Animal Cloning

by Joseph Panno

Published 5 November 2004
Nature has been cloning molecules, cells, and animals for millions of years. Just 34 years ago, biologists began to successfully emulate this natural process when John Gurdon of Cambridge University cloned a frog. Nature's motivation for cloning is a question of survival, but modern science's motivations for conducting experiments in cloning are often controversial. Animal Cloning presents the history and basic facts about cloning and discusses the questions and controversies surrounding this relatively new area of science. This in-depth yet highly readable volume examines all aspects of animal cloning, including its controversial nature, from a neutral standpoint. Well-written entries discuss natural cloning and early cloning experiments beginning in the 1950s; the research that led to the creation of Dolly, the first animal cloned from an adult cell; as well as the recent sheep-human, goat-human, and pig-human hybrids scientists have experimented with using cloning technology.
Substantial coverage deals with the driving forces behind cloning research, including the production of large quantities of medically important proteins such as blood clotting factor IX, used to treat hemophilia B; human serum albumin, used to treat burn victims; and anti-thrombin III, an anti-clotting protein used to treat heart attack and stroke victims. While the focus is on animal cloning, specific coverage of human cloning is also presented. Concluding this debate, an entire chapter presents different points of view on cloning and describes relevant legislation that has been passed or proposed in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Facilitating research, biographies of key researchers in this new and quickly advancing area of science are included along with a bibliography and glossary.

The Cell

by Joseph Panno

Published 1 October 2004
Understanding the cell is the key to grasping the significant potential and technological developments of the new biology. Gene therapy, animal cloning, and stem cell therapy are possible now only because of the great advances in our knowledge of cell biology, which modern technology has allowed scientists to make. As researchers are able to understand more about individual cells, questions and theories arise about such elements as DNA, enzymes, and chromosomes. From the origins of the first cell to the diseases that attack different types of cells, this comprehensive volume tells the full story of this organism. Presented from the point of view of the cell's motivations, The Cell presents the origins and mechanisms of this element of life and the development of scientific knowledge surrounding it. This approach is especially helpful to those students who have no background in cell biology. It covers speculation on the development of the first cell and the development of single cells into the complex cells that eventually created animal bodies.
For students and general readers, the book explains how the study of the cell cycle has led to the possibility of stem cell and cloning research. Biographies of scientists and researchers involved in cell research, along with a bibliography, glossary, and index are also included.

Aging

by Joseph Panno

Published 9 November 2004
There are almost as many theories about the aging process as there are researchers working in the field. This stems from the fact that scientists do not know why animals grow old and examine every aspect of an animal's physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology in attempting to answer this important question. The current trend among biologists studying the way animals grow old is to keep the theories in mind, but to focus their attention on dominant age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's or cardiovascular disease. This new volume in The New Biology set tackles the fascinating subject of aging, from natural processes to technological developments, and descibes past and present research into extending the human life span. Different theories about aging and the studies of the fruit fly and housefly, which have provided a basis of knowledge in this field, are presented in a clear and concise manner.
The use of hormone therapy is explored as a possible way to reverse the effects of aging, the use of antioxidants is discussed as another area being pursued by scientists seeking to find the key to extending the human life span, and possible side effects and monetary expenses are also examined. Concluding with a collection of biographies of influential researchers in this field, a bibliography, a glossary, and an index, Aging presents the full story about the hopes, efforts, progress, and realities of this timeless topic.