Dictyostelium discoideum is a model eukaryotic organism for basic biomedical research in cell and developmental biology and for the functional analysis of sequenced genes. The organism has unique advantages for studying fundamental cellular processes such as cytokinesis, motility, phagocytosis, chemotaxis, signal transduction, cell sorting, pattern formation, and cell-type determination.

This book, written to coincide with the publication of the genome sequence of Dictyostelium, introduces the post-genomic era and focuses on the important aspects of Dictyostelium genomics. Leading...

This concise, accessible book considers from a biological perspective the controversial issues of our day: abortion, euthanasia, engineered evolution, cooperativity, and the future of sustainable life on this planet. Exploring in fascinating detail the processes by which cells come into being and multiply, Loomis clearly and simply explains the latest in complex biological research. He reviews recent insights into molecular and human evolution, the role of DNA sequences in determining traits, and the biological basis for consciousness, all of which, he argues, need to be considered when...