Photobiology is an interdisciplinary science which has undergone a dramatic development in the past few years. This comprehensive new textbook brings together all the information required by workers and students in the field, from the atomic to the organismal level. The initial chapters comprise a comprehensive introduction to the terminology and include a detailed description of the photochemical reactions involved. The main part of the book covers all the classical photochemical topics and whilst not trying to be encyclopedic in coverage, does present numerous relevant examples. By bringing together the wide breadth of knowledge involved in the understanding of photobiology, this book will be of immense use to all those involved.

Photobiology - the science of light and life - begins with basic principles and the physics of light and continues with general photobiological research methods, such as generation of light, measurement of light, and action spectroscopy. In an interdisciplinary way, it then treats how organisms tune their pigments and structures to the wavelength components of light, and how light is registered by organisms. Then follow various examples of photobiological phenomena: the design of the compound eye in relation to the properties of light, phototoxicity, photobiology of the human skin and of vitamin D, photomorphogenesis, photoperiodism, the setting of the biological clock by light, and bioluminescence. A final chapter is devoted to teaching experiments and demonstrations in photobiology. This book encompasses topics from a diverse array of traditional disciplines: physics, biochemistry, medicine, zoology, botany, microbiology, etc., and makes different aspects of photobiology accessible to experts in all these areas as well as to the novice.

The first edition of The Science of Photobiology was published in 1977, and was the first textbook to cover all of the major areas of photobiology. The science of photobiology is currently divided into 14 subspecialty areas by the American Society for Photobiology. In this edition, however, the topics of phototechnology and spectroscopy have been com bined in a new chapter entitled "Photophysics." The other subspecialty areas remain the same, i.e., Photochemistry, Photosensitization, UV Radiation Effects, Environmental Photobiology, Photomedicine, Circadian Rhythms, Extraretinal Photoreception, Vision, Photomorphogenesis, Photomovement, Photosynthesis, and Bioluminescence. This book has been written as a textbook to introduce the science of photobiology to advanced undergraduate and graduate students. The chapters are written to provide a broad overview of each topic. They are designed to contain the amount of information that might be presented in a one-to two-hour general lecture. The references are not meant to be exhaustive, but key references are included to give students an entry into the literature. Frequently a more recent reference that reviews the literature will be cited rather than the first paper by the author making the original discovery. The chapters are not meant to be a repository of facts for research workers in the field, but rather are concerned with demon strating the importance of each specialty area of photobiology, and documenting its relevance to current and/or future problems of man.

Flavins and flavoproteins are a widely investigated and highly versatile group of compounds. Participation of these compounds in photochemistry and photobiology processes are of particular importance in the fields of biology, chemistry and medicine. Written by leading experts in the field each section of the book includes a historical overview of the subject, state of the art developments and future perspectives. Flavins: Photochemistry and Photobiology begins with the properties and applications of flavins, including their photochemistry in aqueous and organic solutions. Subsequent sections discuss riboflavin as a visible light sensitizer in the photo degradation of drugs, antiviral and antibacterial effects, the role of flavins in light induced toxicity and blue light initiated DNA repair by photolyase. Finally there are sections on the flavin based photoreceptors in plants, bacteria and eukaryotic photosynthetic flagelettes. This book brings together leading experts with a unique interdisciplinary emphasis, to provide an authoritative resource on flavins and their role in photochemistry and photobiology.

Photobiology is an interdisciplinary science which has undergone a dramatic development in the past few years. This comprehensive new textbook brings together all the information required by workers and students in the field, from the atomic to the organismal level. The initial chapters comprise a comprehensive introduction to the terminology and include a detailed description of the photochemical reactions involved. The main part of the book covers all the classical photochemical topics and whilst not trying to be encyclopedic in coverage, does present numerous relevant examples. By bring ...

The Photobiology of Higher Plants offers a comprehensive, balanced coverage of both photosynthesis (including physiology and global aspects) and photomorphogenesis in plants. An accessible, student-friendly approach to the subject is taken, providing the reader with a useful historical perspective and showing how this fascinating subject has evolved. All aspects of plant biochemistry and plant physiology are included with the fundamentals of the subject rigorously covered. Each chapter includes numerous references to provide a useful starting point for those wishing to learn more about the subject. * Provides combined coverage of both photosynthesis and photomorphogenesis in plants. * Includes an extensice glossary designed to provide easy access to key * Aimed at students in Botany, Plant Science, Agriculture and Forestry * A useful reference for postgraduates and researchers working in the field

It is not always the case that the subject of a scientific book and its relevance to everyday li fe are so timely. Photobiology and its si ster subject Radiobiology are now a must for understanding the environment we live in and the impact light, ultraviolet light, and radiation have on all aspects of our life. Photobiology is a true interdisciplinary field. Photobiology research plays a direct role in diverse fields, and a glance at the topics of the symposia covered in this book by over 100 articles shows the breadth and depth of knowledge acquired in fundamental research and its impact on the major issues and applied problems the world is facing. Half a century of photobiology research brought about an understanding of the importance of light to life, both as a necessary source of energy and growth as weIl as its possible dangers. Research in photochemistry and photobiology led to the discoveries of ceIlular repair mechanisms of UV induced damages to DNA and this led to understanding of the effects of hazardous environmental chemieals and mutagenecity , and to the development of genetic engineering. This topic was given due emphasis in several symposia and chapters in this book.