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This book provides an accessible introduction to an exciting new field of life science in which the focus is on small numbers of molecules and minorities within cell populations and their significance for the understanding of biological phenomena. Numbers, or quantitative data, are attracting more attention in cell biology following, for example, determination of the absolute copy number of each protein species in each bacterial cell and the recognition of leader cells that drive collective cell migration. Within this context, the authors present recent advances in experimental techniques, biological findings, and theories. A variety of cutting-edge topics and issues are addressed, with explanation of the ways in which recent developments in the field cast light on seemingly straightforward but difficult-to-answer questions. Readers will learn that we are on the verge of a paradigm shift as the importance of cooperation among groups of molecules in live cells is acknowledged. The book is designed to be enjoyable to read and easy to understand. It will be of interest for a wide range of readers, including young researchers and undergraduate/high school students.
List of contents
Chapter 1.A look at functions that emerge from small numbers.- Chapter 2.Neuronal synaptic connections organized by small numbers of molecules.- Chapter 3.Invasions of small numbers: how many virus particles does it take to infect someone with the flu?.- Chapter 4.Rebellion by the minority: prophecies by molecules on paper and computers.- Chapter 5.The personality of small numbers: do molecules have personality?.- Chapter 6.Distinguishing and searching for minority cells: small in number, but large in effect.- Chapter 7.Digital bioanalysis.- Chapter 8.How small numbers of long genomic DNA are stored in cells.- Chapter 9.Formation by small numbers: minority biological scenarios in correlations among the structure, dynamics, and function of nuclear chromosomes.- Chapter 10.Dividing small numbers: the discreteness and distribution of molecules in the cell membrane.- Chapter 11.Getting to know the functions of small numbers.- Chapter 12.Working in small numbers: The behaviors that emerge when small numbers of bionanomachines team up.- Chapter 13.Thinking small numbers: when, where, and how many molecules there are in the cell.- Chapter 14.Determining small numbers: how the number of flagella is determined.- Chapter 15.Controlling production with small numbers: precision apparatuses made of proteins at work in bacteria.- Chapter 16.Organisms that function with small numbers of molecules.- Chapter 17.How low can you go? The numbers of cells that make up bodies: large numbers and small numbers.- Chapter 18.The flow of time inside the cell: the time of days given by molecules driving the circadian clocks.
About the author
Takeharu Nagai
The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Japan
Professor
Yuichi Togashi
Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, Japan
Associate Professor
Summary
This book provides an accessible introduction to an exciting new field of life science in which the focus is on small numbers of molecules and minorities within cell populations and their significance for the understanding of biological phenomena. Numbers, or quantitative data, are attracting more attention in cell biology following, for example, determination of the absolute copy number of each protein species in each bacterial cell and the recognition of leader cells that drive collective cell migration. Within this context, the authors present recent advances in experimental techniques, biological findings, and theories. A variety of cutting-edge topics and issues are addressed, with explanation of the ways in which recent developments in the field cast light on seemingly straightforward but difficult-to-answer questions. Readers will learn that we are on the verge of a paradigm shift as the importance of cooperation among groups of molecules in live cells is acknowledged. The book is designed to be enjoyable to read and easy to understand. It will be of interest for a wide range of readers, including young researchers and undergraduate/high school students.
