This book explodes the myth of attention deficit disorder as genetically based - and offers real hope and advice for children and adults who live with the condition. Gabor Mate is a revered physician who specializes in neurology, psychiatry and psychology - and himself has ADD. With wisdom gained through years of medical practice and research, Scattered Minds is a must-read for parents - and for anyone interested how experiences in infancy shape the biology and psychology of the human brain. This book: Demonstrates that ADD is not an inherited illness, but a reversible impairment and developmental delay ; Explains that in ADD, circuits in the brain whose job is emotional self-regulation and attention control fail to develop in infancy - and why ; Shows how ̀distractibility' is the psychological product of life experience ; Allows parents to understand what makes their ADD children tick, and adults with ADD to gain insights into their emotions and behaviours ; Expresses optimism about neurological development even in adulthood ; Presents a programme of how to promote this development in both children and adults.

Filled with gripping medical histories that explore the body's mysterious capacity to marshal disparate organs and processes in the interests of survival to highlight the miraculous resiliency of human life.

"The Tangled Bank is the first textbook about evolution intended for the general reader. Zimmer, an award-winning science writer, takes readers on a fascinating journey into the latest discoveries about evolution. In the Canadian Arctic, paleontologists unearth fossils documenting the move of our ancestors from sea to land. In the outback of Australia, a zoologist tracks some of the world's deadliest snakes to decipher the 100-million-year evolution of venom molecules. In Africa, geneticists are gathering DNA to probe the origin of our species. In clear, non-technical language, Zimmer explains the central concepts essential for understanding new advances in evolution, including natural selection, genetic drift, and sexual selection. He demonstrates how vital evolution is to all branches of modern biology-from the fight against deadly antibiotic-resistant bacteria to the analysis of the human genome. Richly illustrated with 285 illustrations and photographs, The Tangled Bank is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the history of life on Earth."-- Publisher's description.

חדשים אפריל 2011Contents: Meeting two people on the autistic spectrum --Changing prevalence of autism through history --Measuring the autism spectrum --Making the diagnosis --Psychology of autism and Asperger syndrome --Biology of autism and Asperger syndrome --Intervention, education, and treatment.

An age old mystery, the development of the microscopic embryo into exceedingly complex plants and animals--into roses and cacti, elephants and blue whales, apes and human beings--stands as one of the most fundamental and important questions facing modern biologists. How does one cell give rise to so many millions of cells? How do they divide so as to form hearts, brains, eyes, and ears? Where in this pin-head-sized object is all this information encoded? Now, in The Triumph of the Embryo, biologist Lewis Wolpert answers these and other questions in a lucid tour of embryology, which offers the latest theories in this fascinating field. Filled with rich and unusual examples, metaphors, and descriptions, Wolpert moves beyond his overall narrative to discuss the many issues it raises, such as aging, cancer, regeneration, and evolution. Readers discover why all calico cats are female; encounter a fruit fly engineered to grow a leg out of its head; and find out why there seems to be a 110 year age barrier for the human body. Clearly written and illustrated with striking examples, The Triumph of the Embryo offers a dazzling look at the marvels of modern biology.

Each of us begins our path in life as a single cell. Just thinking about this common process can fill us with a sense of wonder--and raise a host of questions. How does an egg cell multiply to develop into a human being, an animal, or a plant? How do cells form a brain, a face, a hand? And how does the pattern continue generation after generation? With great insight and unwavering enthusiasm, biology professor Lewis Wolpert presents this complex subject in a "clear and engagingly written book" (Nature) that even the layman can understand. Illuminating the subject with twelve remarkable full-page photographs and numerous informative illustrations, this landmark guide shows the separation, growth, and differentiation of various cells and body parts in the embryonic stage. Simple descriptions of Wolpert's experimental studies offer fascinating insights into topics such as aging, cancer, regeneration, and evolution. Addressing the mysteries that face modern biologists--and all of mankind-- The Triumph of the Embryo is a "fascinating read for anyone curious about the replication and development of life"-- (Science News) . A new preface has been provided by the author.

"The newest addition to John Brockman's Edge.org series explores life itself, bringing together the world's leading biologists, geneticists, and evolutionary theorists -- including Richard Dawkins, Edward O. Wilson, J. Craig Venter, and Freeman Dyson. Scientists' understanding of life is progressing more rapidly than at any point in human history, from the extraordinary decoding of DNA to the controversial emergence of biotechnology. Featuring pioneering biologists, geneticists, physicists, and science writers, Life explains just how far we've come -- and takes a brilliantly educated guess at where we're heading. Richard Dawkins and J. Craig Venter compare genes to digital information, and sketch the frontiers of genomic research. Edward O. Wilson reveals what ants can teach us about building a superorganism -- and, in turn, about how cells build an organism. Elsewhere, David Haig reports new findings on how mothers and fathers individually influence the human genome, while Kary Mullis covers cutting edge treatments for dangerous viruses. And there's much more in this fascinating volume. We may never have all the answers. But the thinkers collected in Life are asking questions that will keep us dreaming for generations."--provided by Amazon.com.