William E. Brown - Böcker

This volume provides an overview of a variety of approaches to biological image analysis, which allow for the study of living organisms at all levels of complexity and organization. These organisms range from individual macromolecules to subcellular and cellular volumes, tissues and microbial communities. Such a "systems biology" understanding of life requires the combination of a variety of imaging techniques, and with it an in-depth understanding of their respective strengths and limitations, as well as their intersection with other techniques. Howard, Brown, and Auer show us that the integration of these imaging techniques will allow us to overcome the reductionist approach to biology that dominated the twentieth century, which was aimed at examining the physical and chemical properties of life's constituents, one macromolecule at a time. However, while based on the laws of physics and chemistry, life is not simply a set of chemical reactions and physical forces; it features an exquisite spatiotemporal organization that allows an inconceivably large number of chemical processes to coexist, refined by billions of years of evolutionary experimentation. And yet, many fundamental questions remain largely unanswered; Imaging Life argues that we are just now beginning to address the spatiotemporal organizational component of living processes. "Imaging" is needed in order to reveal the spatiotemporal relationships between components, and thus to understand organizational guiding principles of living systems. Only through imaging will we be able to decipher the mechanisms and the marvelous organization that enable and sustain the mystery of life. Imaging Life shows us how biology is beginning to do just that.

In recent years, interest in proteins has surged. This resurgence has been driven by the expansion of the post-genomic era when structural genomics and proteomics require new techniques in protein chemistry and new applications of older techniques. Protein chemistry methods are used by nearly every discipline of biomedical research. Many techniques have been used in less traditional ways with exciting results. Modern Protein Chemistry: Practical Aspects describes the practical side of advanced techniques in protein chemistry. The book gives researchers an excellent "cost-benefit" analysis of these techniques.The contributors have been selected for their prominence in their specific fields and because they run laboratories that actively collaborate with other scientists. Researchers and practitioners, both beginners and experienced, who are looking for new ideas and who are interested in applying these more advanced methods will be assisted in their work by these commentaries.This guide provides hands-on information to complement theoretical understanding. The theory behind these methods can be found in existing books and in the original literature. However, no other guide will help you make a practical evaluation of these methods and their value to your work.

In recent years, interest in proteins has surged. This resurgence has been driven by the expansion of the post-genomic era when structural genomics and proteomics require new techniques in protein chemistry and new applications of older techniques. Protein chemistry methods are used by nearly every discipline of biomedical research. Many techniques have been used in less traditional ways with exciting results. Modern Protein Chemistry: Practical Aspects describes the practical side of advanced techniques in protein chemistry. The book gives researchers an excellent "cost-benefit" analysis of these techniques.The contributors have been selected for their prominence in their specific fields and because they run laboratories that actively collaborate with other scientists. Researchers and practitioners, both beginners and experienced, who are looking for new ideas and who are interested in applying these more advanced methods will be assisted in their work by these commentaries.This guide provides hands-on information to complement theoretical understanding. The theory behind these methods can be found in existing books and in the original literature. However, no other guide will help you make a practical evaluation of these methods and their value to your work.