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Genes from the Wild: Using Wild Genetic Resources for Food and Raw Materials (Natural Resource Management Set)
by Robert Prescott-Allen Christine Prescott-AllenTomatoes could not be grown commercially without the help of their wild relatives. A single wild species of rice has helped double rice production in Asia. Wild silk-worms are enabling India to expand its silk industry. A wild carp with resistance to cold has been used to extend Soviet carp production further into the north. Wild genetic resources - the heritable characteristics of wild plants and animals - are used increasingly to improve domesticated crops and livestock and as new sources of food and of raw materials. But habitat destruction, over-exploitation and competition from introduced species is destroying many gene pools even before they have been identified. Genes from the Wild describes the growing contribution of wild genetic resources to the production of food and raw materials, describes their characteristics, explains the benefits and problems of using them and outlines the ways in which they are threatened and the measures being taken to conserve them. Originally published in 1988
Genetic Engineering, Biofertilisation, Soil Quality and Organic Farming
by Eric LichtfouseSustainable agriculture is a rapidly growing field aiming at producing food and energy in a sustainable way for humans and their children. Sustainable agriculture is a discipline that addresses current issues such as climate change, increasing food and fuel prices, poor-nation starvation, rich-nation obesity, water pollution, soil erosion, fertility loss, pest control, and biodiversity depletion. Novel, environmentally-friendly solutions are proposed based on integrated knowledge from sciences as diverse as agronomy, soil science, molecular biology, chemistry, toxicology, ecology, economy, and social sciences. Indeed, sustainable agriculture decipher mechanisms of processes that occur from the molecular level to the farming system to the global level at time scales ranging from seconds to centuries. For that, scientists use the system approach that involves studying components and interactions of a whole system to address scientific, economic and social issues. In that respect, sustainable agriculture is not a classical, narrow science. Instead of solving problems using the classical painkiller approach that treats only negative impacts, sustainable agriculture treats problem sources. Because most actual society issues are now intertwined, global, and fast-developing, sustainable agriculture will bring solutions to build a safer world. This book series gathers review articles that analyze current agricultural issues and knowledge, then propose alternative solutions. It will therefore help all scientists, decision-makers, professors, farmers and politicians who wish to build a safe agriculture, energy and food system for future generations.
Genetic Manipulation in Plants for Mitigation of Climate Change
by Om Parkash Dhankher Pawan Kumar Jaiwal Rana Pratap SinghThis book presents a detailed overview and critical evaluation of the state of the art and latest approaches in genetic manipulation studies on plants to mitigate the impact of climate change on growth and productivity. Each chapter has been written by experts in plant-stress biology and highlights the involvement of a variety of genes/pathways and their regulation in abiotic stress, recent advances in molecular breeding (identification of tightly liked markers, QTLs/genes), transgenesis (introduction of exogenous genes or changing the expression of endogenous stress- responsive genes) and genomics approaches that have made it easier to identify and isolate several key genes involved in abiotic stress such as drought, water lodging/flooding, extreme temperatures, salinity and heavy-metal toxicity. Food and nutritional security has emerged as a major global challenge due to expanding populations, and cultivated areas becoming less productive as a result of extreme climatic changes adversely affecting the quantity and quality of plants. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop crop varieties resilient to abiotic stress to ensure food security and combat increased input costs, low yields and the marginalization of land. The role of GM crops in poverty alleviation, nutrition and health in developing countries and their feasibility in times of climate change are also discussed. Recent advances in gene technologies have shown t he potential for faster, more targeted crop improvements by transferring genes across the sexual barriers. The book is a valuable resource for scientists, researchers, students, planners and industrialists working in the area of biotechnology, plant agriculture, agronomy, horticulture, plant physiology, molecular biology, plant sciences and environmental sciences.
Genetic Resources as Natural Information: Implications for the Convention on Biological Diversity and Nagoya Protocol (Routledge Studies in Law and Sustainable Development)
by Manuel Ruiz MullerDemonstrating the shortcomings of current policy and legal approaches to access and benefit-sharing (ABS) in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), this book recognizes that genetic resources are widely distributed across countries and that bilateral contracts undermine fairness and equity. The book offers a practical and feasible regulatory alternative to ensure the goal of fairness and equity is effectively and efficiently met. Through a legal analysis that also incorporates historic, economic and sociological perspectives, the book argues that genetic resources are not tangible resources but information. It shows that the existing preference for bilateralism and contracts reflects resistance on the part of many of the stakeholders involved in the CBD process to recognize them as such. ABS issues respond very well to the economics of information, yet as the author explains, these have been either sidelined or overlooked. At a time when the Nagoya Protocol on ABS has renewed interest in feasible policy options, the author provides a constructive and provocative critique. The institutional, policy and regulatory framework constitute "bounded openness" under which fairness and equity emerge.
Genetically Engineered Organisms: Assessing Environmental and Human Health Effects
by Deborah K. Letourneau Beth Elpern BurrowsGenetic engineering suggests new avenues for constructing useful products, but it also poses hazards to the health of the environment and the public. Delineating those hazards is complicated, difficult, and important at every level of risk assessment and risk management decision-making. Risk assessment and risk management may be further complicated
Genetically Modified Crops and Food Security: Commercial, Ethical and Health Considerations (Earthscan Food and Agriculture)
by Vishal Sharma Jasmeet Kour Imtiyaz KhandayThis book reviews a wide-range of genetically modified (GM) crops to understand how they are produced, the impacts on the agricultural industry, and their potential for improving food security. The production of GM crops has now become an invaluable asset in the agricultural toolbox. With a significant portion of the world suffering from hunger and poverty, this book examines how food security can be achieved through GM crops. A wide variety of crops are examined, from the earliest developments of GM tomatoes and potatoes to recent interest in the development of low-cost, high yielding biofuels, such as microalgae. Chapters also discuss the role of GM crops in pest management and the consequential reduction in the use of insecticides. Overall, this book provides an important synthesis of GM crops from their commercial value to the agricultural industry, as well as their potential for improving food security. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of agricultural engineering, crop science, food biotechology, food security, and those interested in food and agriculture and sustainable development more broadly.
Genetics and Genomics of Populus
by Stefan Jansson Andrew Groover Rishikesh BhaleraoGenetics and Genomics of Populus provides an indepth description of the genetic and genomic tools and approaches for Populus, examines the biology that has been elucidated using genomics, and looks to the future of this unique model plant. This volume is designed to serve both experienced Populus researchers and newcomers to the field. Contributors to the volume are a blend of researchers, some who have spent most of their research career on Populus and others that have moved to Populus from other model systems. Research on Populus forms a useful complement to research on Arabidopsis. In fact, many plant species found in nature are - in terms of the life history and genetics - more similar to Populus than to Arabidopsis. Thus, the genetic and genomic strategies and tools developed by the Populus community, and showcased in this volume, will hopefully provide inspiration for researchers working in other, less well developed, systems.
Genetics and the Manipulation of Life
by Craig HoldregeCovers all areas of genetics in simple terms. There are detailed descriptions of the figures contained in the book. Contains glossary and index.
Geninne's Art: Birds In Watercolor, Collage, and Ink
by Geninne ZlatkisA personal field guide to how the popular Santa Fe artist finds her inspiration and creates her charming paintings and collages of birds and nature.Brimming with inspiring examples of the artist’s work, this beautiful book takes you inside Geninne’s studio for an in-depth look at how she creates. You will discover, step by step, how this devoted artist spends time photographing nature, selecting her materials, and developing her personal imagery. Explore:How her studio is set up, how she works, and what materials and tools she usesHow she captures nature with both a camera and phone for referenceHer artistic process through the step-by-step creation of 5 watercolor paintings, 5 collages, and 5 ink drawings, with notes on each medium and techniqueAs a special bonus, the book includes 32 pages of collage papers, painted and selected by Geninne, for you to use as you explore and develop your own artistic voice.Vibrant, detailed, and richly imaginative, Geninne’s interpretation of the birds she has observed so closely will inspire you to use the natural world as fodder for your paintings, drawings, and collages.“Lovely . . . If you’re a playful artist avid about collage or ink drawing, you might be smitten.” —Arts & Activities
Genoa: A Telling of Wonders
by Rick Moody Paul Metcalf"[Genoa] invites us to pass our minds down a new but ancient track, to become, ourselves, both fact and fiction, and to discover something true about the geography of time."--William Gass, The New York Times"Genoa is a spectacular confrontation with Melville's work, the journals of Columbus and molecular biology--all folded into a hallucinatory narrative about two brothers and their different paths through the American century."--Publishers Weekly"Much like his great-grandfather, Herman Melville, Paul Metcalf brings an extraordinary diversity of materials into the complex patterns of analogy and metaphor, to affect a common term altogether brilliant in its imagination."--Robert Creeley"A unique work of historical and literary imagination, eloquent and powerful. I know of nothing like it."--Howard ZinnFirst published in 1965, Genoa is Paul Metcalf's purging of the burden of his relationship to his great-grandfather Herman Melville. In his signature polyphonic style, a storm-tossed Indiana attic becomes the site of a reckoning with the life of Melville; with Columbus, and his myth; and between two brothers--one, an MD who refuses to practice; the other, an executed murderer. Genoa is a triumph, a novel without peer, that vibrates and sings a quintessentially American song.Paul Metcalf (1917-99) was an American writer and the great-grandson of Herman Melville. His three volume Collected Works were published by Coffee House Press in 1996.
Genome Editing and Global Food Security: Molecular Engineering Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture (Earthscan Food and Agriculture)
by Zeba Khan Durre Shahwar Yasmin HeikalWith the rapid increase in the global population and changing climatic impacts on agriculture, this book demonstrates how genome editing will be an indispensable technique to overcome ongoing and prospective agricultural challenges. This book examines the role of genome editing in improving crop yields and contributing to global food security. It summarizes a range of genome editing techniques and discusses the roles they can play in producing a new generation of high-yielding, climate-ready crops. This includes site-specific nucleases, precision genome engineering, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, and bioinformatics. It showcases how these gene editing techniques can tailor plants to not only increase yield-related traits but to also make them better suited to their environment and to be resistant to pests and extreme climatic events, such as droughts. The book also examines genome editing regulations and policies, the commercialization of genome-edited crops, and biosafety and biosecurity concerns. Overall, this book reveals and showcases how genome editing can improve crop resilience and production to address current and future agricultural challenges and alleviation of global food security concerns. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of agricultural science, crop and plant science, genome editing, sustainable agriculture, biotechnology, and food security.
Genomics Based Approaches for Tropical Tree Improvement and Conservation
by Yasodha Ramasamy Ani A. EliasThis book offers foundational knowledge to advance genomic approaches in forest tree improvement and genetic resource conservation. The tropical tree breeding sector has fallen behind in genomic breeding not due to a lack of resources but rather a limited understanding and an underdeveloped genomic breeding pipeline. While marker-assisted selection (MAS) has been the preferred method for incorporating genomic data into breeding programs, it primarily targets major genes, overlooking minor gene effects. This limitation makes MAS less effective for enhancing quantitative traits such as heartwood content. The primary goal of statistical methodologies using whole-genome information is to predict promising candidates for breeding advancement/commercialization while efficiently managing resources such as land, labor, and, most critically, time. Given the long rotation period of forest tree crops, the ability to identify, select, and modify genotypes with high heritability for economically valuable traits within a shorter timeframe marks a significant advancement in breeding. This book provides comprehensive guidelines on leveraging genomic data, including pathogenomics, to breed resilient, future-ready trees and manage populations effectively. To reinforce these guidelines, the book presents case studies on species such as Tectona grandis, Santalum album, Casuarina, Shorea, Artocarpus, tropical and sub-tropical pines, and tropical fruit trees. Additionally, the book explores broader applications of genetic data, including timber tracing and the conservation of germplasm while minimizing genetic redundancy. This book will be a valuable resource for tropical tree breeders and researchers, equipping them with the methods and tools needed to adopt advanced genomic breeding. Additionally, students and scholars will benefit from the comprehensive information it provides, enhancing their understanding of modern breeding techniques.
Genomics and Breeding for Climate-Resilient Crops
by Chittaranjan KoleClimate change is expected to have a drastic impact on agronomic conditions including temperature, precipitation, soil nutrients, and the incidence of disease pests, to name a few. To face this looming threat, significant progress in developing new breeding strategies has been made over the last few decades. The first volume of Genomics and Breeding for Climate-Resilient Crops presents the basic concepts and strategies for developing climate-resilient crop varieties. Topics covered include: conservation, evaluation and utilization of biodiversity; identification of traits, genes and crops of the future; genomic and molecular tools; genetic engineering; participatory and evolutionary breeding; bioinformatics tools to support breeding; funding and networking support; and intellectual property, regulatory issues, social and political dimensions.
Genomics and Breeding for Climate-Resilient Crops: Vol. 2 Target Traits
by Chittaranjan KoleClimate change is expected to have a drastic impact on agronomic conditions including temperature, precipitation, soil nutrients, and the incidence of disease pests, to name a few. To face this looming threat, significant progress in developing new breeding strategies has been made over the last few decades. The second volume of Genomics and Breeding for Climate-Resilient Crops describes various genomic and breeding approaches for the genetic improvement of the major target traits. Topics covered include: flowering time; root traits; cold, heat and drought tolerance; water use efficiency; flooding and submergence tolerance; disease and insect resistance; nutrient use efficiency; nitrogen fixation; carbon sequestration; and greenhouse gas emissions.
Genomics and Environmental Regulation: Science, Ethics, and Law
by Gary E. Marchant Richard R. Sharp Jamie A. GrodskyTo reduce the deleterious effects of environmental contamination, governments across the world have enacted regulations broadly conceived for entire populations. Information arising out of the Human Genome Project and other cutting-edge genetic research is shifting the policymaking process. This fascinating volume draws on experts from academia, government, industry, and nongovernmental organizations to examine the science of genomic research as applied to environmental policy. The first section explores environmental policy applications, including subpopulation genetic profiling, industrial regulations, and standardizing governmental evaluation of genomic data. The second section assesses from multiple angles the legal framework involved in applying genomics to environmental regulation. In the third section, the contributors review closely the implications of genomic research for occupational health, from disease prevention and genetic susceptibility to toxicants, to workers’ rights and potential employment discrimination. A fourth section explores the bioethical and philosophical complications of bringing genetic data and research into nonclinical regulatory frameworks.Genomics and Environmental Regulation points to ways in which information on toxicology and genetics can be used to craft more precise and efficient regulations.
Genomics of Soil- and Plant-Associated Fungi
by Christian P. Kubicek Mala Mukherjee Prasun K. Mukherjee Benjamin A. HorwitzThis volume addresses the similarities and also the differences in the genomes of soil saprophytes, symbionts, and plant pathogens by using examples of fungal species to illustrate particular principles. It analyzes how the specific interactions with the hosts and the influence of the environment may have shaped genome evolution. The relevance of fungal genetic research and biotechnological applications is shown for areas such as plant pathogenesis, biomass degradation, litter decomposition, nitrogen assimilation, antibiotic production, mycoparasitism, energy, ecology, and also for soil fungi turning to human pathogens. In addition to the model organisms Neurospora and Aspergillus, the following species are covered providing a view of pathogens and mutualists: Trichoderma, Fusarium oxysporum, Cochliobolus heterostrophus, Penicillium chrysogenum, Rhizopus oryzae, Podospora anserina, Agaricomycetes, Archaeorhizomycetes and Magnaporthaceae. Ecology and potential applications have guided the choice of fungal genes to be studied and it will be fascinating to follow the trends of future sequencing projects.
Genomics: A Revolution in Health and Disease Discovery
by Whitney Stewart Hans C. AnderssonOver the past 50 years, scientists have made incredible progress in the application of genetic research to human health care and disease treatment. Innovative tools and techniques, including gene therapy and CRISPR-Cas9 editing, can treat inherited disorders that were previously untreatable, or prevent them from happening in the first place. You can take a DNA test to learn where your ancestors are from. Police officers can use genetic evidence to identify criminals—or innocents. And some doctors are using new medical techniques for unprecedented procedures. Genomics: A Revolution in Health and Disease Discovery delves into the history, science, and ethics behind recent breakthroughs in genetic research. Authors Whitney Stewart and Hans Andersson, MD, present fascinating case studies that show how real people have benefitted from genetic research. Though the genome remains full of mysteries, researchers and doctors are working hard to uncover its secrets and find the best ways to treat patients and cure diseases. The discoveries to come will inform how we target disease treatment, how we understand our health, and how we define our very identities.
Gentian Hill
by Elizabeth GoudgeUnable to bear the prospect of a life at sea, young Anthony O'Connell deserts his ship at Torquay and escapes into the Devonshire countryside under a new name. When Stella Sprigg, adopted daughter of a local farmer, encounters 'Zachary', the pair instantly know they are destined to be together. Intertwined with the local legend of St. Michael's Chapel, Stella and Zachary's story takes them from the secluded Devonshire valley to the perilous Mediterranean seas and finally to the poverty and squalor of eighteenth-century London.
Gentleman Captain (The Matthew Quinton Journals)
by J. D. Davies&“A promising 17th-century English nautical saga&” featuring a new captain whose command of a Royal Navy warship makes him &“a hero worth rooting for&” (Publishers Weekly). 1662: After Matthew Quinton sunk the first ship he was given to command, he is surprised when the King gives him captaincy of H.M.S. Jupiter with orders to stamp out a Scottish rebellion. This time Quinton is determined to prove his worth. In a country of divided loyalties, Charles II needs someone he can trust, and—with an elder brother deep in the King&’s confidence—Matthew is one of the few eligible candidates. But now Quinton must face an unruly crew, suspicions of murder, stirrings of conspiracy and the angry seas. Will treason be found in Scotland . . . or is it lurking closer to home? Packed with gripping sea adventures, Gentleman Captain is the first in the epic Matthew Quinton Journals, a series of extraordinary nautical sagas. Praise for the writing of J. D. Davies: &“Hornblower, Aubrey and Quinton--a pantheon of the best adventures at sea!&” —Conn Iggulden, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Conqueror and War of the Roses series &“Swashbuckling suspense, royal intrigue, and high seas naval action . . . An excellent series.&” —Publishers Weekly &“Utterly impossible to put down . . . Finely-shaded characters, excellent plotting, gut-clenching action and immaculate attention to period detail . . . superb.&” —Angus Donald, author of The Outlaw Chronicles series &“Destined to be a classic of nautical adventure series.&” —Eric Jay Dolin, author of Leviathan and Fur, Fortune, and Empire &“A naval adventure that goes well beyond the usual outlines of the genre to paint a lively portrait of England in the 1600s.&” —Kirkus Reviews
Geo-Graphics
by Regina GiménezOur universe is brimming with secrets, and surprising curiosities. Here readers will learn the answers to all the questions they've asked themselves:What does the Sun look like from different planets in our galaxy? Why doesn't the Moon always appear the same? What is the largest river on Earth? And the highest mountain?In Geo-Graphics, our world becomes transformed by acclaimed artist Regina Giménez, into 96 pages of gorgeous shapes and colors. Planets and stars, continents and islands, rivers and lakes, volcanos and hurricanes … here they are presented as circles, polygons, lines, spirals, and accompanying facts that explain the world around us.This special and unusual atlas is a marriage of science and art like no other.
Geo-societal Narratives: Contextualising geosciences
by Martin Bohle Eduardo MaroneThis book provides an accessible overview of the societal relevance of contemporary geosciences. Engaging various disciplines from humanities and social sciences, the book offers philosophical, cultural, economic, and geoscientific insights into how to contextualise geosciences in the node of Culture and Nature.The authors introduce two perspectives of societal geosciences, both informed by the lens of geoethics. Throughout the text core themes are explored; human agency, the integrity of place, geo-centricity, economy and climate justice, subjective sense-making and spirituality, nationalism, participatory empowerment and leadership in times of anthropogenic global change. The book concludes with a discussion on culture, education, or philosophy of science as aggregating concepts of seemingly disjunct narratives.The diverse intellectual homes of the authors offer a rich resource in terms of how they perceive human agency within the Earth system. Two geoscientific perspectives and fourteen narratives from various cultural, social and political viewpoints contextualise geosciences in the World(s) of the Anthropocene.
Geoarchaeology and Archaeological Mineralogy: Proceedings of 6th Geoarchaeological Conference, Miass, Russia, 16-19 September 2019 (Springer Proceedings In Earth And Environmental Sciences)
by Anatoly Yuminov Natalia Ankusheva Maksim Ankushev Elizaveta Zaykova Dmitry ArtemyevThis book presents general problems in geoarchaeology, and discusses geophysical solutions, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry applications, X-ray and isotope analyses and GIS technologies. It also examines practical reconstructions of technological processes used in ancient time, and investigates the use of minerals and rocks by ancient societies in the territories of modern Russia, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan, as well as the characteristics of ores, metallurgical slags and data on the composition and impurities of archaeological metals. Intended for archaeologists, historians, museum workers and geologists studying noble metals and copper, the book is also a useful resource for students, graduate students, experts and anyone interested in the use of various minerals at different stages of humanity’s development.
Geobiotechnological Solutions to Anthropogenic Disturbances
by Mark Anglin HarrisThis book offers a problem-and-solution approach toenvironmental remediation in mining, including the environmentally sustainableutilization of waste materials from the mining industry. It largely comprisesarticles published in Springer journals, which have been thoroughly revised andexpanded. With supplementary data and illustrations, it discusses specificproblem areas in relevant Caribbean locations and provides an overview ofgeotechnical and microbial solutions to prevent post-mining deterioration inthis area.
Geocomputation with R (Chapman & Hall/CRC The R Series)
by Robin Lovelace Jakub Nowosad Jannes MuenchowGeocomputation with R is for people who want to analyze, visualize and model geographic data with open source software. It is based on R, a statistical programming language that has powerful data processing, visualization, and geospatial capabilities. The book equips you with the knowledge and skills to tackle a wide range of issues manifested in geographic data, including those with scientific, societal, and environmental implications. This book will interest people from many backgrounds, especially Geographic Information Systems (GIS) users interested in applying their domain-specific knowledge in a powerful open source language for data science, and R users interested in extending their skills to handle spatial data. The book is divided into three parts: (I) Foundations, aimed at getting you up-to-speed with geographic data in R, (II) extensions, which covers advanced techniques, and (III) applications to real-world problems. The chapters cover progressively more advanced topics, with early chapters providing strong foundations on which the later chapters build. Part I describes the nature of spatial datasets in R and methods for manipulating them. It also covers geographic data import/export and transforming coordinate reference systems. Part II represents methods that build on these foundations. It covers advanced map making (including web mapping), "bridges" to GIS, sharing reproducible code, and how to do cross-validation in the presence of spatial autocorrelation. Part III applies the knowledge gained to tackle real-world problems, including representing and modeling transport systems, finding optimal locations for stores or services, and ecological modeling. Exercises at the end of each chapter give you the skills needed to tackle a range of geospatial problems. Solutions for each chapter and supplementary materials providing extended examples are available at https://geocompr.github.io/geocompkg/articles/.
Geocomputation with R (Chapman & Hall/CRC The R Series)
by Robin Lovelace Jakub Nowosad Jannes MuenchowGeocomputation with R is for people who want to analyze, visualize, and model geographic data with open source software. The book provides a foundation for learning how to solve a wide range of geographic data analysis problems in a reproducible, and therefore scientifically sound and scalable way. The second edition features numerous updates, including the adoption of the high-performance terra package for all raster data processing, detailed coverage of the spherical geometry engine s2, updated information on coordinate reference systems and new content on openEO, STAC, COG, and gdalcubes. The data visualization chapter has been revamped around version 4 of the tmap package, providing a fresh perspective on creating publication-quality maps from the command line. The importance of the book is also highlighted in a new foreword by Edzer Pebesma.The book equips you with the knowledge and skills necessary to tackle a wide range of issues manifested in geographic data, including those with scientific, societal, and environmental implications. The book is especially well-suited to: Data scientists and engineers interested in upskilling to handle spatial data. People with existing geographic data skills interested in developing powerful geosolutions via code. Anyone who needs to work with spatial data in a reproducible and scalable way. The book is divided into three parts: Foundations, Extensions, and Applications, covering progressively more advanced topics. The exercises at the end of each chapter provide the necessary skills to address various geospatial problems, with solutions and supplementary materials available at r.geocompx.org/solutions/.