Epigenetic Gene Expression and Regulation reviews current knowledge on the heritable molecular mechanisms that regulate gene expression, contribute to disease susceptibility, and point to potential treatment in future therapies. The book shows how these heritable mechanisms allow individual cells to establish stable and unique patterns of gene expression that can be passed through cell divisions without DNA mutations, thereby establishing how different heritable patterns of gene regulation control cell differentiation and organogenesis, resulting in a distinct human organism with a variety of differing cellular functions and tissues. The work begins with basic biology, encompasses methods, cellular and tissue organization, topical issues in epigenetic evolution and environmental epigenesis, and lastly clinical disease discovery and treatment. Each highly illustrated chapter is organized to briefly summarize current research, provide appropriate pedagogical guidance, pertinent methods, relevant model organisms, and clinical examples. - Reviews current knowledge on the heritable molecular mechanisms that regulate gene expression, contribute to disease susceptibility, and point to potential treatment in future therapies - Helps readers understand how epigenetic marks are targeted, and to what extent transgenerational epigenetic changes are instilled and possibly passed onto offspring - Chapters are replete with clinical examples to empower the basic biology with translational significance - Offers more than 100 illustrations to distill key concepts and decipher complex science

The use of CRISPR/Cas technology for genome editing suggests many potential applications, including the alteration of the germline of humans, animals and food crops. The speed and efficiency of the CRISPR/Cas system make it a potentially useful system for gene therapy. In this volume expert international authors provide a useful and timely review of the applications of the CRISPR/Cas system across diverse fields and explore further avenues and research directions of this novel and powerful editing technology. The technology and its application are reviewed with respect to reproduction and development, immunity and genetic diseases, system structure and system specificity. Some of the potential problems of the CRISPR/Cas system are also discussed, in particular the specificity of the system: this remains an important topic as improvement could lead to the more direct and efficient use of the CRISPR/Cas system in clinical settings. The authors also debate ethical concerns associated with this powerful new technology. This volume is a rigorous review of the applications and new opportunities for the CRISPR/Cas system and provides a stimulus for current and future research. An invaluable guide for all scientists working in the fields of genome editing and gene therapy the book is also recommended for all life sciences libraries.

Lessons in Immunity: From Single-cell Organisms to Mammals stems from the activity of the Italian Association of Developmental and Comparative Immunobiology (IADCI), represented by the editors. This book is presented as a series of short overviews that report on the current state of various relevant fields of immunobiology from an evolutionary perspective. The overviews are written by authors directly involved in the research, and most are members of the IADCI or have otherwise been involved in the related research for their respective overview. This publication offers scientists and teachers an easy and updated reference tool. - Provides simple and updated reviews on the immunobiology of a wide spectrum of organisms, considered in an evolutionary context - Focuses on both cells and humoral components of a variety of non-classical model organisms - Offers in a single volume many contributions which can help with understanding the evolution of immune responses and the main adaptations in animal phyla - Presents a valuable holistic cross-sectional approach for teaching immunology and its applications