Dennis Bray

How does a single-cell creature, such as an amoeba, lead such a sophisticated life? How does it hunt living prey, respond to lights, sounds, and smells, and display complex sequences of movements without the benefit of a nervous system? This book offers a startling and original answer. In clear, jargon-free language, Dennis Bray taps the findings of the new discipline of systems biology to show that the internal chemistry of living cells is a form of computation. Cells are built out of molecular circuits that perform logical operations, as electronic devices do, but with unique properties. Bray argues that the computational juice of cells provides the basis of all the distinctive properties of living systems: it allows organisms to embody in their internal structure an image of the world, and this accounts for their adaptability, responsiveness, and intelligence. In Wetware, Bray offers imaginative, wide-ranging and perceptive critiques of robotics and complexity theory, as well as many entertaining and telling anecdotes. For the general reader, the practicing scientist, and all others with an interest in the nature of life, the book is an exciting portal to some of biology’s latest discoveries and ideas.

A Computer in Every Living Cell

Wetware

Cell Movements vividly describes how complex movements can arise from the properties and behaviors of biological molecules. This second edition is updated throughout with recent advances in the field and has a completely revised and redrawn artwork program. The text is suitable for advanced undergraduates as well as for professionals wishing for an overview of this field.

From Molecules to Motility

Cell Movements

“A beautifully written journey into the mechanics of the world of the cell, and even beyond, exploring the analogy with computers in a surprising way” (Denis Noble, author of Dance to the Tune of Life). How does a single-cell creature, such as an amoeba, lead such a sophisticated life? How does it hunt living prey, respond to lights, sounds, and smells, and display complex sequences of movements without the benefit of a nervous system? This book offers a startling and original answer. In clear, jargon-free language, Dennis Bray taps the findings from the discipline of systems biology to show that the internal chemistry of living cells is a form of computation. Cells are built out of molecular circuits that perform logical operations, as electronic devices do, but with unique properties. Bray argues that the computational juice of cells provides the basis for all distinctive properties of living systems: it allows organisms to embody in their internal structure an image of the world, and this accounts for their adaptability, responsiveness, and intelligence. In Wetware, Bray offers imaginative, wide-ranging, and perceptive critiques of robotics and complexity theory, as well as many entertaining and telling anecdotes. For the general reader, the practicing scientist, and all others with an interest in the nature of life, this book is an exciting portal to some of biology’s latest discoveries and ideas. “Drawing on the similarities between Pac-Man and an amoeba and efforts to model the human brain, this absorbing read shows that biologists and engineers have a lot to learn from working together.” —Discover magazine “Wetware will get the reader thinking.” —Science magazine

Bruce Alberts

Introducción a la Biología Celular está diseñado para proporcionar los fundamentos de la biología celular que son requeridos para comprender los aspectos biomédicos, así como también los más amplios aspectos biológicos que afectan nuestras vidas. El texto es corto y simple y se ha reducido el vocabulario técnico a un mínimo. En su segunda edición, el libro se ha actualizado completamente hasta la fecha, con un nuevo énfasis sobre genomas, que incluye una visión general de la secuencia del genoma humano y un nuevo capítulo sobre como evolucionaron los genes y los genomas. Se ha agregado también un capítulo sobre Genética, Meiosis y Bases Moleculares de la Herencia. También hay nuevas secciones sobre muchos tópicos que están frecuentemente en las noticias, que incluyen las células madre, clonado, micromatrices de DNA, muerte celular programada y cáncer. Una característica central del libro es el gran número de preguntas que son presentadas en los márgenes del texto y al final de cada capítulo. Estas están diseñadas para estimular a los estudiantes a pensar sobre lo que ellos han leído y animarlos a detenerse y analizar lo que han comprendido. Las respuestas a todas las preguntas se reúnen al final del libro; en muchos casos éstas proporcionan un comentario o una perspectiva alternativa sobre el material procesado en el texto principal.

Introducción a la biología celular

Karen Hopkin

Julian Lewis

Alexander Johnson

Cell biology is taught in classrooms around the world to provide students with a firm conceptual grounding in biology. This text provides basic, core knowledge about how cells work and uses colour images and diagrams to emphasize concepts and aid understanding.

Essential Cell Biology

Keith Roberts

Martin Raff

James D. Watson

John Howard Wilson (biochemist)

Hunt

New edition of a text in which six researchers from leading institutions discuss what is known and what is yet to be understood in the field of cell biology. The material on molecular genetics has been revised and expanded so that it can be used as a stand-alone text. A new chapter covers pathogens, infection, and innate immunity. Topics include introduction to the cell, basic genetic mechanisms, methods, internal organization of the cell, and cells in their social context. The book contains color illustrations and charts; and the included CD-ROM contains dozens of video clips, animations, molecular structures, and high-resolution micrographs. Annotation copyrighted by Book News Inc., Portland, OR.

Molecular Biology of the Cell

Peter Walter

Alexander D Johnson

Essential Cell Biology provides a readily accessible introduction to the central concepts of cell biology, and its lively, clear writing and exceptional illustrations make it the ideal textbook for a first course in both cell and molecular biology. The text and figures are easy-to-follow, accurate, clear, and engaging for the introductory student. Molecular detail has been kept to a minimum in order to provide the reader with a cohesive conceptual framework for the basic science that underlies our current understanding of all of biology, including the biomedical sciences. The Fourth Edition has been thoroughly revised, and covers the latest developments in this fast-moving field, yet retains the academic level and length of the previous edition. The book is accompanied by a rich package of online student and instructor resources, including over 130 narrated movies, an expanded and updated Question Bank. Essential Cell Biology, Fourth Edition is additionally supported by the Garland Science Learning System. This homework platform is designed to evaluate and improve student performance and allows instructors to select assignments on specific topics and review the performance of the entire class, as well as individual students, via the instructor dashboard. Students receive immediate feedback on their mastery of the topics, and will be better prepared for lectures and classroom discussions. The user-friendly system provides a convenient way to engage students while assessing progress. Performance data can be used to tailor classroom discussion, activities, and lectures to address students’ needs precisely and efficiently. For more information and sample material, visit http://garlandscience.rocketmix.com/.

Dennis Bray

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