Dictyostelia are soil amoebae capable of extraordinary feats of survival, motility, chemotaxis, and development. Characterized by their ability to transform from a single-celled organism into an elaborate assemblage of thousands of synchronously-moving cells, Dictyostelids are often referred to as ‘social amoebae’, and have been the subjects of serious study since the 1930s. Research in this area has been instrumental in understanding many problems in cellular biology. Beginning with the history of Dictyostelids and discussing each stage of their development in a separate chapter, this book considers the evolution of this unique organism, analyses the special properties of the Dictyostelid genome, and presents in detail the methods available to manipulate their genes. Representing the only modern synthesis of such material and with an emphasis on combining classical experiments with modern molecular findings, this book will be essential for researchers and graduates in developmental and cellular biology.
• The only up-to-date book which covers all aspects of Dictyostelid research and biology • Covers both classical studies and modern findings
Contents
Preface; 1. A brief introduction to Dictyostelium discoideum and its relatives; 2. A history of research on Dictyostelium discoideum; 3. The evolutionary biology of Dictyostelium; 4. The genome and genetics; 5. Membranes and organelles of Dictyostelium; 6. Cell motility and the cytoskeleton; 7. The transition from growth to development: from starvation to self sustaining cAMP signal relay; 8. Chemotaxis and aggregation; 9. Differentiation and adhesion in the aggregate; 10. Behavior of cells in the slug; 11. Culmination; 12. Formation and germination of spores; 13. Resources.
Reviews
‘… a beautiful balance between the well understood and the relatively unexplored … it offers so much in such a tiny volume. I thoroughly recommend it.’ P. R. Fisher, Soil Biology and Biochemistry
‘… a major achievement and will serve the field well for several years to come.’ Jeffrey Williams, Trends in Genetics
‘… an excellent and up-to-date summary of how social amoebae do it, and is bristling with fascinating biological answers and questions.’ John A. Lee, Geologist
‘This book is an excellent and up-to-date summary of how social amoebae do it, and is bristling with fascinating biological answers and questions.’ Biologist
‘… well organized and superbly presented … easy to read and very accessible to the newcomer to the field … the time is certainly right for a book to introduce this organism and its research to a wider audience. This is the ideal book.’ Peter A. Thomason, Nature Cell Biology
‘This will be the key reference work on this fascinating genus for decades, and a ‘must’ not only for developmental biologists but also the many mycologists who continue to dabble in and be fascinated by slime moulds.’ Mycol. Research
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