Molecular Nutrition and Genomics - by Mark Lucock (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

This fascinating book draws it subject matter from a range of relevant disciplines that extend from molecular nutrition, nutritional sciences, and nutrition dietetics through to genetics, genomics, and anthropology. It presents a vital portrait of the absolutely fundamental role that nutrition has played and continues to play in shaping who and what human beings are, as well as where they evolved from, and where they may be heading as a species.

Molecular Nutrition: Nutrition and the Evolution of Humankind

• Blends coverage of the molecular mechanisms that underpin nutrient-gene interactions with evolutionary theory
• Takes a molecular biological approach to problem solving, and moves nutrition away from its dietetic and anthropological origins to the front lines of genomic research
• Covers key concepts in molecular biology; the -omics revolution and bioinformatics; recent human evolution; molecular mechanisms of gene-nutrient interactions; the importance of nutrients and genomics in disease; the evolution of micronutrient metabolism, protein structure, and human disease; nutrients and the human lifecycle; contemporary dietary patterns; leading-edge laboratory tools in nutrigenomics and human evolutionary studies

Written by an internationally recognised expert in the field, Molecular Nutrition: Nutrition and the Evolution of Humankind is an invaluable text and reference book for a wide range of teachers, students, and researchers.

From the Back Cover

Learn how nutrition has driven--and continues to drive--human evolution

This pioneering text draws from molecular nutrition, nutritional sciences, dietetics, genetics, genomics, and anthropology to examine how chemical nutrients and genetics shape the human species. It presents a vital portrait of the fundamental role that nutrition has played and continues to play in shaping who and what human beings are, where we evolved from, and where we might be headed as a species.

The author's innovative molecular biological approach moves the field of nutrition well beyond its traditional dietetic and anthropological origins to the front lines of genomic research. Following a presentation of molecular biology concepts that are essential for the study of human nutrition, the author explores such key topics as:

• Bioinformatics and the -omics revolution

• Recent human evolution

• Molecular mechanisms of gene-nutrient interactions

• Role of nutrients and genomics in disease

• Evolution of micronutrient metabolism, protein structure, and human disease

• Nutrients and the human life cycle

• Mismatch of contemporary dietary patterns and our genetic makeup

• Laboratory tools for nutrigenomics and human evolutionary studies

Figures and illustrations provided throughout the text help readers grasp and visualize complex concepts and processes with ease. For readers interested in pursuing particular topics in greater depth, an extensive list of current references is provided.

This text is ideal for undergraduate and graduate students in human nutrition, dietetics, metabolism, molecular biology, and many other allied health sciences. Nowhere else can readers find such an integrated blend of medical, nutritional, and biochemical disciplines to aid in understanding the role of nutrients in human evolution.

About the Author

Mark Lucock, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in Human Molecular Nutrition at the University of Newcastle School of Environmental and Life Sciences, New South Wales, Australia. Dr. Lucock is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of human nutrition, nutrition and genomics, and nutrition and evolution.