| |
| |
| |
| The Microbial Cell | |
| |
| |
| |
| Microbial Life | |
| |
| |
| Origin and Discovery | |
| |
| |
| Presents the history of microbial discovery from ancient times up to the present day | |
| |
| |
| Including twentieth-century discoverers of gene cloning | |
| |
| |
| The archaeal domain, and the ubiquity of horizontal gene transfer | |
| |
| |
| |
| Observing the Microbial Cell | |
| |
| |
| Presents microscopy as the key tool of microbial discovery | |
| |
| |
| From an in-depth treatment of light microscopy and electron microscopy to examples of confocal fluorescence and scanning probe microscopy | |
| |
| |
| In-depth coverage of microscopy helps the student evaluate models of the cell presented in Part II | |
| |
| |
| Genes and Genomes, and Part III, Metabolism and Biochemistry | |
| |
| |
| |
| Cell Structure and Function | |
| |
| |
| Emphasizes the functional unity of the cell, from envelope to nucleoid | |
| |
| |
| Coverage includes envelope diversity (Gram positive, Gram negative, mycobacteria, and archaea) | |
| |
| |
| Up-to-date models of the prokaryotic cytoskeleton, and nucleoid organization | |
| |
| |
| The organization of DNA and RNA synthesis points to detailed exploration in Part II | |
| |
| |
| |
| Bacterial culture, Growth, and Development | |
| |
| |
| Introduces the fundamental classes of metabolism, to be developed further in Part III | |
| |
| |
| Developmental diversity includes biofilm formation, sporulation, and multicellular fruiting body cycles | |
| |
| |
| |
| Environmental Influence and Control of Microbial Growth | |
| |
| |
| Presents extreme environments and microbial adaptations, as well as practical applications for control | |
| |
| |
| Environmental topics are further explored in Part IV | |
| |
| |
| Microbial Diversity and Ecology, while pathogens and their control are pursued in Part V | |
| |
| |
| Medicine and Immunology | |
| |
| |
| |
| Virus Structure and Function | |
| |
| |
| Includes up-to-date visualization methods such as cryo-EM as well as fluorescent-focus assays | |
| |
| |
| Viral genetics is introduced in preparation for the key roles viruses play in microbial genetics, which is covered in Part II | |
| |
| |
| |
| Genes and Genomes | |
| |
| |
| |
| Genomes and Chromosomes | |
| |
| |
| Presents the structure and function of microbial DNA | |
| |
| |
| Emphasizing unity of mechanism as well as diversity of genome structure | |
| |
| |
| Such as the existence of multiple linear and circular | |
| |
| |
| Chromosomes within some bacteria | |
| |
| |
| |
| Transcription, Translation, and Bioinformatics | |
| |
| |
| Presents gene expression, from transcription and translation through chaperone-assisted folding and transmembrane secretion | |
| |
| |
| It also describes how knowledge of genes and proteins led to the science of bioinformatics | |
| |
| |
| |
| Gene Transfer, Mutations, and Genome Evolution | |
| |
| |
| Emphasizes the multiple means of prokaryotic gene transfer, including its relevance to the evolution of pathogens and hosts | |
| |
| |
| Intriguing variations include the role of the transformation apparatus in enabling bacteria to consume DNA for energy | |
| |
| |
| |
| Molecular Regulation | |
| |
| |
| Presents current models of molecular regulation | |
| |
| |
| With relevance to survival in natural ecosystems and in host organisms | |
| |
| |
| |
| Viral Molecular Biology | |
| |
| |
| Treats examples of viruses in depth | |
| |
| |
| Emphasizing diversity of molecular mechanisms | |
| |
| |
| Such as primers consisting of host-derived proteins or transfer RNA | |
| |
| |
| |
| Molecular Techniques and Biotechnology | |
| |
| |
| Presents research approaches and practical examples of applying molecular genetics to microbial discovery | |
| |
| |
| |
| Metabolism and Biochemistry | |
| |
| |
| |
| Energetics and Catabolism | |
| |
| |
| Presents the thermodynamic basis of microbial energetics, including emerging catabo | |