Biology, life sciences

Understanding the mechanisms driving biological diversity remains a central problem in ecology and evolutionary biology.

Phase transitions--changes between different states of organization in a complex system--have long helped to explain physics concepts, such as why water freezes into a solid or boils to become a gas.

What rational justification is there for conceiving of all living things as possessing inherent worth?

A new approach to understanding animal and human cognitionWhen a chimpanzee stockpiles rocks as weapons or when a frog sends out mating calls, we might easily assume these animals know their own motivations--that they use the same psychological mechanisms that we do.

An illustrated guide to how birds design and build their nestsBirds are the most consistently inventive builders, and their nests set the bar for functional design in nature.

In Enhancing Evolution, leading bioethicist John Harris dismantles objections to genetic engineering, stem-cell research, designer babies, and cloning and makes an ethical case for biotechnology that is both forthright and rigorous.

The world's parrots in one convenient field guideFrom the macaws of South America to the cockatoos of Australia, parrots are among the most beautiful and exotic birds in the world-and among the most endangered.

How honeybees make collective decisions-and what we can learn from this amazing democratic processHoneybees make decisions collectively-and democratically.

Millions of years ago in the Cretaceous period, the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex--with its dagger-like teeth for tearing its prey to ribbons--was undoubtedly the fiercest carnivore to roam the Earth.

Seeds of Amazonian Plants is the first field guide to treat the extraordinary diversity of seeds and diaspores of plants commonly encountered in the Amazon and other lowland moist forests of the American tropics.

Darwin's Origin of Species and Dobzhansky's Genetics and the Origin of Species have been the cornerstones of modern evolutionary and population genetic theory for the past hundred years, but in the twenty-first century, biologists will face graver problems of extinction.

How do we explain the remarkably abrupt changes that sometimes occur in nature and society--and can we predict why and when they happen?

John Tyler Bonner makes a new attack on an old problem: the question of how progressive increase in the size and complexity of animals and plants has occurred.

What makes humans unique?

This entertaining and informative book describes how living things bump up against non-biological reality.

A stunningly illustrated look at the mating and parenting lives of the world's birdsBird Love looks at the extraordinary range of mating systems in the avian world, exploring all the stages from courtship and nest-building to protecting eggs and raising chicks.

The first ethnographic exploration of the contentious debate over whether nonhuman primates are capable of cultureIn the 1950s, Japanese zoologists took note when a number of macaques invented and passed on new food-washing behaviors within their troop.

Hailed by the Washington Post as "e;a sure-footed and witty guide to slippery ethical terrain,"e; a philosophical exploration of AI and the future of the mind that Astronomer Royal Martin Rees calls "e;profound and entertaining"e;Humans may not be Earth's most intelligent beings for much longer: the world champions of chess, Go, and Jeopardy!

How birds have evolved and adapted to survive winterBirds in Winter is the first book devoted to the ecology and behavior of birds during this most challenging season.

"e;This little book is big fun.

Ecologists now recognize that the dynamics of populations, communities, and ecosystems are strongly affected by adaptive individual behaviors.

Leading ecologists discuss some of the most compelling open questions in the field todayUnsolved Problems in Ecology brings together many of the world's leading ecologists to discuss the most fundamental research questions confronting the field today.

A comprehensive, richly illustrated introduction to the fascinating natural history of the pig, from prehistory to the present At any given time, there are around one billion pigs in the world; that's one for every seven of us.

A lavishly illustrated introduction to the world's dragonflies and damselfliesDragonflies and damselflies are often called birdwatchers' insects.

A how-to book on an exhilarating outdoor activity and a unique meditation on the pleasures of the natural worldFollowing the Wild Bees is a delightful foray into the pastime of bee hunting, an exhilarating outdoor activity that used to be practiced widely but which few people know about today.

Biological evolution is a fact-but the many conflicting theories of evolution remain controversial even today.

Ecologists traditionally regard time as part of the background against which ecological interactions play out.

This book is based on hard scientific research, most of which has been conducted outside of the United States, where food production lobbies have fought hard against this kind of research.

Advances in Botanical Research: From Origin to the Vineyard, Volume 110 highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on topics such as Grapevine origin and diversity, Climate change implications on the geography of viticulture, Canopy and soil management strategies insights into overcome abiotic stresses in grapevine, Grapevine defense mechanisms when challenged by pathogenic fungi and oomycetes, Management strategies for reducing pesticide use against diseases caused by fungi and oomycetes in grapevine, The Role of Plant Breeding in grapevine production, and New biotechnological tools for grapevine improvement.

Cell Culture and Somatic Cell Genetics of Plants, Volume 5: Phytochemicals in Plant Cell Cultures provides comprehensive coverage of the wide variety of laboratory procedures used in plant cell culture, fundamental aspects of cell growth and nutrition, and plant regeneration and variability.

*; Reveals how vibration and intention can transform DNA from the standard double helix to its 12-stranded form, unlocking your physical and spiritual potential*; Explores the intimate relationship of water and DNA and how they both react to sound and consciousness*; Shares ten specific frequencies that resonate with DNA as well as techniques and meditations to activate your 12-stranded DNA for emotional and physical healing, resolution of ancestral trauma, and conscious evolutionIn this vibrant guidebook, sound healer and former corporate scientist Ruslana Remennikova reveals how, through vibration and intention, you can shapeshift DNA from the standard double helix to its 12-stranded, dodecahedral formthereby unlocking your spiritual potential and opening the way for deep healing of the past, the present, and the future of your deeper self.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used to visualize detailed internal structure of the body.

The Atlas of Drosophila Morphology: Wild-type and Classical Mutants is the guide every Drosophila researcher wished they had when first learning genetic markers, and the tool they wish they had now as a handy reference in their lab research.

Twenty-five thousand years ago, sea level fell more than 400 feet below its present position as a consequence of the growth of immense ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere.

The second edition of this classic reference deals exclusively with the biology and diseases of bone as they affect children.

Introduction to WinBUGS for Ecologists introduces applied Bayesian modeling to ecologists using the highly acclaimed, free WinBUGS software.

Molecular Biology: Academic Cell Update provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of molecular biology and its applications.

Language, cognition, and memory are traditionally studied together prior to a researcher specializing in any one area.

The child is neither an adult miniature nor an immature human being: at each age, it expresses specific abilities that optimize adaptation to its environment and development of new acquisitions.

The second edition of Bioscience and Bioengineering of Titanium Materials is an essential resource for anyone researching titanium in its fundamental aspects and in medical/dental applications.

Basic Methods in Molecular Biology discusses the heart of the most recent revolution in biology-the development of the technology of genetics.

Genetic improvement has played a vital role in enhancing the yield potential of vegetable crops.

Handbook of Proteolytic Enzymes, Second Edition, Volume 1: Aspartic and Metallo Peptidases is a compilation of numerous progressive research studies on proteolytic enzymes.

The fourth edition of The Immunoassay Handbook provides an excellent, thoroughly updated guide to the science, technology and applications of ELISA and other immunoassays, including a wealth of practical advice.

This series of volumes represents a comprehensive and integrated treatment of reproduction in vertebrates from fishes of all sorts through mammals.

This volume of Current Topics in Membranes focuses on Membrane Protein Crystallization, beginning with a review of past successes and general trends, then further discussing challenges of mebranes protein crystallization, cell free production of membrane proteins and novel lipids for membrane protein crystallization.

Introduction to Biomedical Engineering is a comprehensive survey text for biomedical engineering courses.

This volume of The Enzymes features high-caliber thematic articles on the topic of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring of proteins.

Vasopressin and oxytocin are the key hormones of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system, and are well-known to be critically involved in antidiuresis, labor, and milk ejection.

Episodic memory is the name of the kind of memory that records personal experiences instead of the mere remembering of impersonal facts and rules.