Gravitational Biology I

Description

This book summarizes what is currently known about gravity sensing and response mechanisms in microorganisms, fungi, lower and higher plants; starting from the historical eye-opening experiments from the 19th century up to today’s extremely rapid advancing cellular, molecular and biotechnological research. All forms of life are constantly exposed to gravity and it can be assumed that almost all organisms have developed sensors and respond in one way or the other to the unidirectional acceleration force,this books shows us some of these different ways. The book is written for plant biologists and microbiologists as well as scientists interested in space and gravitational biology. Front Matter ....Pages i-xvii Gravity Sensing, Graviorientation and Microgravity (Donat-Peter Häder, Markus Braun, Ruth Hemmersbach)....Pages 1-11 Methods for Gravitational Biology Research (Ruth Hemmersbach, Donat-Peter Häder, Markus Braun)....Pages 13-26 Gravitaxis in Flagellates and Ciliates (Donat-Peter Häder, Ruth Hemmersbach)....Pages 27-45 Gravitropism in Tip-Growing Rhizoids and Protonemata of Characean Algae (Markus Braun)....Pages 47-65 Gravitropism in Fungi, Mosses and Ferns (Donat-Peter Häder)....Pages 67-74 Gravitropism in Higher Plants: Cellular Aspects (Dennis Said Gadalla, Markus Braun, Maik Böhmer)....Pages 75-92 Gravitropism in Higher Plants: Molecular Aspects (Klaus Palme, William Teale, Franck Ditengou)....Pages 93-111 Bioregenerative Life Support Systems in Space Research (Donat-Peter Häder, Markus Braun, Ruth Hemmersbach)....Pages 113-122