Books in the Oxford Biology Primers series

This Oxford Biology Primer will introduce students to the field of genomics and its applications. From the early days of the Human Genome Project, sequencing technology has rapidly developed and is now cheaper and more accessible than ever before. The resulting pervasive nature of these technologies make them more likely to be experienced by people as patients, consumers and citizens.The primer introduces the basic principles of genomics and then uses these to consider human genetics, through examples of some of the rare diseases linked to single genes. The impact of these rare diseases is far-reaching and the knowledge gained through genome sequencing is proving invaluable in their diagnosis. Genome sequencing is revolutionising the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and the primer introduces students to some of the key breakthroughs which have taken place in recent years. These include the identification of specific genes indicating cancer risk, and the sequencing of tumours throughout treatment to identify further mutations and modify treatment accordingly.The primer aims to address a number of the ethical issues which are raised by this rapidly-growing area of biology. Students are challenged to consider some of the decisions they may need to make relating to these technologies in their own lives, and are given opportunities to explore different aspects of these issues in a way which allows discussion to be both informed and meaningful.The study of infectious disease is also feeling the impact of genomics: the primer discusses the concept of pathogen genome sequencing, and illustrates the various ways in which this can be used - for example, enabling us to find different solutions to infections, to track outbreaks of disease to their source, and to identify and possibly ultimately combat antibiotic resistance.Many of the major diseases which impact the global population are caused by parasites, which come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The primer introduces students to the importance of understanding parasite genomes. Parasite genome sequencing makes it possible to develop both new medicines, and new treatments such as gene drive systems to wipe out disease-causing mosquito populations. For many years, our views of classification and evolution have been based on observational techniques going back to Darwin and Linnaeus. Focusing on human evolution, the primer will open students'' eyes to the ways in which genome sequencing is being used to reveal evolutionary links that have never before been recognised, and to elucidate the way humans spread out of Africa across the world. Students are not always aware of the role technological developments play in enabling the progress of science. The final chapter delves into how genome sequencing technologies have developed, considering both the speed of change in the technology, its implications for usefulness, availability and cost, and the growing issue of big data and how it can be manipulated. The different technologies described in this chapter are referenced throughout the book.

Written primarily for students embarking on an undergraduate bioscience degree, this primer provides a concise overview of microbial biotechnology, its societal and ethical implications, the challenges that remain, and the potential and future research directions, helping students to further their understanding and make the transition to active researcher.

Written primarily for 16-19 year old students, this primer aims to extend students' knowledge and inspire them to take their school-level learning further. It explores topics that are familiar from the curriculum and also introduces new ideas, giving students a first taste of the study of biology beyond school-level and demonstrating how concepts frequently encountered at school are relevant to and applied in current research. This is the ideal text to supportstudents who are considering making the transition from studying biology at school to university. It is a concise, stimulating introduction to the endocrine system and the role of hormones in the context of disease, development, reproduction, and behaviour.

Written primarily for students embarking on an undergraduate bioscience degree, this primer provides a concise and engaging overview of the genetic basis of disease, including the current use of genetics in a clinical context and its future applications.

Written primarily for 16-19 year old students, this primer aims to extend students' knowledge and inspire them to take their school-level learning further. It explores topics that are familiar from the curriculum and also introduces new ideas, giving students a first taste of the study of biology beyond school-level and demonstrating how concepts frequently encountered at school are relevant to and applied in current research. This is the ideal text to supportstudents who are considering making the transition from studying biology at school to university. A concise, stimulating introduction to infectious disease, its treatments and preventative measures, it encourages readers to engage with and critically think about the latest research into microbiology and immunology.

Written primarily for mid-to-upper level undergraduates, this primer will introduce students to topics at the forefront of the subject that are being applied to probe biological problems, or to address the most pressing issues facing society. These topics will include those that form the cornerstone of contemporary research, helping students to make the transition to active researcher. Cancer Biology and Treatment provides a concise and engaging overview of cancer from its molecular basis to the clinical management of patients.

Written primarily for 16-19 year old students, this primer aims to extend students' knowledge and inspire them to take their school-level learning further. It explores topics that are familiar from the curriculum and also introduces new ideas, giving students a first taste of the study of biology beyond school-level and demonstrating how concepts frequently encountered at school are relevant to and applied in current research. This is the ideal text to supportstudents who are considering making the transition from studying biology at school to university. This is a concise, stimulating introduction to the fundamental biomolecules in cells and organisms, and the exciting ways biochemistry could be used to solve global problems, both now and in the future.

For many years, much of the human population has lived in ignorance of plant disease - yet the presence or absence of disease in a crop, or a forest, can mean the difference between economic success or disaster, and - even in the 21st century - the difference between life and death for millions of people. This primer raises the profile of plant infectious diseases, highlighting the scale of the problem, the risks to biosecurity, and the advances in science which areimpacting on surveillance, diagnosis and prevention of disease.This text opens with an overview of the importance of plant disease in human history, before reviewing the structure and function of the main types of pathogens involved in plant infectious diseases (bacteria, viruses, fungi and fungi-like pathogens), focusing on unusual and interesting examples. It then explores how plant diseases can be accurately diagnosed, explaining a variety of ways in which specific pathogens can be identified including the most recent developments in molecular analysisas well as cultural and serological techniques. The primer then moves on to consider disease surveillance, which still relies heavily on traditional techniques based on human observation. It also considers emerging techniques involving epidemiological models, remote monitoring, the monitoring of air and water, satellite tracking and genetic modification of crops. Disease management - ways in which plant diseases can be controlled and their spread halted - is then discussed. This area encompasses techniques spanning chemical control of insect, fungal and bacterial pests to genetic modification of crops to introduce disease resistance. The final section of the primer explores plant biosecurity and how it can be maintained - an ever-more important issue given the continued globalisation of trade - and the impact of global warming on where both plants and plant pathogens can grow and thrive.

Written primarily for mid-to-upper level undergraduates, this compelling introduction to power analysis offers a clear, conceptual understanding of the factors that influence statistical power, as well as guidance on improving and presenting the outcomes of power analyses to justify experimental design decisions.

Written primarily for 16-19 year old students, this concise, stimulating introduction to evolution outlines the key concepts in evolutionary thought, its historical context and wider implications for the scientific world, and aims to extend students' knowledge and inspire them to take their school-level learning further.

Written primarily for students embarking on an undergraduate bioscience degree, this primer introduces students to the essential topics in protein science clearly and concisely by describing the basic chemical structure of proteins, the factors that stabilize protein structures, protein function, and protein evolution.

Cell Signalling presents a carefully structured and accessible introduction to this intricate and rapidly growing field. A focus on common components and concepts, rather than mechanistic detail, allows the reader to gain a thorough understanding of the principles that underpin cell signalling.

Written primarily for mid-to-upper level undergraduates, this title provides an introduction to the evolution of the photosynthetic organisms that dominate the biosphere and underpin the rest of life on Earth.