Mm300

Mediterranean Type Ecosystems

No other disjunct pieces of land present such striking similarities as the widely sepa 1 rated regions with a mediterranean type of climate, that is, the territories fringing the Mediterranean Sea, California, Central Chile and the southernmost strips of South Mrica and Australia. Similarities are not confined to climatic trends, but are also reflected in the physiognomy ofthe vegetation, in land use patterns and frequently in the general appearance of the landscape. The very close similarities in agricultural practices and sometimes also in rural settlements are dependent on the climatic and edaphic analogies, as well as on a certain commonality in qdtural history. This is certainly true for the Mediterranean Sea basin which in many ways represents a sort of ecological-cultural unit; this is also valid for CaUfornia and Chile, which were both settled by Spaniards and which showed periods of vigorous commercial and cultural interchanges as during the California gold rush. One other general feature is the massive interchange of cultivated and weed species of plants that has occurred between the five areas of the world that have a mediterranean-type climate, with the Mediterranean basin region itself as a major source. In spite of their limited territorial extension, probably no other parts of the world have played a more fundamental role in the history of mankind. Phoenician, Etruscan, Hellenic, Jewish, Roman, Christian andArab civilizations, among others,haveshapedmanyofman's present attitudes, including his position and perception vis-a-vis nature.

Laboratory Protocols in Applied Life Sciences

As applied life science progresses, becoming fully integrated into the biological, chemical, and engineering sciences, there is a growing need for expanding life sciences research techniques. Anticipating the demands of various life science disciplines, Laboratory Protocols in Applied Life Sciences explores this development. This book covers a wide spectrum of areas in the interdisciplinary fields of life sciences, pharmacy, medical and paramedical sciences, and biotechnology. It examines the principles, concepts, and every aspect of applicable techniques in these areas. Covering elementary concepts to advanced research techniques, the text analyzes data through experimentation and explains the theory behind each exercise. It presents each experiment with an introduction to the topic, concise objectives, and a list of necessary materials and reagents, and introduces step-by-step, readily feasible laboratory protocols. Focusing on the chemical characteristics of enzymes, metabolic processes, product and raw materials, and on the basic mechanisms and analytical techniques involved in life science technological transformations, this text provides information on the biological characteristics of living cells of different origin and the development of new life forms by genetic engineering techniques. It also examines product development using biological systems, including pharmaceutical, food, and beverage industries. Laboratory Protocols in Applied Life Sciences presents a nonmathematical account of the underlying principles of a variety of experimental techniques in disciplines, including: Biotechnology Analytical biochemistry Clinical biochemistry Biophysics Molecular biology Genetic engineering Bioprocess technology Industrial processes Animal Plant Microbial biology Computational biology Biosensors Each chapter is self-contained and written in a style that helps students progress from basic to advanced techniques, and eventually design and execute their own experiments in a given field of biology.

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