Biology & Life Sciences, Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, Cytology

Essentials of Stem Cell Biology

Name: Essentials of Stem Cell Biology
Author: Robert Lanza
ISBN: 9780080884974

by Robert Lanza (Editor), John Gearhart (Editor), Brigid Hogan (Editor), Douglas Melton (Editor), Roger Pedersen (Editor)

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Overview

First developed as an accessible abridgement of the successful Handbook of Stem Cells, Essentials of Stem Cell Biology serves the needs of the evolving population of scientists, researchers, practitioners and students that are embracing the latest advances in stem cells. Representing the combined effort of seven editors and more than 200 scholars and scientists whose pioneering work has defined our understanding of stem cells, this book combines the prerequisites for a general understanding of adult and embryonic stem cells with a presentation by the world's experts of the latest research information about specific organ systems. From basic biology/mechanisms, early development, ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm, methods to application of stem cells to specific human diseases, regulation and ethics, and patient perspectives, no topic in the field of stem cells is left uncovered.

* Contributions by Nobel Laureates and leading international investigators
* Includes two entirely new chapters devoted exclusively to iPS written by the scientists who made the breakthroug
* Edited by a world-renowned author and researcher to present a complete story of stem cells in research, in application, and as the subject of political debate

About the Author, Robert Lanza

Robert Lanza, M.D. is currently Chief Scientific Officer at Advanced Cell Technology, and Adjunct Professor of Surgical Sciences at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He has several hundred scientific publications and patents, and over 30 books, including Principles of Tissue Engineering (1st through 4th Editions), Methods of Tissue Engineering, Principles of Cloning (1st and 2nd Editions), Essentials of Stem Cell Biology (1st and 2nd Editions), XENO, Yearbook of Cell & Tissue Transplantation, One World: The Health & Survival of the Human Species in the 21st Century (as editor, with forewords by C. Everett Koop and former President Jimmy Carter), and Medical Science & the Advancement of World Health. Dr. Lanza received his B.A. and M.D. degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was both a University Scholar and Benjamin Franklin Scholar. He is a former Fulbright Scholar, and studied as a student in the laboratory of Richard Hynes (MIT), Jonas Salk (The Salk Institute), and Nobel laureates Gerald Edelman (Rockefeller University) and Rodney Porter (Oxford University). He also worked closely (and coauthored a series of papers) with the late Harvard psychologist B.F. Skinner and heart transplant pioneer Christiaan Barnard. Dr. Lanza's current area of research focuses on the use of stem cells in regenerative medicine.

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Editorials

From The Critics

Reviewer: Bruce A. Fenderson, PhD(Thomas Jefferson University)
Description: Development proceeds from clusters of self-renewing stem cells to beautiful arrays of complex tissues. As the mechanisms for differentiation are gradually revealed, stem cell-based therapies may transform medicine, providing replacement cells for patients with chronic diseases. This beautiful book provides a complete introduction to the theory and practice of stem cell research. Its 69 definitive chapters cover topics ranging from molecular bases of pluripotency and induced pluripotent stem cell derivation to spinal cord injury.
Purpose: According to the editors, the aim of this book is to provide "prerequisites for a general understanding of adult and embryonic stem cells; the ... experimental protocols needed to study and characterize stem cells...; as well as a presentation by the world's experts of what is currently known about each specific organ system." The editors and authors hope the book "will contribute to new therapies of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and a wide variety of other diseases that presently afflict humanity." The book brings together the most productive authors and researchers in this exciting field.
Audience: The book is written for a broad audience of basic science and clinical researchers interested in developmental biology. It will appeal to those interested in adult stem cells as well as those interested in embryonic stem cells. Biomedical researchers interested in bioengineering, gene therapy, and oncology will also value this book for its insights into mechanisms of growth and differentiation.
Features: This full-color book is divided into six major sections covering basic stem cell biology, general methods, organ system-based applications, and regulations and ethics. The authors interpret and explain the literature. They document historical developments and provide examples of key laboratory findings. Prior knowledge of stem cell biology is not assumed. The preface includes thoughtful essays that help the novice gain an overview of the field. The methods section does not attempt to provide detailed protocols, but rather focuses on concepts and strategies. Each chapter provides an introduction, colorful headers, key words with definitions, and a short list of references for further reading. The full-color figures and illustrations are outstanding. A glossary of key words is included.
Assessment: This is the best book I've reviewed on stem cell biology. This updated second edition incorporates the latest advances in the field and features new chapters on direct reprogramming, cancer stem cells, and translational medicine. I particularly enjoyed learning about methods for deriving a wide variety of differentiated cells from mouse and human embryonic stem cells. This is the one book to have for anyone interested in the promise of stem cell research. It will provide an excellent resource for years to come.

From the Publisher

"Essentials of Stem Cell Biology belongs on the shelf of every researcher, clinician and student who is interested in the new developments in stem cell research and the treatments that are being developed."
--NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE (June 29, 2006)

"5 Stars - This is the best book I've reviewed on stem cell biology...This is the one book to have for anyone interested in the promise of stem cell research. It will provide an excellent resource for years to come."
--Bruce A. Fenderson, Thomas Jefferson University in DOODY'S (June 2006)