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Thoroughly referenced and generously illustrated, this book discusses all aspects of cycadology. A small group of ancient palmlike seed plants noted for their beautiful foliage and often brightly colored cones and seeds, cycads are believed to have been among the first seed-bearing plants. Seed bearing was the basis for their worldwide dominance from about 300 million years ago to about 70 million years ago, when today's familiar flowering plants gained ascendancy. In recent years, interest in cycads has increased, partly as a result of the need for a more complete identification of the range of toxic and carcinogenic substances these plants produce and partly because of the recognition that some compounds from cycads may prove valuable in biomedical research.Many cycads have recently... Less

Following the extremely well-received structure of the first edition, this carefully revised and updated new edition now includes much new information of vital importance to those working and researching in the fisheries and aquaculture industries. Commencing with chapters covering genetic variation and how it can be measured, the authors then look at genetic structure in natural populations, followed by a new chapter covering genetics in relation to population size and conservation issues. Genetic variation of traits and triploids and the manipulation of ploidy are fully covered, and another new chapter is included, entitled 'From Genetics to Genomics'. The book concludes with a chapter covering the impact of genetic engineering in aquaculture.With the inclusion of a wealth of up-to-date... Less