Essentials of Stem Cell Biology

First developed as an accessible abridgement of the successful Handbook of Stem Cells, Essentials of Stem Cell Biology serves the needs of the evolving population of scientists, researchers, practitioners and students that are embracing the latest advances in stem cells. Representing the combined effort of seven editors and more than 200 scholars and scientists whose pioneering work has defined our understanding of stem cells, this book combines the prerequisites for a general understanding of adult and embryonic stem cells with a presentation by the world's experts of the latest research information about specific organ systems. From basic biology/mechanisms, early development, ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm, methods to application of stem cells to specific human diseases, regulation and ethics, and patient perspectives, no topic in the field of stem cells is left uncovered.

• Selected for inclusion in Doody's Core Titles 2013, an essential collection development tool for health sciences libraries
• Contributions by Nobel Laureates and leading international investigators
• Includes two entirely new chapters devoted exclusively to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells written by the scientists who made the breakthrough
• Edited by a world-renowned author and researcher to present a complete story of stem cells in research, in application, and as the subject of political debate
• Presented in full color with glossary, highlighted terms, and bibliographic entries replacing references

Robert Lanza is an American scientist and author whose research spans the range of natural science, from biology to theoretical physics. TIME magazine recognized him as one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World,” and Prospect magazine named him one of the Top 50 “World Thinkers.” He has hundreds of scientific publications and over 30 books, including definitive references in the fields of stem cells, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. He’s a former Fulbright Scholar and studied with polio-pioneer Jonas Salk and Nobel laureates Gerald Edelman (known for his work on the biological basis of consciousness) and Rodney Porter. He also worked closely (and co-authored papers in Science on self-awareness and symbolic communication) with noted Harvard psychologist BF Skinner. Dr. Lanza was part of the team that cloned the world’s first human embryo, the first endangered species, and published the first-ever reports of pluripotent stem cell use in humans.

Sir Ian Wilmut is an embryologist who famously led the team that successfully cloned ‘Dolly the sheep’ in the mid-1990s. To achieve this technical feat, the team established a technique for transferring nuclei from adult sheep cells to unfertilized sheep eggs that had had their own nuclei removed. He now conducts research on adult cells, using techniques that avoid the need to obtain embryonic cells. Ian’s current work aims to convert skin cells into stem cells that have the ability to form all tissues. By deriving these cells from donors who have inherited degenerative diseases, it is possible to gain new understanding of how diseases arise and search for medicines that are able to prevent the degeneration. In the long run, stem cells will be used in new treatments. Ian is a strong advocate of a proposal to develop a global network of cell banks, making it possible for anyone in the world to have access to such cell therapy.