Current Topics from the Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Med

Epigenetics is a term in biology referring to heritable traits that do not involve changes in the underlying DNA sequence of the organism. Epigenetic traits exist on top of or in addition to the traditional molecular basis for inheritance. The "epigenome" is a parallel to the word "genome," and refers to the overall epigenetic state of a cell. Cancer and stem cell research have gradually focused attention on these genome modifications. The molecular basis of epigenetics involves modifications to DNA and the chromatin proteins that are associated with it. Methylation, for example, can silence a nearby gene and seems to be involved in some cancers. Epigenetics is beginning to form and take shape as a new scientific discipline, which will have a major impact on Medicine and essentially all fields of biology. Increasingly, researchers are unearthing links between epigenetics and a number of diseases. Although in recent years cancer has been the main focus of epigenetics, recent data suggests that epigenetic plays a critical role in psychology and psychopathology. It is being realized that normal behaviors such as maternal care and pathologies such as Schizophrenia and Alzheimer's might have an epigenetic basis. It is also becoming clear that nutrition and life experiences have epigenetic consequences.

This reference work gives a compete overview of the different stages of drug development using a translational approach. The book is structured in different parts, following the different stages in drug development. Almost half of the work is dedicated to the core of drug discovery using a translational approach, the identification of appropriate targets and screening methods for the identification of compounds interacting with these targets. The rest of book covers the whole downstream pipeline after the identification of lead compounds, such as bioavailability issues, identification of appropriate drug delivery venues, production and scaling issues and preclinical trials. As has been the case with other works in the encyclopedia, the book is made up of long, comprehensive and authoritative chapters, written by outstanding researchers in the field.

This third in the Current Topics in Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine Series contains a careful selection of new and updated, high-quality articles from the well-known Meyer's Encyclopedia, describing new perspectives in stem cell research. The 26 chapters are divided into four sections: Basic Biology, Stem Cells and Disease, Stem Cell Therapy Approaches, and Laboratory Methods, with the authors chosen from among the leaders in their respective fields. This volume represents an essential guide for students and researchers seeking an overview of the field.

Systems biology is a relatively new biological study field that focuses on the systematic study of complex interactions in biological systems, thus using a new perspective (integration instead of reduction) to study them. Particularly from year 2000 onwards, the term is used widely in the biosciences, and in a variety of contexts. Systems biology is the study of the interconnected aspect of molecular, cellular, tissue, whole animal and ecological processes, and comprises mathematical and mechanistic studies of dynamical, mesoscopic, open, spatiotemporally defined, nonlinear, complex systems that are far from thermodynamic equilibrium.

The first complete overview of progress in the field. The two volumes contain selected articles from the prestigious online “Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine”, fully updated and enriched with numerous new contributions from many eminent scientists. Divided into three parts, the first gives a thorough introduction to cancer biology, while Part Two covers therapeutic approaches for all major forms of cancer, and the third part deals with cancer diagnostics. The result is a one-stop resource for advanced students, postdoctoral researchers and start-up companies.

These two volumes contain a selection of updated articles from the acclaimed “Meyers Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine”, the most authoritative resource in cell and molecular biology, combined with new articles by "founding fathers" in the field. The work is divided into six sections: + Biological Basis + Modeling + Modular Parts and Circuits + Synthetic Genomes + Diseases and Therapeutics + Chemicals Production. Ideally suited as advanced reading for students and postdocs, and with all current research trends covered by an impressive number of leading figures in the field, this is the first-choice reference for research institutions.

The largest high-level encyclopedia on molecular medicine is now publishing a topical volume on Nanomedicine. The long-awaited volume gives a comprehensive overview on nanomaterials in drug delivery, imaging and as therapeutics.

Based on one of the leading encyclopedic resources in cell and molecular biology worldwide, this two-volume work contains more than 75% new content, not previously published in the Encyclopedia. All the other chapters have been carefully updated. The result is a comprehensive overview of the different functions of the various forms of RNA in living organisms, with each contributor carefully selected and an internationally recognized expert on his or her field. Special focus is on the different forms of expression regulation through RNA, with medical applications in the treatment of diseases - from cancers and immune responses to infections and aging - covered in detail. At least 45 of the 55 articles are new content previously not published in the Encyclopedia.

This topical volume in the respected Encyclopedia series is the first in many years to bring together all important aspects of developmental biology in one source, from morphogenesis and organogenesis, via epigenetic regulation of gene expression to evolutionary developmental biology. The editor-in-chief has assembled an outstanding team of contributors to review these topics, creating an authoritative work for many years to come. The result is a unique, top-level reference in developmental biology for researchers, students and professionals alike.