Dictyostelium: Evolution, Cell Biology, and the Development of Multicellularity: 38 (Developmental and Cell Biology Series, Series Number 38) - Softcover

Kessin, Richard H.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521152828 ISBN 13: 9780521152822

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2010

Synopsis

Dictyostelia are soil amoebae capable of extraordinary feats of survival, motility, chemotaxis, and development. Characterised by their ability to transform from a single-celled organism into an elaborate assemblage of thousands of synchronously-moving cells, Dictyostelids are often referred to as 'social amoebae', and have been the subjects of serious study since the 1930s. Research in this area has been instrumental in understanding many problems in cellular biology. Beginning with the history of Dictyostelids and discussing each stage of their development, this book considers the evolution of this unique organism, analyses the special properties of the Dictyostelid genome, and presents in detail the methods available, at the time of the book's original publication in 2001, to manipulate their genes. Representing the synthesis of such material and with an emphasis on combining classical experiments with modern molecular findings, this book will be essential for researchers and graduates in developmental and cellular biology.

About this title

Review

Review of the hardback: '... a beautiful balance between the well understood and the relatively unexplored ... it offers so much in such a tiny volume. I thoroughly recommend it.' P. R. Fisher, Soil Biology and Biochemistry

Review of the hardback: '... a major achievement and will serve the field well for several years to come.' Jeffrey Williams, Trends in Genetics

Review of the hardback: '... an excellent and up-to-date summary of how social amoebae do it, and is bristling with fascinating biological answers and questions.' John A. Lee, Geologist

Review of the hardback: 'This book is an excellent and up-to-date summary of how social amoebae do it, and is bristling with fascinating biological answers and questions.' Biologist

Review of the hardback: '... well organized and superbly presented ... easy to read and very accessible to the newcomer to the field ... the time is certainly right for a book to introduce this organism and its research to a wider audience. This is the ideal book.' Peter A. Thomason, Nature Cell Biology

Review of the hardback: 'This will be the key reference work on this fascinating genus for decades, and a 'must' not only for developmental biologists but also the many mycologists who continue to dabble in and be fascinated by slime moulds.' Mycol. Research

Book Description

This 2001 book examines the modern synthesis of Dictyostelid biology. It begins with the history of Dictyostelids and discusses each stage of their development, analyses the properties of the Dictyostelid genome, and presents methods available to manipulate their genes. Essential reading for researchers and graduates in developmental and cellular biology.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521152828
• ISBN 13: 9780521152822
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 318