular automata.Find minima and maxima, using hill climbing and simulated annealing.Try selection methods, including tournament and roulette wheels.Learn about heuristics, fitness functions, metrics, and clusters. Test your code and get inspired to try new problems. Work through scenarios to code your way out of a paper bag; an important skill for any competent programmer. See how the algorithms explore and learn by creating visualizations of each problem. Get inspired to design your own machine learning projects and become familiar with the jargon. What You Need: Code in C++ (>= C++11), Python (2.x or 3.x) and JavaScript (using the HTML5 canvas). Also uses matplotlib and some open source libraries, including SFML, Catch and Cosmic-Ray. These plotting and testing libraries are not required but their use will give you a fuller experience. Armed with just a text editor and compiler/interpreter for your language of choice you can still code along from the general algorithm descriptions.

Readers will find here a fascinating text that is the thoroughly refereed post-proceedings of the 9th Workshop on the Foundations of Genetic Algorithms, FOGA 2007, held in Mexico City in January 2007. The 11 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected during two rounds of reviewing and improvement from 22 submissions. The papers address all current topics in the field of theoretical evolutionary computation and also depict the continuing growth in interactions with other fields such as mathematics, physics, and biology

This volume contains the proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Difference Equations and Applications, held at Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman in May 2013. The conference brought together experts and novices in the theory and applications of difference equations and discrete dynamical systems.The volume features papers in difference equations and discrete time dynamical systems with applications to mathematical sciences and, in particular, mathematical biology, ecology, and epidemiology. It includes four invited papers and eight contributed papers.Topics covered include: competitive exclusion through discrete time models, Benford solutions of linear difference equations, chaos and wild chaos in Lorenz-type systems, advances in periodic difference equations, the periodic decomposition problem, dynamic selection systems and replicator equations, and asymptotic equivalence of difference equations in Banach Space.This book will appeal to researchers, scientists, and educators who work in the fields of difference equations, discrete time dynamical systems and their applications.

Grasslands are among the largest ecosystems in the world and consequently are of great importance to mankind. The genotypes of the species which are the main components of the grasslands have great influence on total outcome and successful utilization of grasslands. Therefore fodder crops and turf swards should be constantly improved to follow modern trends in agriculture production and landscape architecture. The wide range of breeding programs for forage and amenity species, as well as new breeding methods and techniques, is rapidly expanding the boundaries and is making it possible to achieve outstanding breeding results. This book includes papers presented at the 30th EUCARPIA Fodder Crops and Amenity Grasses Section Meeting. The challenging title of the book focuses on breeding of quantitative traits, which directly impact the profitability and sustainability of grasslands and fodder crops production, as well as on multidisciplinary approach in grassland research and utilisation. Included papers offer a unique collection of ideas and breakthroughs in the fields of fodder crops and amenity grasses breeding and genetics, as well as in the creative and innovative application of new tools in practical breeding.

One of the most profound paradigms that have transformed our understanding about life over the last decades was the acknowledgement that microorganisms play a central role in shaping the past and present environments on Earth and the nature of all life forms. Each organism is the product of its history and all extant life traces back to common ancestors, which were microorganisms. Nowadays, microorganisms represent the vast majority of biodiversity on Earth and have survived nearly 4 billion years of evolutionary change. Microbial evolution occurred and continues to take place in a great variety of environmental conditions. However, we still know little about the processes of evolution as applied to microorganisms and microbial populations. In addition, the molecular mechanisms by which microorganisms communicate/interact with each other and with multicellular organisms remains poorly understood. Such patterns of microbe-host interaction are essential to understand the evolution of microbial symbiosis and pathogenesis.Recent advances in DNA sequencing, high-throughput technologies, and genetic manipulation systems have enabled studies that directly characterize the molecular and genomic bases of evolution, producing data that are making us change our view of the microbial world. The notion that mutations in the coding regions of genomes are, in combination with selective forces, the main contributors to biodiversity needs to be re-examined as evidence accumulates, indicating that many non-coding regions that contain regulatory signals show a high rate of variation even among closely related organisms. Comparative analyses of an increasing number of closely related microbial genomes have yielded exciting insight into the sources of microbial genome variability with respect to gene content, gene order and evolution of genes with unknown functions. Furthermore, laboratory studies (i.e. experimental microbial evolution) are providing fundamental biological insight through direct observation of the evolution process. They not only enable testing evolutionary theory and principles, but also have applications to metabolic engineering and human health. Overall, these studies ranging from viruses to Bacteria to microbial Eukaryotes are illuminating the mechanisms of evolution at a resolution that Darwin, Delbruck and Dobzhansky could barely have imagined. Consequently, it is timely to review and highlight the progress so far as well as discuss what remains unknown and requires future research. This book explores the current state of knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of microbial evolution with a collection of papers written by authors who are leading experts in the field.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) refers to DNA that can be extracted from environmental samples (such as soil, water, feces, or air) without the prior isolation of any target organism. The analysis of environmental DNA has the potential of providing high-throughput information on taxa and functional genes in a given environment, and is easily amenable to the study of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. It can provide an understanding of past or present biological communities as well as their trophic relationships, and can thus offer useful insights into ecosystem functioning. There is now a rapidly-growing interest amongst biologists in applying analysis of environmental DNA to their own research. However, good practices and protocols dealing with environmental DNA are currently widely dispersed across numerous papers, with many of them presenting only preliminary results and using a diversity of methods. In this context, the principal objective of this practical handbook is to provide biologists (both students and researchers) with the scientific background necessary to assist with the understanding and implementation of best practices and analyses based on environmental DNA.

This book includes papers presented at the 2017 Joint meeting of Fodder Crops and Amenity Grasses Section and Protein Crops Working Group of EUCARPIA-Oil and Protein Crops Section. The theme of the meeting “Breeding Grasses and Protein Crops in the Era of Genomics” has been divided into six parts: (1) Utilisation of genetic resources and pre-breeding, (2) Genetic improvement of quality and agronomic traits, (3) Breeding for enhanced stress tolerance (4) Implementation of phenomics and biometrics, (5) Development of genomic tools and bioinformatics and (6) Reports of Parallel Sessions.

The present volume contains papers developed from courses given at the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Bio­ chemical Genetics Workshop (Working Party S.04-5) held at the Univer­ sity of Gottingen, Germany on July 5 through 28, 1973. The workshop was organized by Professor Robert G. Stanley and was held in memory of Professor Klaus Stern. Unfortunately, both met with untimely deaths. Professor Stanley was also instrumental in initiating the process of having the workshop proceedings published. I was asked by the workshop participants to complete this task, and I wish to acknowledge their cooperation, advice and encouragement. In addition to the courses and subsequent papers resulting from the above workshop, we have included some papers by colleagues who were unable to attend the meeting. The contents of this text may, there­ fore, be considered a working-manual of generally'modern'techniques that are applicable to forest genetics and breeding programs. The chapters are placed in five major categories. The first three categories follow according to classes of chemical constituents in­ herent to plants which are nucleic acids (DNA, RNA), primary gene products (amino acids, proteins and enzymes) and primary and secon­ dary metabolites (carbohydrate polymers, resins, phenolics, pigments, etc.). The fourth category is concerned with the interaction of en­ vironment and gene systems. Indirect selection, crossing and proto­ plasmic and flowering manipulation are factors covered in the fifth category.

The purpose of this and future volumes of the Handbook of Genetics is to bring together a collection of relatively short, authoritative essays or annotated compilations of data on topics of significance to geneticists. Many of the essays will deal with various aspects of the biology of certain species selected because they are favorite subjects for genetic investigation in nature or the laboratory. Often there will be an encyclopedic amount of information available on such a species, with new papers appearing daily. Most of these will be written for specialists in a jargon that is be­ wildering to a novice, and sometimes even to a veteran geneticist working with evolutionarily distant organisms. For such readers what is needed is a written introduction to the morphology, life cycle, reproductive be­ havior, and culture methods for the species in question. What are its par­ ticular advantages (and disadvantages) for genetic study, and what have we learned from it? Where are the classic papers, the key bibliographies, and how does one get stocks of wild type or mutant strains? The chapters devoted to different species will contain information of this sort. Only a few hundreds of the millions of species available to biologists have been subjected to detailed genetic study. However, those that have make up a very heterogeneous sample of the living world.

This book is intended for the senior undergraduate (Honours student) in genetics, and for the postgraduate who wants a survey of the whole field or information on a special area within it. In order to cater for readers with such different requirements, I have made the list of references unusually large for a textbook. It includes classical papers as well as very recent ones (to the end of 1974); reviews as well as specialized articles; elementary expositions from Scientific American as well as highly technical papers from journals on genetics and molecular biology. In areas of active research, I have given preference to the latest references, which will lead the reader to earlier ones. In addition to the references at the end of each chapter, a bibliography at the end of the book lists relevant books and general reviews. Apart from the first chapter, the book is not written as a history of mutation research; but throughout I have tried to emphasize the continuity of the problems, concepts and ideas. The reader will find many examples of this. Muller's once famous and then almost forgotten classification of genes by their action has now been given biochemical reality by studies of gene action in vitro. The problem of whether mutations can arise in non-replicating genomes is one of the oldest in mutation research; yet an unequivocal solution was obtained only recently with bacteriophage.

This proceedings volume describes the current state of research dealing with biological shape analysis. The quantitative analysis of the shape of biological organisms represents a challenge that has now seen breakthroughs with new methodologies such as elliptical Fourier analysis, quantitative trait loci analysis (QTLs), thin plate splines, etc. The volume also illustrates the diversity of disciplines that are actively involved in the characterization and analysis of the biological shape. Some of the papers deal with the need to relate the underlying genome responsible for the actual observed characteristics of form. Moreover, many of the papers focus on the relationship of the shape to the processes that determine the biological form, an issue of major continuing concern in biology.This volume brings together for the second time practitioners from a variety of disciplines who have been concerned with the necessity of applying new methods to the analysis of biological shape. Previous methodologies based on the conventional metrical approach (distances, angles and ratios), have not been able to adequately capture — in quantitative terms — the subtleties and complexities of biological form due to its irregularity. This volume represents an initial attempt to quantitatively characterize the biological form in both two- and three-dimensions, as it is actually perceived.There is no volume available that deals with the subject matter of these Proceedings. The papers represent, as in the first proceedings, a unique look at: (1) new methodologies developed and used quantitatively describe the biological form; (2) the need to relate the observed biological shape to the underlying processes that determine the shape; and (3) the tremendous diversity of disciplines actively involved in the characterization and analysis of biological shapes. These range from physical anthropology, anatomy, genetics, botany, entomology, forensics, to applied mathematics, etc.

This research monograph provides an introduction to the theory of nonautonomous semiflows with applications to population dynamics. It develops dynamical system approaches to various evolutionary equations such as difference, ordinary, functional, and partial differential equations, and pays more attention to periodic and almost periodic phenomena. The presentation includes persistence theory, monotone dynamics, periodic and almost periodic semiflows, basic reproduction ratios, traveling waves, and global analysis of prototypical population models in ecology and epidemiology. Research mathematicians working with nonlinear dynamics, particularly those interested in applications to biology, will find this book useful. It may also be used as a textbook or as supplementary reading for a graduate special topics course on the theory and applications of dynamical systems. Dr. Xiao-Qiang Zhao is a University Research Professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada. His main research interests involve applied dynamical systems, nonlinear differential equations, and mathematical biology. He is the author of more than 100 papers, and his research has played an important role in the development of the theory and applications of monotone dynamical systems, periodic and almost periodic semiflows, uniform persistence, and basic reproduction ratios.

This volume represents an ongoing series entitled Biological Shape Analysis, of which this is the 4th Edition. These proceedings represent state-of-the-art research in the field of biology, broadly-based, that deal with the quantitative analysis of the shape of the biological form. These numerical analyses include Fourier analytic methods, wavelets, neural networks, machine vision, machine learning, median axis transforms, spectral clustering, genome-wide association studies, 3D surface mapping, as well as more traditional morphometric approaches. Studies included are drawn from research in agricultural genetics, anatomy, anthropology, botany, dentistry, entomology, forensics, human evolution, paleontology, primatology, to name a few.The shape of forms can be considered of central importance in terms of identification, comparison, and classification of biological organisms. These proceedings, of which this is the fourth one, are unique in that they deal extensively with a wide range of organisms in biology, including both fauna and flora. They bring together diverse practitioners from a wide variety of disciplines. This represents a major departure from the current emphasis on specialization in the biological sciences. It is of particular importance to note that these issues dealing with shape analysis of biological structures are found to be common across very diverse disciplines and these proceedings are the first ones to highlight this.There are no volumes currently available that are as broadly-based as these proceedings in dealing with the quantification of shape analysis. (1) These volumes are unique in their diversity in covering the biological disciplines; (2) The emphasis on numerical approaches; and (3) the numerous state-of-the-art research papers.

This volume presents the proceedings of a conference held at Princeton University in April 1995 as part of the DIMACS Special Year on Mathematical Support for Molecular Biology. The subject of the conference was the new area of DNA based computing. DNA based computing is the study of using DNA strands as individual computers. The concept was initiated by Leonard Adleman's paper in Science in November 1994.

This acclaimed biography of 19th century scientist Gregor Mendel is “a fascinating tale of the strange twists and ironies of scientific progress” (Publishers Weekly). A National Book Critics Circle Award finalist In The Monk in the Garden, award-winning author Robin Marantz Henig vividly chronicles the birth of genetics, a field that continues to challenge the way we think about life itself. Tending to his pea plants in a monastery garden, the Moravian monk Gregor Mendel discovered the foundational principles of genetic inheritance. But Mendel's work was ignored during his lifetime, even though it answered the most pressing questions raised by Charles Darwin's revolutionary book, On the Origin of Species. Thirty-five years after his death, Mendel's work was saved from obscurity when three scientists from three different countries nearly simultaneously dusted off his groundbreaking paper and finally recognized its profound significance. From the perplexing silence that greeted his discovery to his ultimate canonization as the father of genetics, Henig presents a tale filled with intrigue, jealousy, and a healthy dose of bad timing. Though little is known about Mendel's life, she'has done a remarkable job of fleshing out the myth with what few facts there are'(Washington Post Book World).

The8thWorkshopontheFoundationsofGeneticAlgorithms,FOGA-8,washeld at the University of Aizu in Aizu-Wakamatsu City, Japan, January 5–9, 2005. This series of workshops was initiated in 1990 to encourage further research on the theoretical aspects of genetic algorithms, and the workshops have been held biennially ever since. The papers presented at these workshops are revised, edited and published as volumes during the year following each workshop. This series of (now eight) volumes provides an outstanding source of reference for the theoretical work in this?eld. At the same time this series of volumes provides a clear picture of how the theoretical research has grown and matured along with the?eld to encompass many evolutionary computation paradigms including evolution strategies (ES), evolutionary programming (EP), and genetic programming (GP), as well as the continuing growthininteractionswith other?elds suchas mathematics,physics, and biology. Atraditionoftheseworkshopsisorganizetheminsuchawayastoencourage lots of interaction and discussion by restricting the number of papers presented and the number of attendees, and by holding the workshop in a relaxed and informal setting. This year's workshop was no exception. Thirty-two researchers met for 3 days to present and discuss 16 papers. The local organizer was Lothar Schmitt who, together with help and support from his university, provided the workshop facilities. Aftertheworkshopwasover,theauthorsweregiventheopportunitytorevise their papers based on the feedback they received from the other participants.

This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed post-proceedings of the RECOMB 2004 Satellite Workshop on Comparative Genomics, RCG 2004, held in Bertinoro, Italy in October 2004. The 10 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and improved for inclusion in the book. The papers address a broad variety of aspects of comparative genomics ranging from new quantitative discoveries about genome structures and processes to theorems on the complexity of computational problems inspired by genome comparison.

Plant hormone research is the favorite topic of physiologists. Past three decades have witnessed that this subject has received much attention. The inquisitive nature of human mind has pumped much in literature on this subject and this volume is the product of such minds. In the following pages various hormonal-controlled physiological processes like, flowering, seed dormancy and germination, enzyme secretion, senes­ cence, ion transport, fruit ripening, root growth and development, thig­ momorphogenesis and tendril thigmonasty have been included. The volume also contains a review paper on'Growth Regulating Activity of Penicillin in Higher Plants'and has been presented for the first time. The vast contents of each review paper have been written by erudite scholars who have admirably carried out their evangelic task to make the text up TO date. This volume, I am sure, would stimulate the appetite of researchers of peripheral disciplines of botany and agricultural sciences and they will continue to enjoy the fun and adventures of plant hormone research. Save one. my most outstanding debts are due to the rich array of the contributors and other plant physiologists specially to Prof. Thomas Gaspar (Belgium), Prof. E. E. Goldschmidt (Isreal), Prof. H. Greppin (Switzerland), Dr. K. Gurumurti (India), Prof. M. A. Hall (U. K.), Prof. H. Harada (Japan), Dr. M. Kaminek (Czechoslovakia), Dr. J. L. Karm­ oker (BangIa Desh), Prof. Peter B. Kaufman (U. S. A.), Dr. V. I. Kefeli. / (U. S. S. R.), Dr. M. Kutaoek (Czechoslovakia), Prof. S.

Foreword by Phillip V. TobiasThe introduction of rhesus macaques to Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico in 1938, and the subsequent development of the CPRC for biomedical research, continues its long history of stimulating studies in physical anthropology. The CPRC monkey colonies, and the precise demographic data on the derived skeletal collection in the Center's Laboratory of Primate Morphology and Genetics (LPMG), provide rare opportunities for morphological, developmental, functional, genetic, and behavioral studies across the life span of rhesus macaques as a species, and as a primate model for humans. The book grows out of a symposium Wang is organizing for the 78th annual meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists to be held in April 2009. This symposium will highlight recent and ongoing research in, or related to, physical anthropology, and reveal the numerous research opportunities that still exist at this unusual rhesus facility. Following an initial historical review of CPRC and its research activities, this book will emphasize recent and current researches on growth, function, genetics, pathology, aging, and behavior, and the impact of these researches on our understanding of rhesus and human morphology, development, genetics, and behavior. Fourteen researchers will present recent and current studies on morphology, genetics, and behavior, with relevance to primate and human growth, health, and evolution. The book will include not only papers presented in the symposium, but also papers from individuals who could not present their work at the meeting due to limitations in the maximum number (14) of permitted speakers.

1 Kevin Moses It is now 25 years since the study of the development of the compound eye in Drosophila really began with a classic paper (Ready et al. 1976). In 1864, August Weismann published a monograph on the development of Diptera and included some beautiful drawings of the developing imaginal discs (Weismann 1864). One of these is the first description of the third instar eye disc in which Weismann drew a vertical line separating a posterior domain that included a regular pattern of clustered cells from an anterior domain without such a pattern. Weismann suggested that these clusters were the precursors of the adult ommatidia and that the line marks the anterior edge of the eye. In his first suggestion he was absolutely correct - in his second he was wrong. The vertical line shown was not the anterior edge of the eye, but the anterior edge of a moving wave of patterning and cell type specification that 112 years later (1976) Ready, Hansen and Benzer would name the'morphogenetic furrow'. While it is too late to hear from August Weismann, it is a particular pleasure to be able to include a chapter in this Volume from the first author of that 1976 paper: Don Ready! These past 25 years have seen an astonishing explosion in the study of the fly eye (see Fig.

This book summarizes the latest advances in sponge science through a concise selection of studies presented at the VIII World Sponge Conference. The collection of articles reflects hot, ongoing debates in molecular research, such as the monophyletic versus paraphyletic nature of the sponge group, or the new awareness on pros and cons of standard barcodes and other markers in sponge taxonomy and phylogeny. It also features articles showing how the new sequencing technologies reveal the functional and phylogenetic complexity of the'microbial universe'associated to sponge tissues. The ecological interactions of sponges, the effects of nutrients and pollutants, the variability in reproductive patterns, and the processes generating genotypic and phenotypic variability in sponge populations are covered in several contributions. Zoogeography, population structure and dynamics are also approached with both traditional and molecular tools. The effect of anthropogenic disturbance on the natural environment finds its place in this volume with papers dealing with metal accumulation and the potential role of sponges as biomonitors. Biodiversity data from unexplored tropical and deep sea areas are presented. We hope readers will enjoy the selection of papers, which we believe represent collectively a significant contribution to our current understanding of sponges. Previously published in Hydrobiologia, vol. 687, 2012

This Volume contains the papers presented by twenty-eight invited speakers at the symposium entitled,'Genetic Manipulation of Woody Plants,'held at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, from June 21-25, 1987. Also included are abstracts of contributed poster papers presented during the meeting. That the molecular biology of woody plants is a rapidly expanding field is attested to by the large attendance and high level of enthusiasm generated at the conference. Leading scientists from throughout the world discussed challenging problems and presented new insights into the devel­ opment of in vitro culture systems, techniques for DNA analysis and manipulation, gene vector systems, and experimental systems that will lead to a clearer understanding of gene expression and regulation for woody plant species. The presence at the conference of both invited speakers and other scientists who work with nonwoody plant species also added depth to the discussions and applicability of the information presented at the conference. The editors want to commend the speakers for their well-organized and informative talks, and feel particularly indebted to the late Dr. Alexander Hollaender and others on the planning committee who assist­ ed in the selection of the invited speakers. The committee consisted of David Burger (University of California, Davis), Don J. Durzan (University of California, Davis), Bruce Haissig (U. S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service), Stanley Krugman (U. S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service), Ralph Mott (North Carolina State University), Otto Schwarz (Univer.sity of Tennessee, Knoxville), and Roger Timmis (Weyerhaeuser Company).