- Table View
- List View
Bioremediation and Biotechnology, Vol 3: Persistent and Recalcitrant Toxic Substances
by Rouf Ahmad Bhat Khalid Rehman Hakeem Najla Bint Saud Al-SaudHealthy environment is important for any kind of biota on earth. It provides the basic elements of life such as clean water, fresh air, fertile soil and supports ecosystem of the food chain. Pollution drastically alters quality of the environment by changing the physico-chemical and biological aspects of these components. Accordingly, toxic metals, combustible and putrescible substances, hazardous wastes, explosives and petroleum products are all examples of inorganic and organic compounds that cause contaminations. Specifically, pollution of toxic and heavy metal in the environment is a growing problem worldwide, currently at an alarming rate. Toxic metals threaten the aquatic ecosystems, agriculture and ultimately human health. Traditional treatment techniques offer certain advantages such as rapid processing, ease of operation and control and flexibility. But, they could not maintain the quality of the environment due to the high operational costs of chemicals used, high energy consumption and handling costs for sludge disposal and overburden of chemical substances which irreversibly affect and destroy biodiversity, which ultimately render the soil useless as a medium for plant growth. Therefore, bioremediation and biotechnology, carried out by living assets to clean up, stabilize and restore contaminated ecosystems, have emerged as promising, environmental friendly and affordable approaches. Furthermore, the use of microbes, algae, transgenic plants and weeds adapted to stressful environments could be employed to enhance accumulation efficiency. Hence, sustainable and inexpensive processes are fast emerging as a viable alternative to conventional remediation methods, and will be most suitable for developing countries.In the current volume, we discuss pollution remediation challenges and how living organisms and the latest biotechnological techniques could be helpful in remediating the pollution in ecofriendly and sustainable ways.
Bioremediation and Biotechnology, Vol 4: Techniques for Noxious Substances Remediation
by Rouf Ahmad Bhat Khalid Rehman HakeemThe rapid thriving of industries, conversion of agricultural land to residential areas, habitat destruction, deforestation and use of recalcitrant synthetic substances enhanced the rate of degradation of the environment. Although there are various conventional techniques for degradation and cleaning of noxious pollutants from disturbed environs, they are energy inefficient and costly to install. Bioremediation has emerged recently as an alternative and novel approach to manage and control environmental pollutants. This volume focuses explicitly on the remediation of noxious substances in stressed environs. It includes expert-contributed chapters on bio-monitoring by way of evaluating the relationship of biota with the polluted/stressed environs, sustainable plant-based degradation of noxious pollutants, and the application of biotechnologies to achieve tailored responses.Academicians, researchers, scientists and students will find this work essential for sustainable treatment of noxious pollutants. This book also serves as a core guide for training, teaching and research in conservation biology and environmental rehabilitation.
Bioremediation of Salt Affected Soils: An Indian Perspective
by Sanjay Arora Atul K. Singh Y. P. SinghThis edited volume focuses on the characterization, reclamation, bioremediation, and phytoremediation of salt affected soils and waterlogged sodic soils. Innovative technologies in managing marginal salt affected lands merit immediate attention in the light of climate change and its impact on crop productivity and environment. The decision-making process related to reclamation and management of vast areas of salt affected soils encompasses consideration of economic viability, environmental sustainability, and social acceptability of different approaches. The chapters in this book highlight the significant environmental and social impacts of different ameliorative techniques used to manage salt affected soils. Readers will discover new knowledge on the distribution, reactions, changes in bio-chemical properties and microbial ecology of salt affected soils through case studies exploring Indian soils. The contributions presented by experts shed new light on techniques such as the restoration of degraded lands by growing halophyte plant species, diversification of crops and introduction of microbes for remediation of salt infested soils, and the use of fluorescent pseudomonads for enhancing crop yields.
Bioresource and Stress Management
by Ratikanta Maiti Aruna Kumari Ashok Kumar Thakur Narayan Chandra SarkarThis book is a compilation of recent global measures to conserve bio-resources and manage biotic and abiotic stresses. It highlights emerging issues related to agriculture, abiotic and biotic stress factors, ethnic knowledge, climate change and global warming, as well as natural resources and their sustainable management. It also focuses on the consolidated efforts of scientists and academics engaged in addressing a number of issues related to resource management and combating stresses in order to protect the Earth. Crop production and productivity have been significantly improved, however, there have been no corresponding practical advances in sustainable agriculture.This book offers a wide range of affordable approaches to managing bio-resources with a focus on sustainability. Lastly, it describes research highlights and future areas of research.
Biosafety of Forest Transgenic Trees: Improving the Scientific Basis for Safe Tree Development and Implementation of EU Policy Directives (Forestry Sciences #82)
by Cristina Vettori Fernando Gallardo Hely Häggman Vassiliki Kazana Fabio Migliacci Gilles Pilate Matthias FladungThis book provides up-to-date information on the environmental impact of transgenic trees on genetically modified tree (GMT) communication strategy. It is useful to public/private organisations as well as to private and public research bodies and universities worldwide since it reports on the global status of GMT research and policy. A high number of genetically modified trees (GMTs) with altered or novel characteristics have been produced in the last 15 years. However, their very low public acceptance is a basic problem in their commercialization. Breeders anticipate economic and ecological benefits, like reduced product costs and less pressure on native forests, while opponents fear risks, such as unintended spread of GMTs. But what is true? To answer this question, the COST Action FP0905 focused on key aspects related to GMTs: (a) biological characterization; (b) assessment of possible environmental impacts; (c) socio-economic implications and public acceptance/concerns; (d) providing science-based information to communicate with the public.
Biosecurity: The Socio-Politics of Invasive Species and Infectious Diseases
by Andrew Dobson Kezia Barker Sarah L. TaylorBiosecurity is the assessment and management of potentially dangerous infectious diseases, quarantined pests, invasive (alien) species, living modified organisms, and biological weapons. It is a holistic concept of direct relevance to the sustainability of agriculture, food safety, and the protection of human populations (including bio-terrorism), the environment, and biodiversity. Biosecurity is a relatively new concept that has become increasingly prevalent in academic, policy and media circles, and needs a more comprehensive and inter-disciplinary approach to take into account mobility, globalisation and climate change. In this introductory volume, biosecurity is presented as a governance approach to a set of concerns that span the protection of indigenous biological organisms, agricultural systems and human health, from invasive pests and diseases. It describes the ways in which biosecurity is understood and theorized in different subject disciplines, including anthropology, political theory, ecology, geography and environmental management. It examines the different scientific and knowledge practices connected to biosecurity governance, including legal regimes, ecology, risk management and alternative knowledges. The geopolitics of biosecurity is considered in terms of health, biopolitics and trade governance at the global scale. Finally, biosecurity as an approach to actively secure the future is assessed in the context of future risk and uncertainties, such as globalization and climate change.
Biosecurity: The Socio-Politics of Invasive Species and Infectious Diseases
by Andrew Dobson Kezia Barker Sarah L. TaylorBiosecurity is the assessment and management of potentially dangerous infectious diseases, quarantined pests, invasive (alien) species, living modified organisms, and biological weapons. It is a holistic concept of direct relevance to the sustainability of agriculture, food safety, and the protection of human populations (including bio-terrorism), the environment, and biodiversity. Biosecurity is a relatively new concept that has become increasingly prevalent in academic, policy and media circles, and needs a more comprehensive and inter-disciplinary approach to take into account mobility, globalisation and climate change. In this introductory volume, biosecurity is presented as a governance approach to a set of concerns that span the protection of indigenous biological organisms, agricultural systems and human health, from invasive pests and diseases. It describes the ways in which biosecurity is understood and theorized in different subject disciplines, including anthropology, political theory, ecology, geography and environmental management. It examines the different scientific and knowledge practices connected to biosecurity governance, including legal regimes, ecology, risk management and alternative knowledges. The geopolitics of biosecurity is considered in terms of health, biopolitics and trade governance at the global scale. Finally, biosecurity as an approach to actively secure the future is assessed in the context of future risk and uncertainties, such as globalization and climate change.
Biosphärenreservate in Deutschland: Leitlinien für Schutz, Pflege und Entwicklung
by K. H. ErdmannIn den Biosphärenreservaten steht nicht der konservierende Naturschutz im Vordergrund, sondern das Bemühen um ein harmonisches Miteinander von Natur und wirtschaftenden Menschen. Die allgemein gültigen Leitlinien für Schutz, Pflege und Entwicklung der Reservate werden ergänzt durch die Berücksichtigung ökonomischer, sozialer, kultureller und ethischer Aspekte.Die Arbeitsgruppe der Biosphärenreservate in Deutschland berichtet detailliert über die beispielhafte Erarbeitung und Umsetzung der Konzepte für Schutz, Pflege und Entwicklung der 12 deutschen, von der UNESCO anerkannten Kulturlandschaften.Ihre Publikation bietet zahlreiche Anregungen und kompetente Anleitung auch für die Planung und Durchführung allgemein gültiger Naturschutzkonzepte.
The Biosphere
by Vladimir I. Vernadsky"Vladimir Vernadsky was a brilliant and prescient scholar-a true scientific visionary who saw the deep connections between life on Earth and the rest of the planet and understood the profound implications for life as a cosmic phenomenon." -DAVID H. GRINSPOON, AUTHOR OF VENUS REVEALED"The Biosphere should be required reading for all entry level students in earth and planetary sciences." -ERIC D. SCHNEIDER, AUTHOR OF INTO THE COOL: THE NEW THERMODYNAMICS OF CREATIVE DESTRUCTION
The Biosphere and Civilization: In the Throes of a Global Crisis
by Victor I. Danilov-Danil'yan Igor E. ReyfThis monograph explores the dire ecological, social, and economic situations facing mankind through comprehensive analyses of global ecological issues, poverty, environmental stability and regulation, and sustainable development. Drs. Victor Danilov-Danil’yan and Igor Reyf discuss the development of ecology as a science, the increasing concern among scientists and public servants for the unsustainability of current economic and demographic trends, and the dire consequences our planet and civilization are already suffering as a result of the ongoing environmental and social crisis. They also address the philosophical implications of the crisis, and suggest possible solutions. The book conveys complex objects of study, namely the biosphere and the harmful anthropogenic processes it has been experiencing for decades, so that the work is accessible without omitting key components of the subject matter. Readers will learn about the social and economic contributors to a threatened biosphere, the mechanisms that maintain the stability of the global environment, and the scales at which sustainable development and preservation can be applied to initiate environmental regulation. Though intended to appeal to the general public and non-specialists, environmental researchers, organizations involved in sustainable development and conservation, and students engaged in ecology, environment, and sustainability studies will also find this book of interest.
The Biosphere and Human Society: Understanding Systems, Law, and Population Growth
by Larry D. BarnettHuman population growth is a serious biospheric problem yet is largely overlooked. Because of the neglect of demography, environmental policies—while well-intentioned—are unlikely to succeed. This book gives a concise review of world fertility rates and population growth, and offers a valuable summary of studies of the impact of overpopulation on the biosphere. In addition, the book explains key demographic variables to consider when formulating law and government policy relevant to childbearing, and it summarizes findings of social science research—findings that contradict popular assumptions about the impact of government interventions addressing the frequency of childbearing and immigration.
The Biosphere and Human Society: Understanding Systems, Law, and Population Growth
by Larry D. BarnettHuman population growth is a serious biospheric problem yet is largely overlooked. Because of the neglect of demography, environmental policies—while well-intentioned—are unlikely to succeed. This book gives a concise review of world fertility rates and population growth, and offers a valuable summary of studies of the impact of overpopulation on the biosphere. In addition, the book explains key demographic variables to consider when formulating law and government policy relevant to childbearing, and it summarizes findings of social science research—findings that contradict popular assumptions about the impact of government interventions addressing the frequency of childbearing and immigration.
The Biosphere and the Bioregion: Essential Writings of Peter Berg (Routledge Environmental Humanities)
by Cheryll Glotfelty Eve QuesnelBioregionalism asks us to reimagine ourselves and the places where we live in ecological terms and to harmonize human activities with the natural systems that sustain life. As one of the originators of the concept of bioregionalism, Peter Berg (1937-2011) is a founding figure of contemporary environmental thought. The Biosphere and the Bioregion: Essential Writings of Peter Berg introduces readers to the biospheric vision and post-environmental genius of Berg. From books and essays to published interviews, this selection of writings represents Berg's bioregional vision and its global, local, urban, and rural applications. The Biosphere and the Bioregion provides a highly accessible introduction to bioregional philosophy, making Berg's paradigm available as a guiding vision and practical "greenprint" for the twenty-first century. This valuable compilation lays the groundwork for future research by offering the first-ever comprehensive bibliography of Berg's publications and should be of interest to students and scholars in the interdisciplinary fields of environmental humanities, environment and sustainability studies, as well as political ecology, environmental sociology and anthropology.
The Biosphere and the Bioregion: Essential Writings of Peter Berg (Routledge Environmental Humanities)
by Cheryll Glotfelty Eve QuesnelBioregionalism asks us to reimagine ourselves and the places where we live in ecological terms and to harmonize human activities with the natural systems that sustain life. As one of the originators of the concept of bioregionalism, Peter Berg (1937-2011) is a founding figure of contemporary environmental thought. The Biosphere and the Bioregion: Essential Writings of Peter Berg introduces readers to the biospheric vision and post-environmental genius of Berg. From books and essays to published interviews, this selection of writings represents Berg's bioregional vision and its global, local, urban, and rural applications. The Biosphere and the Bioregion provides a highly accessible introduction to bioregional philosophy, making Berg's paradigm available as a guiding vision and practical "greenprint" for the twenty-first century. This valuable compilation lays the groundwork for future research by offering the first-ever comprehensive bibliography of Berg's publications and should be of interest to students and scholars in the interdisciplinary fields of environmental humanities, environment and sustainability studies, as well as political ecology, environmental sociology and anthropology.
Biostatistik (Springer-Lehrbuch)
by Wolfgang Köhler Gabriel Schachtel Peter VoleskeBiostatistik: die Vermessung des Lebendigen. Diese bewährte und leicht verständliche Einführung in die Biometrie eignet sich für all jene, die rasch statistische Verfahren zur Auswertung experimenteller Ergebnisse erlernen möchten. Die Autoren stellen Grundlagen und Anwendung gleichermaßen dar. Dabei berücksichtigen sie insbesondere biologische und agrarwissenschaftliche Beispiele. Sie vermitteln Anwendern ein Verständnis für die hinter dem Verfahren stehende Grundidee und vermeiden dabei weitgehend Formeln und mathematische Symbolik. Übersichtliche Anleitungen regen dazu an, die Verfahren anhand der Beispieldaten wirklich nachzurechnen.
Biotech Challenges
by Catherine Regnault-RogerThe evolution of genome’s modification by genetic engineering was characterized by a major technological breakthrough with the discovery of CRISPR in 2012. A distinction is now made between first-generation biotechnologies developed in the 20th century and current second-generation biotechnologies, NGT or New Genomic Techniques, including genome editing. How do we consider these genomic modifications compared to those that occur spontaneously in nature? What are the applications of these techniques in the fields of plants, animals, and human health? What prospects in terms of development and independence for countries and at least what regulations are in force on the different continents?The book questions what GMOs are, genome editing products and the place of genomic transformations today and tomorrow in our societies. It tries to give some geostrategic and regulatory benchmarks on biotech products in order to better understand the current issues.
Biotechnological Advances, Phytochemical Analysis and Ethnomedical Implications of Sapindus species
by Reetika Singh Bechan SharmaPlants have always occupied a prominent position in the life of every living being. Plants are the primary source of food, shelter and medicines. The global inclination toward herbal medicine has advanced the expansion of plant-based pharmaceutical industries to a vast extent. The production of traditional medicine at global market has been estimated to touch US $5 trillion by 2050. Some of the useful plant-based drugs include vinblastine, vincristine, taxol, podophyllotoxin, camptothecin, digoxigenin, morphine, codeine, aspirin, atropine, capscicine, allicin, curcumin, artemesinin and ephedrine. Genus Sapindus is an important economical and medicinal trees, distributed over the world. Soap nuts contain higher amount of saponin, a natural detergent which can be used to clean clothes and hairs. Sapindus species possesses various pharmacological properties including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hepatoprotective, anti-trichomonas activity. Extracts of this plant are rich in various phytochemicals and polyphenolic compounds. All the pharmacological properties are due to presence of saponins. Biotechnological techniques can improve the saponin content; thus this chemical content can be produced at large scale and can be used as phytomedicine. We hope that this book would be of great use to under graduates, postgraduates, scientists, researchers and faculty members who are studying, teaching or working in the field of Biotechnology, Phytochemistry and Ethnopharmacology. The techniques explained in this book could be of immense use for the researchers working in this area. We shall deeply appreciate receiving any critical comments and suggestions from the readers from the different parts of globe which would help us improve the first edition of this publication.
Biotechnological Strategies for Effective Remediation of Polluted Soils
by Bhupendra Koul Pooja TaakThis book presents a comprehensive collection of various in situ and ex-situ soil remediation regimes that employ natural or genetically modified microbes, plants, and animals for the biodegradation of toxic compounds or hazardous waste into simpler non-toxic products. These techniques are demonstrated to be functionally effective in connection with physical, chemical, and biological strategies. Soil and water contamination through heavy metals, hydrocarbons and radioactive wastes is of global concern, as these factors have cumulative effects on the environment and human health through food-chain contamination. The book discusses the utilization of algae, plants, plant-associated bacteria, fungi (endophytic or rhizospheric) and certain lower animals for the sustainable bioremediation of organic and inorganic pollutants. In addition, it explores a number of more recent techniques like biochar and biofilms for carbon sequestration, soil conditioning and remediation, and water remediation. It highlights a number of recent advances in nanobioremediation, an emerging technology based on biosynthetic nanoparticles. Lastly, it presents illustrative case studies and highlights the successful treatment of polluted soils by means of these strategies.
Biotechnologie in Cartoons
by Reinhard Renneberg Viola BerklingMärchenhaft und bildend zugleich: Das weltweit allererste Biotechnologie-Buch im lustigen lockeren Cartoon-Stil! Die Story: Eine Sternschnuppe fällt auf die Erde in das Königreich Makronesien. Als König Richard VIII. den Sternenstaub unter dem Super-Mikroskop untersucht, entdeckt er ein nanoskopisch kleines intelligentes Wesen in einem Mikro-Raumschiff ... Professor Nanoroo ist vom Planeten Nano zur Erde gekommen, um die menschliche Biotechnologie zu verstehen. Neugierig kommuniziert er mit den Menschen, fragt allen ein Loch in den Bauch. Nanoroo begegnet brotbackenden und bierbrauenden Hefen; krank- und gesundmachenden Bakterien; Pilzen, die Medikamente gegen Bakterien produzieren. Er erlebt viele Abenteuer, unter anderem rettet er des Königs Bruder vor dem Herzinfarkt, misst den Zuckerspiegel Richards und die Fitness von Rennpferden, sieht Pflanzen bei der Raupenabwehr und kostet vitaminreichen Goldenen Reis. Die wissenschaftlichen Hintergründe der Cartoons werden jeweils sachlich kurz in Boxen erklärt. Wenn Nanoroo am glücklichen Ende von der Erde abfliegt mit dem Versprechen wiederzukommen, haben junge und alte Cartoon-Fans bereits stillvergnügt und spielend die Grundlagen der Biotechnologie begriffen.
Biotechnologie zur Umweltentlastung (Teubner-Reihe Umwelt)
by Ulrich StottmeisterBiotechnologische Verfahren nehmen einen wichtigen Platz bei der Entlastung der Umwelt ein. Die natürlichen Prozesse der Selbstreinigung sowie deren zielgerichtete Nutzung und Beeinflussung stehen im Mittelpunkt dieses Lehrbuches. Die präventive Anwendung biotechnologischer Prozesse in Produktionslinien sowie ökologische Gesamtbilanzen gewinnen zunehmend an Bedeutung.
Biotechnology, Agriculture, Environment and Energy: Proceedings of the 2014 International Conference on Biotechnology, Agriculture, Environment and Energy (ICBAEE 2014), May 22-23, 2014, Beijing, China.
by Fangli ZhengThe 2014 International Conference on Biotechnology, Agriculture, Environment and Energy (ICBAEE 2014) was held May 22-23, 2014 in Beijing, China. The objective of ICBAEE 2014 was to provide a platform for researchers, engineers, academics as well as industry professionals from all over the world to present their research results and development act
Biotechnology and Biodiversity: Biology, Biotechnology And Applications (Sustainable Development and Biodiversity #4)
by M. R. Ahuja K. G. RamawatThe purpose of this book is to assess the potential effects of biotechnological approaches particularly genetic modification on biodiversity and the environment. All aspects of biodiversity such as ecological diversity, species diversity and genetic diversity are considered. Higher organisms contain a specific set of linear DNA molecules called chromosomes and a complete set of chromosomes in an organism comprises its genome. The collection of traits displayed by any organism (phenotype) depends on the genes present in its genome (genotype). The appearance of any specific trait also will depend on many other factors, including whether the gene(s) responsible for the trait is/are turned on (expressed) or off, the specific cells within which the genes are expressed and how the genes, their expression and the gene products interact with environmental factors. The primary biotechnology which concerns us is that of genetic manipulation, which has a direct impact on biodiversity at the genetic level. By these manipulations, novel genes or gene fragments can be introduced into organisms (creating transgenics) or existing genes within an organism can be altered. Transgenics are a major area of concern, combining genes from different species to effectively create novel organisms. Current rates of disappearance of biological and cultural diversity in the world are unprecedented. Intensive resource exploitation due to social and economic factors has led to the destruction, conversion or degradation of ecosystems. Reversing these trends requires time to time assessment to integrate conservation and development.
Biotechnology and Ecology of Pollen: Proceedings of the International Conference on the Biotechnology and Ecology of Pollen, 9–11 July, 1985, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
by David L. Mulcahy Gabriella Bergamini Mulcahy Ercole OttavianoIn Recognition of the Forgotten Generation D. L. MULCAHyl Pollen was long believed to serve primarily a single function, that of delivering male gametes to the egge A secondary and generally overlooked value of pollen is that it serves to block the transmission of many defective alleles and gene combinations into the next generation. This latter function comes about simply because pollen tubes carrying defective haploid genotypes frequently fail to complete growth through the entire length of the style. However, the beneficial consequences of this pollen selection are diluted by the fact that the same deleterious genotypes are often transmitted through the egg at strictly mendelian frequencies (Khush, 1973). Gene expression in the pollen might thus at least appear to be a phenomenon of trivial consequence. Indeed, Heslop-Harrison (1979) rightly termed the gametophytic portion of the angiosperm life cycle, the "forgotten generation." This neglect, however, came about despite subtle but constant indications that pollen is the site of intense gene activity and selection. For example, Mok and Peloquin (1975) demonstrated that relatively heterozygous diploid pollen shows heterotic characteristics whereas relatively homozygous diploid pOllen does not. This was proof positive that genes are expressed (that is, transcribed and translated) in the pollen. 1 Department of Botany, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003, USA viii However, the implications for pollen biology of even this recent and well known study were not widely recognized.
Biotechnology and Production of Anti-Cancer Compounds
by Sonia MalikThis book discusses cancers and the resurgence of public interest in plant-based and herbal drugs. It also describes ways of obtaining anti-cancer drugs from plants and improving their production using biotechnological techniques. It presents methods such as cell culture, shoot and root culture, hairy root culture, purification of plant raw materials, genetic engineering, optimization of culture conditions as well as metabolic engineering with examples of successes like taxol, shikonin, ingenol mebutate and podophylotoxin. In addition, it describes the applications and limitations of large-scale production of anti-cancer compounds using biotechnological means. Lastly, it discusses future economical and eco-friendly strategies for obtaining anti-cancer compounds using biotechnology.
Biotechnology and Public Engagement in Europe
by J. HansenProviding a comparison the most important instances of public engagement with biotechnology in Europe in recent years, this book provides a theoretically reflected and empirically grounded study of the opportunities and obstacles for a thorough democratization of technological development through processes of public engagement.