In the early 1980s, a few scientists started working on a Xenopus transcription factor, TFIIIA. They soon discovered a novel domain associated with zinc, and named this domain "zinc finger. " Th e number of proteins with similar zinc fingers grew quickly and these proteins are now called C2H2, Cys2His2 or classical zinc finger proteins. To date, about 24,000 C2H2 zinc finger proteins have been recognized. Approximately 700 human genes, or more than 2% of the genome, have been estimated to encode C2H2 finger proteins. From the beginning these proteins were thought to be numerous, but no one could have predicted such a huge number. Perhaps thousands of scientists are now working on C2H2 zinc finger proteins fi-om variou s viewpoints. This field is a good example of how a new science begins with the insight of a few scientists and how it develops by efforts of numerous independent scientists, in contrast to a policy-driven scientific project, such as the Human Genome Project, with goals clearly set at its inception and with work performed by a huge collaboration throughout the world. As more zinc finger proteins were discovered, several subfamilies, such as C2C2, CCHC, CCCH, LIM, RING, TAZ, and FYVE emerged, increasing our understanding of zinc fingers. The knowledge was overwhelming. Moreover, scientists began defining the term "zinc finger" differently and using various names for identical zinc fingers. These complications may explain why no single comprehensive resource of zinc finger proteins was available before this publication.

Principles of Bone Regeneration is a timely publication that addresses the modern aspects of bone healing and repair. This exciting new volume details the convergence of the different experimental and clinical approaches designed for the study and treatment of bone healing in its diverse forms and under varying conditions. Bone healing is affected by a multitude of genetic, environmental, mechanical, cellular and endocrine variables which eventually lead to changes in gene expression that enhance the guided action of osteoblasts (and chondroblasts) to lay down bone that restores, or even improves, the skeletal load bearing capacity. Recent breakthroughs in understanding the regulatory aspects of bone formation and resorption, in both research and clinical arenas offer new modalities to induce, enhances and guide repair processes in bone for the benefit of millions of patients with conditions such as nonunion fractures, critical size defects, orthodontic tooth movement, periodontal bone loss, intraosseous implants and deformed bones.

In this book, the clinical chapters are organized into sections by defined developmental pathways or gene families, and each section is preceded by a general overview. For each disorder the authors cover the disease-causing genes, the role of these genes in development as elucidated in model organisms, the human mutations that have been identified, and the developmental pathogenesis of the condition. Clinical descriptions, along with discussions of therapy and counseling, are provided. This book will be an invaluable resource for physicians, dentists, and other health professionals and for basic scientists interested in developmental processes and genetic perturbations that affect them.

Stem cells are the focus of intense interest from a growing, multidisciplinary community of investigators with new tools for isolating and characterizing these elusive cell types. This volume, which features contributions from many of the world's leading laboratories, provides a uniquely broad and authoritative basis for understanding the biology of stem cells and the current excitement about their potential for clinical exploitation. It is an essential work of reference for investigators in embryology, hematology, and neurobiology, and their potential for clinical exploitation. It is an essential work of reference for investigators in embryology, hematology, and neurobiology, and their collaborators in the emerging field of regenerative medicine.

Based on the assumption that invertebrates as well as vertebrates possess factors regulating hematopoiesis, response to infection or wounding, studies dealing with the evolution of immunity have focused on the isolation and characterization of putative cytokine-related molecules from invertebrates. Until recently, most of our knowledge of cytokine- and cytokine receptor-like molecules in invertebrates has relied on functional assays and similarities at the physicochemical level. As such, a phylogenetic relationship between invertebrate cytokine-like molecules and invertebrate counterparts could not be convincingly demonstrated. In the present book, recent studies demonstrating cytokine-like activities and related signaling pathways in invertebrates are critically reviewed, focusing on findings from molecular biology and taking advantage of the completion of the genome from the fly Drosophila and the worm Caenorhabditis elegans.