Product Description
The third edition of The Neuron provides a comprehensive first course in the cell and molecular biology of nerve cells. The first part of the book covers the properties of the many newly discovered ion channels that have emerged through mapping of the genome. These channels shape the way a single neuron generates varied patterns of electrical activity. Next are covered the molecular mechanisms that convert electrical activity into the secretion of neurotransmitter hormones at synaptic junctions between neurons. The second part of the book covers the biochemical pathways that are linked to the action of neurotransmitters and that can alter the cellular properties of neurons or sensory cells that transduce information from the outside world into the electrical code used by neurons. The final section reviews our rapidly expanding knowledge of the molecular facters that induce an undifferentiated cell to become a neuron, and then guide it to form appropriate synaptic connections with its partners. This section also focuses on the role of ongoing experience and activity in shaping these connections, and finishes with an account of mechanisms thought to underlie the phenomena of learning and memory. New for the Third Edition: This is a thoroughly revised and expanded edition (60 pages longer) and features a new 8-page, 4-color insert as well as the following changes: 1. The mapping of the human genome and that of other species has led to the discovery of numerous new proteins that regulate the excitability, development, and function of neurons. These have been incorporated into the new edition in nearly all of the chapters. 2. The first section of the book, which deals with neuronal excitability, has been reorganized to make it more readable for those students with less background in physical sciences. A new chapter has been added to this section to allow the incorporation of new information on ion channel structure and on the role of channel auxiliary proteins in modulating neuronal excitability. 3. A new chapter, "The Birth and Death of Neurons," has been added to the last section. In addition to covering new discoveries about the early development of neurons, this chapter describes the recent discovery that new neurons are continually being formed in certain parts of the adult mammalian brain. It also describes research on stem cells, which holds therapeutic potential for the repair of damaged or diseased brain tissue. 4. The use of imaging technologies in the study of the brain has expanded enormously in the past few years. The new edition describes some of these new approaches. Moreover, the introduction of full color plates now allows many new images to be presented in their original form. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great book for my cellular biology of the nervous system class
Excellent textbook, explains very well the terms it presents while on the same time is a very easy to read book. It seemed much easier for me to read and comprehend what we learned in class with "the Neuron" in comparison to our designated textbook, which was also very good but less enjoyable.

Great book
I've really enjoyed this book so far. It's by far the best neuro molec book out that I've got my hands on.

A beautiful text
This is one of the few molecular neurobiology textbooks available to the serious student. Overall, it is a very well written text, up to date, and quite detailed.

There is one weird quality about the book, however: the authors have not directly referenced statements in the book, as you would expect to find in any good advanced textbook in a scholarly field. They have instead written a bibliography at the very end, consisting of "Recommended Reading" and "References" for each chapter. I am unsure what criteria they used to differentiate the two.

Other than this minor point however, it's a first rate buy. The authors deserve several pats on their backs.

Neuron details
The molecular biology of the neuron is considered, from its electrical properties, synapses, differentiation, axon pathfinding, to chapters concluding with behavior and memory. Well written and includes easy to follow schematic diagrams, this reference is suitable for the motivated general reader.

Great book on all levels
"The Neuron" was a fantastic book to read. It served as a perfect mesh between a textbook and a novel. The book was written in plain english so anyone could enjoy it. The concepts discussed ranged from elementary to advanced which provided a nice progression to more complicated things. This book is a must read for anyone interested in neuroscience. ... Read more

Product Description
A diverse collection of protocols ranging from the latest inventions and applications to some classic, but still frequently used, methods for studying B-lymphocyte development and function in higher animals. These readily reproducible protocols follow the successful Methods in Molecular Biology™ series format, each one offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principle behind the technique, lists of equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. ... Read more

Product Description
Karp continues to help biologists make important connections between key concepts and experimentation. The sixth edition explores core concepts in considerable depth and presents experimental detail when it helps to explain and reinforce the concepts. The majority of discussions have been modified to reflect the latest changes in the field. The book also builds on its strong illustration program by opening each chapter with “VIP” art that serves as a visual summary for the chapter. Over 60 new micrographs and computer-derived images have been added to enhance the material. Biologists benefit from these changes as they build their skills in making the connection. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Recieving My Text Book
Amazon estimated the delivery date to be much further off than it turned out to be.The person I ordered it from shipped it right away so I got it under a week of ordering.It was in good condition as promised.

Student
I bought the book new and it works well in my Cell-Molec class. Wish it came with the online companion but I'm no worse off and probably saved money just buying the book.

Great book
I bought this book for my Cell biology class. As a kid I remember seeing a really early edition of this book at home because my dad took some classes at UF with Gerald Karp. It's great that he has followed the field for so many years and keeps his editions up to date to reflect the latest evidence and new models. All in all a great book, wonderfully written with great figures and beautiful experiments.

although it could be cheaper! ... Read more

Product Description

PreTest is the closest you can get to seeing the USMLE Step 1 before you take it

500 USMLE-type questions and answers!

"This edition of PreTest is full of extremely high-yield information in a presentation that is logical and effective.The questions and explanations are invaluable, and the HY tables and figures make it easy to review important material efficiently." -- Gustaf Van Acker III, Fourth Year MD/PhD Candidate, University of Kansas School of Medicine

"This book was an excellent refresher for anyone looking to review information for either their final course exam or for the USMLE Step 1." -- Ben Chidester, Second Year Medical Student, Eastern Virginia Medical School

Great for course review and the USMLE Step 1, Anatomy, Histology, & Cell Biology: PreTest asks the right questions so you’ll know the right answers. You’ll find 500 clinical-vignette style questions and answers along with complete explanations of correct and incorrect answers. The content has been reviewed by students who recently passed their exams, so you know you are studying the most relevant and up-to-date material possible.No other study guide targets what you really need to know in order to pass like PreTest!

Content that covers all the must-know topics:
High-Yield Facts,Embryology: Early and General,Cell Biology: Membranes,Cell Biology: Cytoplasm,Cell Biology: Intracellular Trafficking,Cell Biology: Nucleus,Epithelium,Connective Tissues,Specialized Connective Tissues: Bones and Cartilage,Muscle and Cell Motility,Nervous System,Cardiovascular System, Blood and Bone Marrow,Lymphoid System and Cellular Immunology,Respiratory System,Integumentary System,Gastrointestinal Tract and Glands,Endocrine Glands,Reproductive System,Urinary System,Eye and Ear,Head and Neck Thorax,Abdomen,Pelvis,Extremities and Spine

Customer Reviews (1)

KUMC in your future?
Both authors are KUMC professors.If KUMC is in your future, this will be critical for your exams.
Good high-yield section with hundreds of USMLE-style practice questions.Great for any medical student, but very handy for medical students or prospective medical students going to KU. ... Read more

Product Description
Get the most from your study time...and experience a realistic USMLE simulation! These new additions to the Rapid Review Series-highly rated in the First Aid rankings-make it easy for you to master all of the basic science material covered on the USMLET Step 1 Exam.

• Each title focuses on a particular basic science subject, providing an at-a-glance, outline-format review of all the information you need to know.
  
• A user-friendly 2-color layout, Hi-Yield Margin Notes, and Key Points make studying easy.
  
• 100 high-quality USMLE-style review questions inside each book allow you to practice for the USMLE, and include a full rationale that lets you know why every possible answer is right or wrong.
  
• Another 250 USMLE-style questions for each title are available at www.studentconsult.com-mirroring the look and feel of the actual exam, and providing detailed feedback on which areas you may need to study more.

Customer Reviews (3)

Great introductory text
The Histology text in the rapid review series is very well written, though at times a bit too basic.I have found that this is almost always a good starting point when covering new topics, but that more thorough reading elsewhere is often required.

Rapid Review Histology and Cell Biology: With STUDENT CONSULT Online Access (Rapid Review)
I haven't finished but its a very good book to review the basics of histolgy.

Histology made ridiculously simple... and clear.
I like this book for my histology class because it has a great online link to a lot of questions, questions in the back of the book (USLME style) and it has amazing succinct info on histology.

If you're a med student and don't have time for your histology class, this will teach you what you need to know for exams in an organized manner. Good luck. ... Read more

Product Description

A complete one-stop review of the clinically important aspects of histology and cell biology--user-friendly, concise, and packed with learning aids!

The ideal review for course exams and the USMLE!

4 STAR DOODY'S REVIEW!
"This is a wonderful resource for students of medicine, dentistry, and the allied health sciences. The book combines traditional topics in histology with elements of modern cell biology and medical physiology.... This is the body of information that students of microscopic anatomy need to know to understand the foundations of clinical medicine and succeed on future licensing examinations. Students will use this book to review key concepts in modern histology."--Doody's Review Service

This popular title in the LANGE series is specifically designed to help you make the most of your study time--whether you're studying histology and cell biology for the first time or reviewing for course exams or the USMLE. With this focused review you will be able to pinpoint your weak areas, and then improve your comprehension with learning aids especially designed to help you understand and retain even the most difficult material.

You will find complete easy-to-follow coverage of all the need-to-know material: fundamental concepts, the four basic tissues types, and organs and organ systems--presented in a consistent, time-saving design. At the conclusion of the book, you will find a Diagnostic Final Exam that has been updated with longer, case-related stems that mimic the USMLE Step 1 examination.

Each chapter is devoted to one specific topic and includes learning aids such as:

• Objectives that point out significant facts and concepts that you must know about each topic
• Max Yield™ study questionsthat direct you to key facts needed to master material most often covered on exams
• A synopsis presented in outline form that reviews all the basic histology and related cell biology covered on exams
• Multiple-choice questions written in a style most commonly used in medical school

NEW to this Edition:

• Thoroughly revised Q&A
• Completely updated text and practice questions to reflect current knowledge
• Information added to each chapter regarding relevant pathology/clinical issues; possibly as a separate colored box

Visit www.LangeTextbooks.com to access valuable resources and study aids.

Thorough coverage you won't find anywhere else!
FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS: Methods of Study, The Plasma Membrane & Cytoplasm, The Nucleus & Cell Cycle, THE FOUR BASIC TISSUE TYPES: Epithelial Tissue, Connective Tissue, Adipose Tissue, Cartilage, Bone, Integrative Multiple-Choice Questions: Connective Tissues Nerve Tissue, Muscle Tissue, Integrative Multiple-Choice Questions: Basic Tissue Types, ORGANS & ORGAN SYSTEMS: Circulatory System, Peripheral Blood, Hematopoiesis, Lymphoid System, Digestive Tract, Glands Associated with the Digestive Tract, Integrative Multiple-Choice Questions: Digestive System, Respiratory System, Skin, Urinary System, Pituitary & Hypothalamus, Adrenals, Islets of Langerhans, Thyroid, Parathyroids, & Pineal Body, Male Reproductive System, Female Reproductive System, Integrative Multiple-Choice Questions: Endocrine System, Sense Organs, Diagnostic Final Examination

Customer Reviews (4)

Speedy and straight to the point
This book is so good...! I bought the 4th edition. It helps a lot particularly in preparing for exams. It helps in filling the gap when you thought you knew what you need to know if you understand what I mean!!!!...By far I prefer it than the BRS which is not helping you in directing your reading when you need to master a concept. It saves me a lot on my study time by re-directing me from reading to mastery...If they had other ones like that for the other basic science subjects, I would not hesitate to buy...The only reason why I don't give it 5 stars it lacks in diagrams and colours. It is a bit abrupt which does not suit my learning style. I would be so grateful if they would add some colours to the charts and make it more fun with drawings, cartoons and colourful diagrams...

Better than BRS Histology
I bought both this book and BRS Cell Biology and Histology for review and used them mainly as a source for practice questions.I found that the questions in this book is much better and more challenging than those in the BRS book.

Speedy Service, Good Product!
This seller did a very good job. The service was speedy, the book was well protected and in good condition as described. I will purchase other bookers from this seller and reccommend others to do so.

Of Standards
The decision to buy this book is one of the most apt I have ever made in the medical school. Paulsen gives the rather abstract histology a vivid approach, that engulfs just what is required.

However , illustrations arelackingand because of its compactness, no sentence is to be ignored.Consequently , progress is not very significant and thusinappropriate torush through the day before the exam. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (12)

Speedy and straight to the point
Just excellent!!! At med school you have very little time to assimilate your readings...This book helps a lot in summarizing lectures and Histology textbooks!!!!

All You'll Need for Microanatomy
I admit, I'm a bit biased here because for my Microanatomy class we were assigned Gartner & Hiatt's Color Textbook of Histology.Since they wrote this as well, it was a great companion to the textbook.In fact, the organization is essentially (if not exactly) identical, & in this format you're given everything you need to study in under 20 pages rather than in several long chapters.This book was a lifesaver for me.I used it in conjunction with BRS Phys - get the physiology down pat, then completing the story by going through all the different cell types discussed in this book.It's a fast, clear read with some great clinical correlations at the end of each chapter.My only complaint would be that the review questions tend to focus solely on the page or so of CCs at the end & less on the concepts presented in the outlines.If you have a Cell Bio course separate from your Micro or Histo course (as I did), I don't know if the Cell Bio coverage (only 3 chapters) will be sufficiently in depth, but what's there is definitely high yield.Bottom line - you'll definitely want this book if you're using G&H's text.If not, I thought it was a great (& fast) review book for the NBME, & ultimately worth the money regardless of your assigned text.

Review of BRS Cell Biology & Histology
I think that this book is an ok review book, but a bit to superficial to use when learning histology.I recommend purchasing a larger text book to learn histology... I wish I had. The students in my class that read larger histology text books did much better in histology and subsequently pathology than I did.

Better than Kaplan's review for Histology.
A must have. Really important and understandable facts in the light of USMLE. I'm reading some other books on this subject too, and I have inferred that this one is very good.

Very good for Histology
This book is broken into systems and has nice board related pathology info at the end of each chapter. Exp: The Chapter on Neuro Histology will give you a clear understanding of the histo, physio, and then give pathology examples such as what happens when there is demyelination->MS.

I was never taught histology, but this book is so well laid out, I could make the correlation between histo, phys, and path. Excellent resource if you want to understand histo in a short period of time. I see where other people say it's not high-yield enough. That may be true. But what's the point of memorizing specific details if you don't understand the big concepts they pertain to. If you have a strong background in histo then I would recommend something else.

I just feel this book has made me understand phyio and path so much better. It's like biochem. Gives you better insight on the mechanisms of pathophys. I was very disappointed with BRS Phys, but BRS Cell Bio and Histo is the real deal. I would scrap BRS Phys and just buy the Histo one. ... Read more

Product Description
This textbook provides an introduction to dynamic modeling in cell biology, emphasizing computational approaches based on realistic molecular mechanisms. It is designed to introduce cell biology and neuroscience students to computational modeling, and applied mathematics students, theoretical biologists, and engineers to many of the problems in dynamical cell biology. This volume was conceived of and begun by Professor Joel Keizer based on his many years of teaching and research together with his colleagues. The project was expanded and finished by his students and friends after his untimely death in 1999.

Carefully selected examples are used to motivate the concepts and techniques of computational cell biology, through a progression of increasingly more complex and demanding cases. Illustrative exercises are included with every chapter, and mathematical and computational appendices are provided for reference. This textbook will be useful for advanced undergraduate and graduate theoretical biologists, and for mathematics students and life scientists who wish to learn about modeling in cell biology.

Royalties from this book will be donated to the Joel E. Keizer memorial endowment for collaborative interdisciplinary research in the life sciences. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An excellent overview
As a field of applied mathematics, computational biology has exploded in the last decade, and shows every sign of increasing in the next. This book overviews a few of the topics in the computational modeling of cells. I only read chapters 12 and 13 on molecular motors, and so my review will be confined to these.

Nanotechnology could be described as an up-and-coming field, but in the natural world one can find examples of this technology that surpass greatly what has been accomplished by human engineers. The authors begin their articles with a few examples of natural molecular machines, including the "rotary motors" DNA helicase and bacteriophage, and the "linear motor" kinesin, the latter they refer to as a "walking enzyme". Important in the modeling of all these is the theory of stochastic processes in the guise of Brownian motion, which the authors hold is the key to understanding the mechanics of proteins. In chapter 12 they give a detailed overview of the mathematical modeling of protein dynamics, followed in chapter 13 by an illustration of the mathematical formalism in the bacterial flagellar motor, a polymerization ratchet, and a motor governing ATP synthase.

To the authors a molecular motor is an entity that converts chemical energy into mechanical force. The production of mechanical force though may involve intermediate steps of energy transduction, all these involving the release of free energy during binding events. But due to their size, molecular motors are subjected to thermal fluctuations, and thus to model their motion accurately requires the theory of stochastic processes. Thus the authors begin a study of stochastic processes, restricting their attention to ones that satisfy the Markov property. Starting with a discrete model of protein motion as a simple random walk, the authors show that the variance of the motion grows linearly with time, which is a sign of diffusive motion. The partial differential equation satisfied by the probability distribution function, in the continuous limit where the space and time scales are large enough, is left to the reader to derive as an exercise.

The authors then consider polymer growth as another example of a stochastic process, a kind of hybrid one in that it involves both discrete and continuous random variables, the position of the polymer being continuous, while the number of monomers in the polymer is discrete. The authors derive an ordinary differential equation for the probability of there being exactly n polymers at a particular time. From this they show how to obtain sample paths for polymer growth and give a brief discussion on the statistics of polymer growth.

Attention is then turned to the modeling of molecular motions, with the first example being the Brownian motion of proteins in aqueous solutions. The (stochastic) Langevin equation is given for the motion of the protein, both with and without an external force acting on the protein. To find a numerical solution of this equation is straightforward, as the authors show. But they caution however that simulation of this solution on a computer is liable to introduce spurious results, and so they derive the Smoluchowski model, a somewhat different way of looking at random motion via the evolution of ensembles of paths. In this formulation the Brownian force is replaced by a diffusion term, and the external force is modeled by a drift term.

The authors then consider the modeling of chemical reactions, which supply the energy to the molecular motors. Because of the time scales involved in these reactions, a correct treatment of them would involve quantum mechanics, but the authors use the Smoluchowski model. The simple reaction model they consider involves a positive ion binding to negatively charged amino acid, and using as reaction coordinate the distance between the ion and the amino acid, study the free energy change as a function of the reaction coordinate.

The numerical simulation of the protein motion is then considered in much greater detail, using an algorithm that preserves detailed balance. This involves converting the problem to a Markov chain and a consideration of the boundary conditions, which the authors do for the case of periodic, reflecting, and absorbing. Euler's method is used to solve the resulting equations for the Markov chain, and after dealing with issues of stability and accuracy, the Crank-Nicolson method is used. The last few sections of the chapter are devoted to the physics of these solutions and the authors give some intuitive feel for the entropic factors and energy balance on a protein motor.

In the last chapter of the book, the considerations in chapter 12 are applied to concrete molecular motors. The first one examined is a model for switching in a bacterial flagellar motor, which involves the protein CheY as a signaling pathway. The binding of CheY to the motor is modeled as a two-state process, with the binding site being either empty or occupied. The resulting set of coupled differential equations for the probabilities is solved for when the concentration of CheY is constant. An expression for the change in free energy is obtained, and the authors give a discussion of the physics in the light of what was done in the last chapter. The switching rate is computed, along with the mean first passage time.

Some other examples of molecular motors are also discussed, including the flashing racket, the polymerization ratchet, and a simplified model of the ion-driven F0 motor of ATP synthase. This latter motor is fascinating, since it describes the electrochemical energy involved in mitochondria for the production of ATP. The authors do a nice job of showing how the techniques of chapter 12 are used to solve this model, and also give an analytical solution for a certain limiting case. ... Read more

Product Description
Methods in Plant Cell Biology provides in two volumes a comprehensive collection of analytical methods essential for researchers and students in the plant sciences. Individual chapters, written by experts in the field, provide an introductory overview, followed by a step-by-step technical description of the methods. This is accompanied by examples of typical results, illustrations, troubleshooting of potential pitfalls, sources of chemicals and equipment, and complete reference lists. Protocols are written to be easily comprehended by beginning research students, but these extensive volumes will also be a valuable addition to the libraries of expert researchers.

Key Features
* Written by experts, many of whom have developed the individual methods described
Key Features
* Written by experts, many of whom have developed the individual methods described
* Contains most, if not all, the methods needed for modern research in plant cell biology
* Up-to-date and comprehensive
* Cookbook style is simple to follow, troubleshooting details are provided, and illustrations are clear
* Full references
* Allows quick access to relevant journal articles and to the sources of chemicals required for the procedures
* Selective concentration on higher plant methods allows for particular emphasis on those problems specific to plants ... Read more

Product Description
This text tells the story of cells as the unit of life in a colorful and student-friendly manner, taking an "essentials only" approach. By using the successful model of previously published Short Courses, this text succeeds in conveying the key points without overburdening readers with secondary information. The authors (all active researchers and educators) skillfully present concepts by illustrating them with clear diagrams and examples from current research. Special boxed sections focus on the importance of cell biology in medicine and industry today. This text is a completely revised, reorganized, and enhanced revision of From Genes to Cells. ... Read more

Product Description
Veterinary Consult
The Veterinary Consult version of this title provides electronic access to the complete content of this book. Veterinary Consult allows you to electronically search your entire book, make notes, add highlights, and study more efficiently. Purchasing additional Veterinary Consult titles makes your learning experience even more powerful. All of the Veterinary Consult books will work together on your electronic "bookshelf", so that you can search across your entire library of veterinary books. Veterinary Consult: It's the best way to learn!


Book Description
This concise, expertly illustrated textbook of histology and cell biology introduces the study of pathology through an examination of altered cell and tissue function. Over 650 full-color illustrations are designed to not only illustrate key ideas, but also to provide a complete, visual review of a particular concept or topic. In addition to its clinical orientation and excellent art program, this unique text includes student-friendly Learning Objectives, summary tables, and boxes. Readers will find coverage of basic tissues and integrated cell biology, followed by topics divided by organ systems: blood circulatory systems; the alimentary system; the endocrine system; and the reproductive system. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Exactly what I asked for
Description matches the state of the book perfectly and even includes extra student media that was not mentioned on the Amazon listing. The book came when the estimate said it would and that makes me a completely satisfied customer.

excellent seller.
Excellent Seller. Item received promptly! Post office made a note that the book was slightly damaged in transit, but it's perfectly fine! Thanks!

Histology
This is the hardest text to read.The pictures are awesome but the text is impossible to read.

a great well prepared comprehensive book
This is the first book combining both histology, molecular biology and pathology together in a clear language and very well organized fashion.
Thanks a lot to you and to the author for his effort.

Great book for histology class
The pictures were the selling point in this book. It did go a little too far in depth for my histology class at the time, talking about subunit x of protein y connects to this subunit in this way. However, it became more useful when I got to phys and path. The diagrams were everything, and they supplemented the text well. It did not have as many real microscopic pictures as Wheaters, but I found the drawings more useful than just staring at a light pink blob by a darker pink blob. ... Read more

Product Description
This Third Edition of Medical Cell Biology focuses on the scientific aspects of cell biology important to medical students, dental students, veterinary students, and prehealth undergraduates. Maintaining a primary focus on eukaryotic cell biology, the text explains general cell biology principles in the context of organ systems and human and animal disease.

* 60% New Material!
* New Topics include:
Apoptosis and cell dealth from a neural perspective
Signal transduction as it relates to normal and abnormal heart function
Cell cycle and cell division related to cancer biology
* All new clinical cases
* Serves as a prep guide to the National Medical Board Exam with a CD-ROM of 200 sample board-style questions (using Exam Master(R) technology): www.exammaster.com
* Focuses on eukaryotic cell biology as it related to human disease, thus making the subject more accessible to pre-med and pre-health students ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

High rated cell bio book
this book is very detailed if your looking to learn about cell biology. It gives a lot of in-depth descriptions of the operations of the cell and the key roles it plays in te body.

Medical Cellular Biology Third Edition
I am very pleased with the book. It has every aspect of cellular biology in it. I would recommend this book to any student, or anyone who just wants to learn about cell biology. EXCELENT BOOK!!! ... Read more

Product Description

Boiled-down essentials of the top-selling Schaum's Outline series, for the student with limited time

What could be better than the bestselling Schaum's Outline series? For students looking for a quick nuts-and-bolts overview, it would have to be Schaum's Easy Outline series. Every book in this series is a pared-down, simplified, and tightly focused version of its bigger predecessor. With an emphasis on clarity and brevity, each new title features a streamlined and updated format and the absolute essence of the subject, presented in a concise and readily understandable form. Graphic elements such as sidebars, reader-alert icons, and boxed highlights feature selected points from the text, illuminate keys to learning, and give students quick pointers to the essentials.

Customer Reviews (3)

Concise, but brevity causes loss of glossary
I needed a primer for biochemistry and upon Amazon search with "primer biochemistry" I came across this.Honestly, it hasn't proven more helpful that the chapter 1 introduction in my textbook yet.I've given 3 stars because I've yet to see how uniquely this book has supplemented my understanding, especially since there is no glossary for all the vocabulary in bold print.If I don't get something from context, I have to go elsewhere.On the other hand, it is brief, to the point, and inexpensive so I don't rate it less.

Great for review, but not very much cell bio
I love this book! It's so easy to read and it provides a good review for students taking molecular biology. However, I wouldn't recommend it as a resource for someone who is just starting to learn. The writing style assumes that you know the basic concepts already and sometimes skims through material quickly. However, I would have to say that this book is very readable and contains some excellent illustrations.

However, my one complaint is the lack of coverage of cell biology. This book seems, frankly, to be almost all molecular biology. It lacks any sort of discussion about actin, microtubules, and so on. I find that disappointing, but I understand that it's a "quick outline."

Great book for reference and quick brush-up
I bought this book so I would not have to shuffle through the pages of my cell/molucular bio textbook. Although this book was great with having the main concepts, there wasn't much detail. But that is the purpose of the book- to have the main molecular biology topics in a clear and organized manner. For more detail and test questions get the full outline book from the same series. If you just want the info you need to know this book is outstanding! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (48)

Still powerful.
The Lives of a Cell ages well.I reread it now and then; in all these years, the power hasn't faded.Lewis Thomas provokes the reader into an active thinking mode, but he pushes thinking into a form of inspiration, and profound joy.

Great book
Give this book to your favorite creationist. The eloquent writing explores the connection between the spiritual and the scientific in a powerful way.

We all started as a cell...
This is another book which at some point will enter our cultural canon, much like Orwell's essays or Gary Zukav's _The Dancing Wu-Li Masters_.
True, as a few critics have pointed out, for some reason an essay or two drags; it's a style thing, or perhaps a scientific term here or there. But overall, ah, the wonder...
These essays are compilations and meditations which speak to us in this day and age. In the future a lot of scientific findings will be dated, but the philosophical thoughts such scientific findings generate today will remain with us for the ages.
The insights Thomas extrapolates from biological science and specifically from cell studies are fascinating, almost religious, but not of the holy-roller variety. They tend toward the spiritual and ethical.
I am impressed with his insight that man is a mere carrier in time for cells; yet--much, much more--as man, the cell collective, has achieved--Oh, wondrous miracle! Consciousness. Cells are born, split, feed, die, and yet go on and adapt and evolve, in countless forms, species and beings. And we/they have "achieved" a biological type that composes music, writes essays, learns, remembers, creates, invents, generates human cultures/societies, and looks at the stars.
Man has such humble origins, and yet man achieves...
In a perfect world a couple of essays in this book would be required reading in high school biology or science classes.

Great Book
This is a fantastic book. It requires at least a rough understanding of basic biology and an interest in cellular/microbiology. It is a bit older, but the author's grasp on the subject was quite firm. This would make a great gift to any scientist in the family.

Forever Young
Lewis Thomas is that odd trifecta: a learned scientist; a speculative philosopher; and a master of prose both gracious and graceful.

The Lives of a Cell is a book of 29 essays originally written for the New England Journal of Medicine. They are short; they are light and airy; they are pretty; they are fun. Teenagers could enjoy them. But these essays are fundamentally serious and scientific. Lewis is always on the hunt for the cosmic insight or deeper truth.

His mind works metaphorically. He seeks interconnections. A recurring motif is to wonder whether social animals such as ants are like cells or more like human societies or perchance like the planet earth. Here is a celebrated quote:

"I have been trying to think of the earth as a kind of organism, but it is no go. I cannot think of it this way. It is too big, too complex, with too many working parts lacking visible connections. The other night, driving through a hilly, wooded part of southern New England, I wondered about this. If not like an organism, what is it like, what is it most like? Then, satisfactorily for that moment, it came to me: it is most like a single cell."

This book was a bestseller around 1975 and won the National Book Award. Everyone seemed to be reading it. I read it. I recently ordered it again because I thought it might contain a tidbit for a video I was making called How To Teach Science. No such luck, but this is a book anyone could enjoy reading twice. Most of it remains in the present. It is finally the most readable of science books. Here are two more samples:

"My cells are no longer the pure line entities I was raised with; they are ecosystems more complex than Jamaica Bay. I like to think that they work in my interest, that each breath they draw for me, but perhaps it is they who walk through the local park in the early morning, sensing my senses, listening to my music, thinking my thoughts."

"Viewed from a suitable height, the aggregating clusters of medical scientists in the bright sunlight of the boardwalk at Atlantic city, swarmed there from everywhere for the annual meetings, have the look of assemblages of social insects. There is the same vibrating, ionic movement, interrupted by the darting back and forth of jerky individuals to touch antennae and exchange small bits of information..."

For anyone thinking of writing non-fiction, this is an ultimate text book. Apparently Thomas learned his style from Montaigne. Good luck on that.

For anyone thinking of a career in science, Thomas shows the advantages of being partly a generalist, of being in your field and outside your field--the better to see some strange shadow or artifact that nobody else has noticed.

Epilogue: I ordered a used copy from an Amazon dealer in the northwest USA.Stuck in the book was an old ticket to a music concert (George Winston, solo piano; Wikipedia says he has been called The Father of New Age Music). Date of ticket: 1985. City: Norfolk, Va., where I am now. That's the sort of goofy loop that Thomas could build an essay on. What's more New Age than Amazon? ... Read more

Product Description
Karp continues to help biologists make important connections between key concepts and experimentation. The sixth edition explores core concepts in considerable depth and presents experimental detail when it helps to explain and reinforce the concepts. The majority of discussions have been modified to reflect the latest changes in the field. The book also builds on its strong illustration program by opening each chapter with 'VIP' art that serves as a visual summary for the chapter. Over 60 new micrographs and computer-derived images have been added to enhance the material. Biologists benefit from these changes as they build their skills in making the connection. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

textbook - cell bio
they forgot to mention that it is an international edition, that would of been cool to know beforehand.other than that- good condition, good timing ... Read more

Product Description
The science of complex biological networks is transforming research in areas ranging from evolutionary biology to medicine. This is the first book on the subject, providing a comprehensive introduction to complex network science and its biological applications. With contributions from key leaders in both network theory and modern cell biology, this book discusses the network science that is increasingly foundational for systems biology and the quantitative understanding of living systems. It surveys studies in the quantitative structure and dynamics of genetic regulatory networks, molecular networks underlying cellular metabolism, and other fundamental biological processes. The book balances empirical studies and theory to give a unified overview of this interdisciplinary science. It is a key introductory text for graduate students and researchers in physics, biology and biochemistry, and presents ideas and techniques from fields outside the reader's own area of specialization. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Cell Review
The book was in advertised condition, and the seller was able to get it to me in a timely fashion. ... Read more

Product Description
This book takes you through the fundamental principles of cell biology and genetics in a comprehensive yet concise integrated format. Fully updated with improved layout, the first part of this volume provides the essential concepts of cell biology and molecular genetics in a memorable, easy-to-understand format. Complex information is provided succinctly and is accompanied by a full artwork programme thereby giving ready access to an often challenging subject. A full discussion of tools in molecular medicine, genetic disease and principles of medical genetics in the second part of the volume adds relevance to the underlying concepts for the clinical environment.Additional new features include Learning Objectives at the start of each chapter, improved Hints and Tips boxes, Clinical Application boxes, and the book also features an extensive self-assessment section of multiple-choice, extended-matching and short-answer essay questions for the reader to determine gaps in knowledge and prepare for exams. ... Read more

Product Description
Focuses on cell biology techniques for studying cytokines, cytokine receptors, and cytokine-driven processes. Includes the analysis of T cell cytokine production and the effect of cytokines on T cells, intracellular fluorescent staining, and more. Previous edition: c1995. Hardcover, softcover also available. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Comprehensive but very "textbookie"
This is a great resource to get started with your cytokine response analysis.
It covers a lot of the basics with some cartoons for the novice. There are specific bioassays for almost all cytokines and some chemokines, but if you want to get some real cutting-edge work done, you may end up reading more up to date literature (the latest edition was printed in 2001).
All in all, a great resource to have and well worth the money. ... Read more

Product Description
Biological and medical research relies upon an integrated understanding of the molecules within cells and of the interactions between cells.This has imposed great demands on investigators.Being an expert in a relatively narrow area is no longer sufficient as many studies now require the use of a wide range of techniques to provide the necessary integration.A lack of familiarity with the experimental possibilities can make such diversification difficult to achieve.This two volume set of Essential Cell Biology is designed to help researchers overcome these problems. It has not been possible to include all of the techniques available in cell biology so the challenge was to identify those that might be most relevant to researchers who are new to this topic. We have tried to cover both traditional and more recent approaches. The theory and basic principles of each technique are described, together with detailed protocols and advice for trouble shooting.Directions to more specialised techniques are also included.We hope the result inspires readers to experience the challenges and rewards of cell biology research for themselves and to contribute to the ongoing task of understanding the life of the cell. Essential Cell Biology volume 2 concentrates on understanding how the cell functions whilst Volume 1 focuses on techniques for studying cell structure. Volume 2 details the essential background information and protocols for investigating cell cell function, including, for example, investigations of cellular transport, receptors and gene expression. This is the essential guide to cell biology for researchers new to the field. ... Read more