Pharma Collaborators Release "microRNA: Biology, Function & Expression"

Scientists from the Pharmaceutical Company GlaxoSmithKline and a Team of Academic, Biotech and Pharma Collaborators Released "microRNA: Biology, Function & Expression" (ISBN: 1933255196)

"microRNA: Biology, Function & Expression" (ISBN: 1933255196) by Neil J. Clarke, PhD and Philippe Sanseau, PhD, scientists at GlaxoSmithKline, and a team of academic, pharma, and biotech collaborators has been just published by DNA PRESS. Providing a comprehensive overview of a fast-emerging field, this volume dedicated to the biological role of microRNAs (miRNAs) discusses methods for identifying and characterizing their functions and looks at potential applications of miRNA research in medicine and pharmacology. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNA molecules that appear to regulate gene expression. Found in plant and animal species and possibly traceable back to ancient forms of life, miRNAs are now estimated to regulate a third or more of genes in the human genome.

Eagleville, PA (PRWEB) May 8, 2007 -- Today, DNA Press announced the publication of "microRNA: Biology, Function & Expression" (ISBN: 1933255196) by Neil J. Clarke, PhD and Philippe Sanseau, PhD, scientists at GlaxoSmithKline, and a team of academic, pharma, and biotech collaborators as part of the DNA Press Nuts & Bolts series.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs), are an abundant class of small (approximately 22 nucleotides in length), non -protein -coding RNAs (sncRNAs) that appear to play important roles as negative regulators of gene expression in plants and animals.

A large number of recent papers have described the importance of miRNAs in cancer and a growing body of evidence indicates that many miRNAs are mutated or poorly expressed in tumours. For drug discovery miRNAs are now being investigated as potential biomarkers of prognosis and diagnosis, especially in Oncology but, in the future, this will surely extrapolate to other therapeutic areas.

"The challenge for us as Editors, in what is such an exciting and rapidly expanding field of research, has been what to include and what to miss out since limitations of space have, of necessity, prevented an exhaustive coverage of all possible topics in the field," said one of the editors Philippe Sanseau, PhD. "Nevertheless, our approach has been to include material from some of the very best, most active and upcoming researchers in the field, to provide the reader with a rounded overview of the biology, function and expression of miRNA. To this end, we have grouped the chapters according to the following themes; Basic miRNA Biology, General Characteristics of miRNAs, Species Interest and Function, miRNA Detection Technologies and finally, Bionformatic Approaches to Identification of miRNA and miRNA targets."

This book is a valuable tool for students, university instructors, undergraduate and graduate biology students, and experienced researchers.

The book is available through major academic book distributors, at www.amazon.com, www.dnapress.com, and wherever books are sold. Librarians can use whole sellers such as Ingram or Baker&Taylor or contact IPG http://www.ipgbook.com (a distributor for DNA Press). Orders by telephone from IPG: 800.888.4741

For interviews and review copies contact via e-mail.

BOOK DETAILS:

ISBN: 1933255196
Book binding: Hardcover
Size: 6 x 9 inches
Pages: 200
Price: $65.00

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Press Contact: JAY MORGAN
Company Name: DNA Press
Phone: 267-760-4667
Website: http://www.ipgbook.com/