For biology courses in engineering and computer science departments.
Taking a system approach to expose modern biology, this book presents the fundamental system principles and parameters
common to all living species. The straightforward examination begins with a presentation of molecular cell biology
and progresses to the complex interrelationship between genes and proteins as observed in metabolic process, signal
transduction, cell division and embryonic development. The text's unique approach provides a depiction of the human
genome project, a review of high throughput biology and bioinformatic tools and a presentation of gene circuitry
and pathway analysis as applied to cell division, development of embryo and metabolic pathways and expose of emerging
proteomic science.
Features
Easy-to-read system approach--Emphasizes consideration of living systems as hierarchical networks.
Enables students with engineering, physics and computer science backgrounds to grasp biology when presented
without excess terminology and its traditional focus on exploration of gene function one at a time.
Homework problems--Each chapter contains many problems that expand on the themes presented and illustrate the
link between biology and engineering.
Enables students to learn about the important aspects of biology by addressing the questions posed in homework
assignments.
Bioinformatics tools incorporated in its exposition of new biology.
Teaches students how to do extensive literature search using the PUBMED database and motivates them to expand
their knowledge through homework assignments.
Exposition of High Throughput Biology.
Provides students with a brief but thorough exposition of the human genome project and the high throughput
biology tools that are used today in exploring new therapies for complex diseases such as cancer.
Essentials of new biology.
Provides students with an exciting new integration between biology, physics and computational sciences.
Table of Contents
1. The Chemistry of Life.
Atoms. Molecules and Covalent Bonds. Ionic Compounds and Electrostatic Bonds. Water and Hydrogen Bonds. Lipids
and Van der Waals Attratction. Acids and Bases. Chemical Reactions. Enzymes. More on Bioelements.
2. Macromolecules of Life.
Fundamentals. Carbohydrates. Lipids. DNA & RNA. Proteins. Genetic Code. Protein Structure and Function.
3. Cells and Their Housekeeping Functions.
Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. Nuceleus. Organelles for Protein Synthesis and Transport. Cytoskeleton. Metabolic
Processes and Mitochondria. Molecular Motors. Cell Membrane. Active Membrane Transport.
4. Gene Circuits.
Gene to Protein. Gene Anatomy. Gene Circuits. Bionetworks.
5. Genomics.
History of the Genome. Sequence Similarity and Homologous Genes. Decoding the Human Genome. Cutting and Sizing
DNA. Making Multiple Copies. Sequencing. Gene Annotation. Plants and Animals with Modified Genomes.
6. Cell Adhesion and Communication.
Modes of Cell Communication. Extracellular Matrix and Integrins. Cell-cell Adhesions and Cadherine. Examples
from Signal Transduction Pathways. Crosstalk between Signal Transduction Pathways.
7. Cell Division and its Regulation.
Modes of Cell Division. Molecular Basis of Cell Division. Cell Cycle Check Points. Phases of the Cell Cycle.
Cell Culture.
8. Development of Multicellular Organisms.
From Unfertilized Egg to Zygote. Cleavage: First Stage of Development. Gastrulation. Pattern-Generating Genes.
Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering.
9. Large Scale Biology.
Microarrays. Proteomics. Protein Structure. System Biology.
