Plants may seem like simple organisms, but their complex systems for food production, reproduction, and protection make them some of the most highly adapted living things on the planet. From the arctic tundra to the tropical rainforests, plants dominate the land and produce the energy necessary to sustain life on Earth. Plant Cells investigates these amazing organisms and explores how they have provided cures for some of today's deadliest diseases. Plants may also play a vital role in helping to solve some of the world's most pressing problems, such as air pollution, nonrenewable resource...

The amazing complexity of human anatomy and physiology is dependent upon its single most basic unit: the cell. Humans can attribute their overall health to homeostasis, the balance of activity within properly functioning cells. Additionally, cells are affected by the food we eat along with the microscopic entities that make us ill. Cells and Human Health covers how cells work to maintain human health and immunity as well as the history of cell discovery and the basics of cellular activity. Readers will also learn the processes of illnesses and corresponding genetics that compromise a cell's...

Since cells are the smallest of all living organisms, scientists have had to develop various methods and tools to examine and research them. In the 17th century, the microscope was invented, allowing researchers a glimpse at the cell. Today, supercomputers put cells and experiments to the test. In microbiology laboratories and cancer research centers, well-trained, dedicated scientists work to explore the science of cells, making biotechnology a continuously growing field. In How Scientists Research Cells, learn how the first discovery of cells led to the first cloned mammal and additional...

Scientific progress often sparks disputes about the meaning of a discovery, the research methods, and the possible uses of new technology. From the debate about teaching evolution in public schools to the modern controversies of ownership that arise in the context of gene patenting and medical tissues, there have been many ethical and religious arguments for and against further scientific advancements. Stem Cell Research and Other Cell-Related Controversies explores many of these complex issues in cell research and technology, including strategies for pursuing human stem cell-based therapies...

Cells are considered one of the most basic units of life, yet their structure, processes, and reproduction are intricate and complex. From plasma membranes to cell organelles to the macromolecules that are the brick and mortar of a cell, structure is an important aspect to maintain the life processes of a cell. Some of these processes, including transfer of information from DNA to RNA to protein and the control of gene expressions, are necessary functions that aid in cell reproduction. In Cell Structure, Processes, and Reproduction, readers will explore how the major characteristics of a cell...