When Cells Die: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Apoptosis and Programmed Cell Death

When Cells Die

A Comprehensive Evaluation of Apoptosis and Programmed Cell Death

Edited by Richard A. Lockshin, Zahra Zakeri, and Jonathan L. Tilly

Cell death is fast becoming one of the most dynamic areas of biological research -involving as it does the study of apoptosis and programmed cell death and the role these phenomena play in development and homeostasis on the one hand, and aging and disease on the other. The profound implications for medicine and agriculture from the manipulation of these processes have spawned a deluge of research papers, articles, approaches, and methods -making it difficult for scientists to get an overview of the field.

When Cells Die establishes a coherent framework for the study of cell death -cutting across viewpoints and disciplines and consolidating disparate research efforts. Leading international researchers describe a wide range of topics, including evaluation methods for programmed cell death and apoptosis in numerous tissues and circumstances; genetic mechanism, signal transduction, and observed manifestations of physiological cell death; model systems ranging from nematodes to humans; relevant work in cancer research, AIDS, immune disorders, fertility, eye disease, and Alzheimer's disease; and more.

Written to provide an in-depth overview of cell death, the book is divided into five major parts:
* The phenomenon of cell death
* Themes and approaches to cell death
* Cell death where mitosis is high and evanescence is desirable
* Cell death in long-lived cells
* The clinical relevance of apoptosis.

When Cells Die offers a comprehensive introduction to an intriguing discipline, insight into areas in need of exploration, and information on new techniques and therapeutic applications -all supported with diagrams and flowcharts and a fully cross-referenced and indexed text. It is important reading for anyone working in cell and developmental biology, neuroscience, immunology, cancer research, and virology. It is also useful for advanced undergraduate and graduate-level students, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers just entering the field.