How did these creatures manage to survive the extremes of Alaska's environment? How were the Alaskan dinosaurs different from their counterparts... elsewhere in the world? How have present-day animals and plants adapted to the harsh winters? Open up Ron Smith's world and learn that the answer is not just in what these creatures are - their size or what color or type of skin covering - but also in what they do. Smith highlights the most interesting of Alaska's residents - the towering grizzly as well as the petite pika, the "coat-changing" ptarmigan and the ever-popular salmon - to reveal nature at its amazing best. This insatiably curious scientist asks questions we'd never think of to discover the wonder of this wild land. How can a ponderously slow-growing evergreen ever hope to survive when it's surrounded by the rapidly growing deciduous trees? Building upon the discoveries of Alaska's extinct dinosaurs and plants and the interrelationship of current species, Smith looks to the future. What are the trends? Which of these specially adapted flora and fauna are likely to survive or even flourish? Past, present, or future, our country's final frontier continues to fascinate. Join Smith on his journey within and around Alaska for a truly unique tour of its incredible inhabitants.

Increasingly absorbed in recent years by advances in our understanding of the origin of life, evolutionary history, and the advent of humankind, eminent... biologist Christian de Duve of late has also pondered deeply the future of life on this planet. He speaks to readers with or without a scientific background, offering new perspectives on the threat posed by humanity's immense biological success and on the resources human beings have for altering their current destructive path. Focusing on the process of natural selection, de Duve explores the inordinate and now dangerous rise of humankind. His explanation for this self-defeating success lies in the process of natural selection, which favours traits that are immediately useful, regardless of later consequences. Thus, the human genome determines such properties as tribal and group cohesion and collaboration and often fierce and irrational competition with and hostility toward other groups' attributes that were once useful but now often ruinously dysfunctional. Christian de Duve suggests that these traits, imprinted into human nature by natural selection, may have been recognized by the writers of Genesis, thus inspiring the myth of original sin. Is there redemption for genetic original sin? In a brilliant and original conclusion, the author argues that, unique in the living world, humankind is endowed with the ability to deliberately oppose natural selection. Human beings have the capacity to devise measures that, while contrary to local or personal interests, can bring forth a safer world.

The Fourth Edition of Genetics of Populations is the most current, comprehensive, and accessible introduction to the field for advanced undergraduate... and graduate students, and researchers in genetics, evolution, conservation, and related fields. In the past several years, interest in the application of population genetics principles to new molecular data has increased greatly, and Dr. Hedrick's new edition exemplifies his commitment to keeping pace with this dynamic area of study. Reorganized to allow students to focus more sharply on key material, the Fourth Edition integrates coverage of theoretical issues with a clear presentation of experimental population genetics and empirical data. Drawing examples from both recent and classic studies, and using a variety of organisms to illustrate the vast developments of population genetics, this text provides students and researchers with the most comprehensive resource in the field.

Designed for introductory genetics courses, "Genetics: A Conceptual Approach" focuses on the important concepts and mechanics of genetics without losing... students in a sea of detail. Drawing on more than 20 years of teaching experience, the author makes this often complex subject seem clear and accessible by making important connections between topics, providing advice and encouragement at difficult places, and describing the people, places, and experiments of genetics that make the subject interesting and alive.

Genetics Primer for Exercise Science and Health is the first text dedicated to the basic concepts of genetics in relation to the broad range of... topics in exercise science and health. Author Stephen M. Roth, PhD, makes the content comprehensible for readers who are unfamiliar with genetics without sacrificing the foundational and critical understanding necessary for interpreting research findings and incorporating genetics into research programs. Genetics Primer for Exercise Science and Health maintains a practical focus and addresses common concerns when preparing to study genetics, such as how to use online search tools to identify existing research literature and how to identify and select candidate genes using genome databases. Through this text, readers will discover these concepts:-The basics of DNA and genetics as they relate to health, physical activity, and sport-Specific skills and strategies for interpreting and applying genetics findings in research -How genetics research may affect sport performance training and clinical practice-The ethical issues raised by genetics in society and sportSpecial focus sections are incorporated throughout the text, providing expanded discussions of interesting topics in each chapter. Students see examples of how the principles described in the book have played out in real-life research, and they receive explicit instructions on planning and interpreting genetics research. Pedagogical aids such as summaries, key terms, and review questions also make this text ideal for efficient learning. Part I presents readers with the basic biology and genetics information they need in order to understand and apply the information to exercise science. Part II explores the research and design methods that will help readers interpret and apply their findings. Part III addresses some of the current research findings in the area of genetics in exercise and health and discusses current issues in the field, including the potential for misuse of new genetic technologies and the ethics involved in gene doping.Genetics Primer for Exercise Science and Health is the second volume in Human Kinetics' Primers in Exercise Science Series, which provides students and professionals with a nonintimidating basic understanding of the science behind its topic and, where appropriate, how that science is applied. These books are written by leading researchers and teachers in their respective areas of expertise. The authors present in an easy-to-understand manner the essential concepts in dynamic, complex areas of scientific knowledge. The books in the series are ideal for researchers and professionals who need some background in an unfamiliar scientific area. The books also function as accessible basic references for those who will be returning to the material often. This particular book adds a health dimension to the exercise science focus of the series, with discussions on disease- and health-related information. Genetic research will play an important role in the future practice of exercise science and health, requiring students and professionals to have this basic knowledge for success in their careers. Through its practical presentation of current and basic topics, Genetics Primer for Exercise Science and Health makes the case for more universities to introduce genetics courses to their curricula. Having the essential topics of genetics in a single, practical introductory text will facilitate the work of instructors, students, and professionals.

The basic principles of genetics. Reference for any student studying genetics. 6-page laminated guide includes:   • basic... concepts • mendelian genetics • sample genetics problems • solutions to sample genetics problems • molecular genetics • population & evolutionary genetics  

To stay current with their profession, speech-language, and hearing clinicians and students must have a strong working knowledge of genetic disorders... and their associated symptoms. Dr. Shprintzen's comprehensive manual provides a clear, understandable overview of human genetics and the modes of inheritance directly related to communicative disorders, as well as the proper methodology taking a detailed medical, behavioral, and genetic history for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. TEXTBOOK

For quite some time textbooks have steered the teaching of genetics down a fairly narrow path - transmissions genetics first, followed by molecular... genetics. In Genetics: The Continuity of Life, Fairbanks and Andersen modernize the study of genetics for students. With a clear, robust style, the authors approach genetics at its most fundamental molecular level, building on students' previous exposure from other courses. Once the molecular concepts are in place, transmission genetics is more easily understood. The result is a textbook that reflects the way geneticists think about solving genetics problems in a completely integrative manner. Students relate to the organization and are able to grasp the larger concepts and their applications.