ABSTRACT

Basic curiosity-driven biomedical science has delivered many of today’s most significant medical advances. This book provides clearly explained examples from recent biomedical history and includes convincing arguments for sustaining a robust portfolio of basic research. Intended as

an engaging read, which will delight undergraduate and graduate students, as well as scientific researchers, it is full-throated advocacy of basic science. Illustrations and examples include the discoveries of penicillin and insulin, and the breakthrough elucidation of the genetic code. Providing both compelling rationale in support of basic science, and a fascinating look through the history of modern biomedical research, this book highlights with stirring examples why basic biomedical research is so important, and how so many key advances in medicine are derived from basic research. The book also offers a rationale for scientific inquiry and a broader understanding of the history of modern biomedical research missing from today’s classrooms.

Key Features

1) Provides clear explanations of great scientific discoveries

2) Illustrates connections between basic research findings and modern medicine

3) Includes compelling graphics/diagrams/illustrations

4) Accessible to the general public

5) Offers background for more specialized readers, including researchers as well as those with advanced degrees.

Related Titles

Staddon, J. Scientific Method: How Science Works, Fails to Work, and Pretends to Work (ISBN 978-1-1382-9536-0)

Helliwell, J. R. Skills for Scientific Life (ISBN 978-1-4987-6875-7)

MacRitchie, F. Scientific Research as a Career (ISBN 978-1-4398-6965-9)

chapter 1|4 pages

The Birth of Genetics*

chapter 2|4 pages

The Dawn of DNA*

chapter 3|4 pages

DNA as the Transforming Principle*

chapter 5|12 pages

Tying It All Together

tRNA, mRNA, Ribosomes, and the Genetic Code***

chapter 6|6 pages

The Practicality of PCR

The Technology that Drove the Biotechnology and the Molecular Biology Revolution***

chapter 7|8 pages

Genetic Engineering and Beyond

From Animal Models to Silencing RNA**

chapter 9|4 pages

Connecting Mutations to Disease

Abnormal Proteins as a Cause of Disease**

chapter 10|4 pages

Penicillin

The Dawn of a New Age of Antibiotics*

chapter 11|4 pages

Easy to Stomach

The Gutsy Discovery that Helicobacter pylori Causes Ulcers*

chapter 12|4 pages

Insulin

A Hormone Controlling Metabolism*

chapter 13|6 pages

The Stem Cell

The Mother of All Cells**

chapter 14|14 pages

Antibodies

A New Way to Harness the Immune Response**

chapter 15|10 pages

Onto Oncogenes

Discovering the Molecular Basis of Cancer***

chapter 16|6 pages

The Age of Angiogenesis

Discovering How Blood Vessels Are Generated*

chapter 17|4 pages

Telling the Tale of the Telomere and Telomerase

The End of the End-Replication Problem***

chapter 18|6 pages

The Primary Cilium

Novel Functions for an Old Organelle*

chapter 19|6 pages

The Discovery of the Golgi Complex

A Pivotal Organelle with Multiple Functions**

chapter 20|6 pages

The Lysosome

A Trash Bin and End of the Road for Many Cellular Molecules**

chapter 21|4 pages

The Ubiquitin-Proteasomal Pathway

Targeted Protein Degradation and More***

chapter 22|6 pages

Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis

Gateway to the Cell**

chapter 23|6 pages

Mitochondria

The Metabolic Powerhouse of the Cell***

chapter 24|6 pages

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Discovery of the Green Fluorescent Protein*

chapter |4 pages

Conclusions

chapter |20 pages

Glossary of Terms