The Zebrafish in Biomedical Research: Biology, Husbandry, Diseases, and Research Applications is a comprehensive work that fulfills a critical need for a thorough compilation of information on this species. The text provides significant updates for working vivarium professionals maintaining zebrafish colonies, veterinarians responsible for their care and well-being, zoologists and ethologists studying the species, and investigators using the species to gain critical insights into human physiology and disease. As the zebrafish has become an important model organism for the study of vertebrate development and disease, organ function, behavior, toxicology, cancer, and drug discovery, this book presents an important resource for future research. - Presents a complete view of the zebrafish, covering their biology, husbandry, diseases and research applications - Includes the work of world-renowned authors - Provides the first authoritative and comprehensive treatment of zebrafish in biomedical research as part of the ACLAM series

It is my hope that this collection of reviews can be profitably read by all who are interested in evolutionary biology. However, I would like to specifically target it for two disparate groups of biologists seldom men tioned in the same sentence, classical ichthyologists and molecular biologists. Since classical times, and perhaps even before, ichthyologists have stood in awe at the tremendous diversity of fishes. The bulk of effort in the field has always been directed toward understanding this diversity, i. e. , extracting from it a coherent picture of evolutionary processes and lineages. This effort has, in turn, always been overwhelmingly based upon morphological comparisons. The practical advantages of such compari sons, especially the ease with which morphological data can be had from preserved museum specimens, are manifold. But considered objectively (outside its context of "tradition"), morphological analysis alone is a poor tool for probing evolutionary processes or elucidating relationships. The concepts of "relationship" and of "evolution" are inherently genetic ones, and the genetic bases of morphological traits are seldom known in detail and frequently unknown entirely. Earlier in this century, several workers, notably Gordon, Kosswig, Schmidt, and, in his salad years, Carl Hubbs, pioneered the application of genetic techniques and modes of reasoning to ichthyology. While certain that most contemporary ichth yologists are familiar with this body of work, I am almost equally certain that few of them regard it as pertinent to their own efforts.

This volume contains the papers presented at a symposium on popula tion biology sponsored by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. It was . held at the guest house of the University of Ttibingen at Oberjoch on May 15-19, 1983. Prior to this conference a small group of European biologists had met in Berlin (June 1981) and Pavia (September 1982) to discuss re search problems on the borderline between population genetics and evolutionary ecology. From the contributions and discussions at these meetings it became evident that the unification of approaches to evolutionary problems in population genetics and evolutionary ecology has not yet been suc cessful and requires further efforts. It was the consensus that a larger symposium with international participation would be helpful to con front and discuss the different approaches to population biology in order to assess "where we are now" and "where we should be going. " As a result an organizational committee was formed (F. Christiansen, S. Jayakar, V. Loeschcke, W. Scharloo, and K. W6hrmann) to iden tify topics that seemed, at least to them, to be fruitful in tackling problems in population biology. Consequently, a number of colleagues were asked to participate in the meeting. We have divided this book into chapters corresponding to the eight topics chosen. The volume begins with the relation between genotype and phenotype and is followed by a chapter on quantitative genetics and selection in natural populations.

The immunoglobulin gene complex is responsible for generating an extraordinarily wide range of antibodies, each possessing a unique antigen specificity. The Second Edition of Immunoglobulin Genes brings the reader up to date with the rapid progress in our understanding of this system. Firmly established as the definitive book on the topic, it provides a fully comprehensive account of the organization, function, rearrangement and expression of these and related genes. Since the publication of the first edition, the work has been extensively revised and updated to cover new research data on human immunoglobulin genes as well as mammalian and lower vertebrate systems. New chapters include "Somatic mutation and B cell Maturation", "Antigen receptors" and "B lymphocyte tolerance in the mouse."For the immunologist, there are detailed descriptions of the molecular mechanisms which generate this diverse range of antibodies and the tight regulation of the genes encoding them. Molecular biologists will find discussions of important phenomena including gene rearrangement, differential splicing and deletion in the context of immunoglobulin genes.The excitement of research on immunoglobulin genes is conveyed by the range and complexity of issues discussed here; the book contains invaluable information for clinicians and research scientists with an interest in the immune response.* Conveys the excitement of research on immunoglobulin genes by the range and complexity of issues* Contains invaluable information for clinicians and research scientists with an interest in the immune response* For the Immunologist* Detailed descriptions of the molecular mechanisms generating this diverse range of antibodies and the regulation of genes encoding them* For the Molecular Biologist* Discusses important phenomena including gene rearrangement, differential splicing, and deletion in the context of immunoglobulin genes.

This book comprises a much needed review of recent developments and new ideas in fish reproductive biology, with special reference to the adaptive significance of reproductive patterns observed in teleost fishes. Based on a number of essays given at a meeting of the Fisheries Society of Great Britain the book presents a series of review articles, of international origin, covering aspects of theoretical modelling, ecology, behaviour and experimental laboratory studies. The final section of the book deals with some of the more commercially important aspects of fish reproduction with respect to aquaculture and fisheries biology. A comprehensive bibliography of relevant literature is provided. This well-illustrated work will prove to be of importance to those in fisheries management as well as fisheries scientists, fish and reproductive biologists.

This volume is the result of a symposium entitled "Variation in Life Histories: Genetics and Evolutionary Processes" sponsored by the Program in Evolutionary Ecology and Behavior of the University of Iowa and held in Iowa City on October 13 and 14, 1980. Prompted by a recent upsurge of interest in the evolution of life histories, we chose this topic because of the obvious association between life history traits and Darwinian fit ness. If such an association were to be fruitfully investigated, it would require the closer cooperation of population and evolutionary ecologists and quantitative and population geneticists. To encourage such an association, our symposium had four major aims: first, to facilitate intellectual exchange across disciplines among an array of biologists studying life histories; second, to encourage exploration of genetic variance and covari ance for life history traits; third, to consider the ecological background for genetic vari ability; and finally, to facilitate a comparative overview both within and among species. Obviously such broad aims cannot be met totally in a single volume, but we think we have succeeded reasonably well in providing a representative and nourishing intel lectual feast. We see this book as a stimulus to the coordination of future efforts in an important and expanding area of inquiry. We have divided the book into six sections.