Book Description
Reveals the connections between genetics and specific diseases

Understand the science and the ethics behind genetics

Want to know more about genetics? This non-intimidating guide gets you up to speed on all the fundamentals. From dominant and recessive inherited traits to the DNA double-helix, you get clear explanations in easy-to-understand terms. Plus, you'll see how people are applying genetic science to fight disease, develop new products, solve crimes . . . and even clone cats.

Discover:

• What geneticists do
• How traits are passed on
• How genetic counseling works
• The basics of cloning
• The role of DNA in forensics
• The scoop on the Human Genome Project

Customer Reviews (15)

I have Good Genes!
Genetics for Dummies is a wonderful resource and quick reference in the area of genetics.The authors makes the reading easy and interesting by including tidbits of both applicable and real-world cases of how genetics touches our lives.The chapters read quickly and don't have alot of scientific lingo.

Just the book for a curious engineer
I am an engineer, and wanted to learn the basics of this interesting subject out of curiousity. This is the perfect book : much more accessible than the textbooks.

Great Book!
This book is wonderful. I am taking a genetics course in college, and this has been a lifesaver. It does a wonderful job of teaching the material in a clear, concise, and organized manner. I highly recommend this product!

A page too far
Unfortunately this book failed due entirely to the fact that it had duplicate pages from page 78 to 174 and pages 175 to 300 missing completely.

Genetics for Dummies
The actual content and writing style are great.Easy to understand, even for someone like me who has been out of school for 25+ years.However, the book was missing 3 chapters in the middle.I ordered another one and it was also missing the chapters.This must be a publishing mistake.If that is corrected then I would give the book 5 Stars. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Not my favorite book!
Ifound this book to be confusing and hard to decipher at times!!I sometimes had to read the paragraph several times to get it and then I would find later in thebook somewhere, what I was confused about was explained somewhat better.This book caused me to waste a lot of time trying figure out things.Perhaps better organization would be helpful. I wouldn't recomend this book.

very introductory
Covers the topics very basically. Good for an undergrad class but not anything more.

an introduction to gentics Analyis
The first time we recieved this book it was the answers to text questions only. The second time we did not order it but somehow by just looking at the web site it got orderd thus we had to return it cause we had already purchased it somewhere else.

Good
It was just as described, and I am happy with the item I got. Thanks a lot!

Ok Genetics Book
The questions in the back of each chapter are really helpful.Sometimes the chapter itself is a bit vague.The chapter describing bacteria genetics was done very poorly.Even my TA agreed that the way it's written is hard for beginners to understand. ... Read more

Product Description
Completely updated to reflect new discoveries and current thinking in the field, the fourth edition of Essential Genetics is designed for the shorter, less comprehensive introductory course in genetics. The text is written in a clear, lively, and concise manner, and includes many special features that make the book "user friendly." Topics were carefully chosen to provide a solid foundation for understanding the basic processes of gene transmission, mutation, expression, and regulation. The text also helps students develop skills in problem solving, achieve a sense of the social and historical context in which genetics has developed, and become aware of the genetic resources and information available through the Internet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great book for the budding geneticist...
I bought this book online because I needed it for my Genetics class in the spring semester. I'm happy with Amazon for shipping it on time; the Prime membership is really worth it.
The book itself is perfect for anyone trying to understand genetics for the first time. I have taken genetics classes before, and this book really helped me refresh my memory. It is suitable for the person who wishes to teach him/herself, and it is great for the person wishing to specialize in this area.
If you're considering buying the book, get it. It's worth every penny.

Great book!
Great diagrams and broken down descriptions. It was a great help for my upper division genetics class! I couldn't have passed without it!

Unclear Explanations, Many Errors in the Problems
As an another student at Harvard, i found this book very unclear at explaning many important concepts in genetics, such as Holliday structure. The authors of this book fail to present approropriate and clear explanations for the conclusions that they make. Also, materials in chapters tend to be seemed unrelated...

Prof Hartl is an entertaining in his lectures but not clear in his book.

A Good Read
As a undergrad at Harvard who took Prof Hartl's intro genetics class (in which we used this textbook), I can tell you that this encompasses all the information we covered in a semester-legnth class. What you miss out on, however, is Prof Hartl's funny, engaging teaching style and graphically complex computer demos. That said I learned (both from class and this book) why female cats' fur can be calico and other interesting applications of genetics. In the age of the Human Genome Project, basic genetics knowledge is crucial, and this book is a great intro to the topic.

Genetically Fun
This was a book that I dreaded to read for a college class.I opened it and stared at the cover with dread.However, I was very surprised to find that it was easy to understand and even.....interesting? Yes, I admit, Ifell in love with the subject of genetics by reading this book. It had realworld applications and provided many sample questions.The pictures weregreat and a perfect addition to the entire book.I really enjoyed thisbook. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Very good book
I don't have biology background but this book helps me learn a lot. The author presents concepts in a simple and clear manner.

Amazing Intro Book on Genetics
This book provides a wonderful and comprehensive introduction to genetics. I'm not a biology major, but I found that this book is both entertaining and informative. The author describes a wide panoramic view on the genetics, and yet addresses the fundamental concepts in genetics in very clear manner. DNA structure, replication, transcription to RNA, RNA processing, and RNA translation (a.k.a. the central dogma) have been very hard to comprehend and visualize, yet the author explains it very well. Numerous detailed illustrations in the book really helps to clarify the central dogma.

All chapters start with VERY compelling REAL-WORLD cases that tantalizes you on learning the subject presented in the chapter. That makes me wanting to read for more. The writing is concise and clear. The author clearly knows his stuff.

Overall, it is a great intro book. Great for both self-learners and in-class students. Definitely a must buy for those who want to get acquainted in genetics.

For in depth contents: The book seems to be divided into four parts.

1. It starts with principles of classical (Mendelian) genetics with its applications on chapter 1. Then it goes into cell structures, functions, and reproduction with chapter 2-4. Followed by heredity principles of reproduction and how classical genetics fit into the analysis of hereditary traits. The next chapter discusses how classical genetics is not enough -- the author presents compelling cases like lethal alleles, incomplete penetration, and so forth in chapter 5-6. This limitation brings forth extensions and modifications on the basic principles, which is also discussed. The author also discusses other analyses to detect hereditary traits, such as pedigree analysis.

2. The second part is more toward modern genetics: How genes are not independently assorted as the Mendelian principles dictates. The concept of linkage, recombination, and consequently gene mapping are discussed in chapter 7. Followed by Chapter 8 is sort of intermezzo on bacterial and viral genetic systems.

3. The third part is the meat of the book:
Chapter 9 discusses what chromosomes are and how chromosomes abnormalities occur and what type of abnormalities.
Chapter 10 discusses about DNA and RNA structure, followed by chromosome structure in chapter 11.
Chapter 12 discusses DNA replication and recombination with detailed illustrations.
Chapter 13 discusses transcription process, followed by chapter 14 on RNA molecules and processing.
Chapter 15 discusses about genetic code and translation, followed by chapter 16: Gene expression.
Chapter 17 discusses gene mutations and DNA repair.

4. The fourth part is "elective" part:
Chapter 18: Recombinant DNA technolocy
Chapter 19: Genomics (Structural, Functional, and Comparative)
Chapter 20: Organelle DNA
Chapter 21: Various advanced topics
Chapter 22: Quantitative Genetics (very basic single locus regression as an intro)
Chapter 23: Population and Evolutionary Genetics

Yay, books.
Thanks for the books, they are great new and even better arriving fast.

Very Good
This was in perfect condition, as the listing suggested. Also came in the mail less than a week after I ordered it. perfect transaction.

the right book
the book that is being shown on amazon is not the newest book. the book is now paper back, check with the buyer and check with your teacher to be sure that you are buying a hardback book, or if they will let u use a paperback book. there is some difference between the two dont get stuck..if your using this book for a class your gonna need the study guide that goes along with it, it's really helpful explaining hard concepts that most prof. cant get across. ... Read more

Book Description
In the rapidly advancing science of genetics, currency and accuracy are critical in any book. This book presents the most up-to-date developments in genetics as well as the fundamental principles. It stresses how genetics is done and provides historical and biographical insights to the people and events that have made genetics a pre-eminent science. The new edition incorporates organizational changes to make the book more modern, including earlier DNA coverage. A new design also highlights numerous practice problems that help reinforce important concepts.

* Provides a comprehensive and balanced view of both Classical Mendelian topics and modern Molecular topics.

* Incorporates the latest findings from Genomics and Proteomics.

* Includes numerous high-quality illustrations with stepped-out art to help readers visualize complex processes.

* Offers the analytical tools that readers will need for problem solving. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Well written.
When I was getting a very brief introduction of genetics in my Biology book by Raven, for some reason I was just not understanding what the hell I was reading.This book is easy to grasp, very well written.I highly recommend it to anyone, also, the CD is pretty good.

it was great
this book helped me a lot. i used the book for its extra problems which they were great.

Great Purchase
There was no marks in the whole book, and the price was great.

The best introductory text broadly covering the field
I would rate this as one of the best (if not the best) introductory texts in genetics.Comparing this to various other material that I've come across, Snustad and Simmons definitely exhibit superior aptitude in educational skills in this work.They have a firm grasp of what their target readers can understand and know how build up the readers' progressive comprehension while keeping the interest level high.This is the true mark of a well-constructed textbook.We all know how boring some texts can be, but I found myself always itching to read on and even go backward to review some of the concepts.The authors' use of simple language (unlike some other "introductory" texts) makes reading somewhat "light and fun" in contrast to some others who seem to not be as adept in communicating to "pre-PhD" students.

Another characteristic that makes this work stand out is it's sheer beauty.The illustrations, photographs, charts, and even the layout are absolutely gorgeous!Hey, I'm not one who judges a book by the cover, but even the cover is beautiful!The artwork is well thought out and easy to understand.Many parts of the text can be reviewed plainly by looking at the pictorial descriptions without necessitating too much re-reading of the sections.

The authors also include well-placed "sidelights" throughout the book to help the reader get a "real-life" connection to subject.And the sidelights are mostly about what we care about most...ourselves.Thus, in addition to constant reference to medical applications here and there, the sidelights help the reader appreciate what genetics is all about.

Another important aspect of this text is that it is up to date.The authors have taken into consideration the exponential advances in the field and documented it here.That is just one more plus to this already fantastic piece of work!

i want to review this book again
i have read this book once but i am very keen to read again this book so i want to read this book and for that i want to see the review of this book. ... Read more

Book Description
Through six editions, Thompson & Thompson's Genetics in Medicine has been a well-established favorite textbook on this fascinating and rapidly evolving field, integrating the classic principles of human genetics with modern molecular genetics to help you understand a wide range of genetic disorders. The 7th edition incorporates the latest advances in molecular diagnostics, the Human Genome Project, and much more. More than 240 dynamic illustrations and high-quality photos help you grasp complex concepts more easily. In addition to the book, you will also receive STUDENT CONSULT, enabling you to access the complete contents of the book online, anywhere you go! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Comprehensive
This is a quite comprehensive and general overview of medical genetics, with perhaps more focus on scientific research than clinical practice, although both are well represented.

However, this is a rapidly changing field of research, and some of the newest techniques (such as whole genome association studies) and most informative websites (such as SNPedia) that are insufficiently addressed in this edition will presumably get caught only in the (hopefully frequent) future editions. ... Read more

Book Description

• An up-to-date guide to basic concepts and applications in genetics­­from classic inheritance and population genetics to cutting-edge molecular genetics and biotechnology

• Provides 450 detailed problems, with step-by-step solutions, along with expert techniques for solving difficult problems, considerably expanding the reader's range of experience with various kinds of problems

This updated and expanded fourth edition of the best-selling solved-problem study guide, features new chapters on gene structure and regulation and mitochondrial inheritance, as well as new material on special topics, such as developmental genetics, bacterial genetics, viruses, transposable elements, cancer, and more

Customer Reviews (4)

Outstanding volume of essays
I agree with Doc Dave in his earlier review that this is in many ways a better text than the standard ones out there. It's clearer, more concise, covers the advanced topics quite well considering its brevity, and as the Doc says, it's a fraction of the price of the actual texts.

I used this book to get thru a genetics course many years ago, and it was worth ten times the price I paid for it. It explained the concepts better than either the professor I had, or his T.A., who had graduated from U.C. Berkeley.

The presentation of classical genetics is the best I know of. You can find explanations of the molecular aspects that are probably as good, but for the classical stuff, and the coverage of the mathematical problems that derive from that approach, this is the best book I've ever seen.

I've used Schaum's outlines for a number of difficult subjects over the years, including electrical circuits and electronics, digital electronics and theory, genetics, differential equations, biochemistry, and applied statistics. They continue to be the best aids outside the classroom itself for the more difficult subject areas.

Schaum's Outline of Genetics
It is very informative and a great reference for the study of genetics and related studies.
It is self-explanatory in the theories presented and easy to comprehend.

It is a must-have reference!

best genetics text available
The Stansfield/Elrod outline remains as comprehensive as any of the intro to genetics textbooks currently available.At about 10-15% the cost of the "standard" texts, this outline delivers the same material with more clarity, and often more accuracy.The concepts of classical genetics, which often prove more challenging for students than molecular aspects, are covered admirably in this book.While those who enjoy colorful illustration and pastel text boxes might be disappointed, the b&w figures in this book are extremely clear, logical and most importantly helpful towards learning the material.No solution manual or supplemental CD-ROM is required.Highly recommended as a reference, or as a text for general genetics classes.

real bargain
Comparable in scope, clarity, completeness, and accuracy to any of the very expensive general genetics texts currently available.And with this one there's nothing else to buy...no study guides, solution manuals, cd's or supplemental websites are required.The book stands alone, and does so for less than half the price of the solution manual for most texts.Particularly strong is the coverage of classical genetics, which can often be more difficult to grasp than the more modern "molecular" concepts of the science.Highly recommended for self-study, as a reference, or as a supplement to any genetics textbook. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

brand new
book was sent in a slower fashion, but still got it before it was absolutely needed.thank you ... Read more

Amazon.com
Having trouble deciphering your genetic code? Do dominant genes make you feel recessive? Let reigning nonfiction cartoonist Larry Gonick and microbiologist Mark Wheelis ease your way through Mendelian genetics, molecular biology, and the basics of genetic engineering. Gonick's drawings range from a moderately detailed look at ribosomes in action to loony pictures of dancing scientists, talking peas, and opinionated fruit flies. Matthew Meselson, co-discoverer of the "one gene-one protein" principle, says, "it puts textbooks to shame"--and he's right. --Mary Ellen Curtin Book Description
Illustrates, simplifies, and humor-coats the important principles of classical and modern genetics and their experimental bases, with amusing anecdotes about how the ancients tried to explain inheritance and sex determination. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

Very good and fun way to learn about genetics
The book provided an excellent and very useful introduction to genetics, without having to endure the dryness of most introductory textbooks, etc.Would definitely recommend it.

Nicely Engineered
This is the update edition of "The Cartoon Guide to Genetics" by Larry Gonick and Mark Wheelis.The original edition was published in 1983, and this First Collins edition was published in 2005.This is one of a series of Cartoon Guides which Larry Gonick has co-authored with scientists in the field of choice.Mark Wheelis is the senior lecturer in Microbiology at the University of California at Davis.

The book opens with a pre-history of the field; discussing diverse subjects such as domestication of plants and animals, the biblical story of Jacob's Flock, spontaneous generation, selective breeding, and so on.They move on to give an excellent overview and history of the subject.Unlike the other Cartoon Guide's that I have read, this one lacks any chapters or sections.Perhaps they felt the subject was narrow enough that it was not necessary, but for readability it might have been better to have broken the book into chapters.

This book serves well as an introduction, overview, review, and/or history of the subject.Of the guides that I have read, I would rank this book just a slight bit behind the Cartoon Guide to Physics, and better than the Computer and Statsitics guides.

Splendid, Spectacular Overview
I just finished this book an hour ago and am ready to rave about it (and, more generally, its highly visual and accessible approach).More than any "popular" science book I've ever read, it quickly took me to an unprecedented comfort level with the material.Cellular biology is a three-dimensional domain where pure-text approaches fall short when trying to describe the spatial processes of cellular replication, DNA copying, etc.I think that this writing team has a talent for making information teachable, and that this book (along with the books of its kind in the series) is a great gift to the curious layperson.Thanks again to the authors - wow!

Fun stuff.
Larry Gonick, The Cartoon Guide to Genetics, Revised Edition (Harper, 1991)

As adults, we sometimes forget that the way things are presented to kids will not only help kids understand things, but may also help adults who've never read up on a subject. Taking a vastly complex topic like genetics and boiling it down into something that a layman can understand is not an easy task at all. Sometimes, putting it in a format geared for kids helps, and still makes something worthy for adults to read.

The Cartoon Guide to Genetics is Larry Gonick's attempt at taking a vastly complex topic and doing exactly this. He goes kind of overboard at times, but that might be necessary; it's possible not everyone's biology class covered the basics of Mendel (or, more likely, not everyone was actually paying attention in biology). Because he does take so much time with the basics, there are some avenues to which he alludes where he never goes into detail (kind of the cartoon version of the hated "beyond the scope of this book" cop-out), and I wish he'd sacrificed some of the common knowledge for some of the more esoteric stuff.

Still, this makes a good intro to the world of genetics, both for kids who may be interested in the field and adults who are interested in reading up on it. *** ½

A valuable overview and review
I am a student that has completed university-level biology over the past year (2004) with an `A' average, and presently studying the application of computer science to biological problems. I found this book laying in a professor's office so I borrowed it for kicks. What a surprise to find the principle concepts of biology arranged so well as to make a quick afternoon review of the basics possible. I really like modern university science texts, but sometimes the interrelationships of concepts are lost in the flood of information from them. This book lifts the academic information fog away from those interrelationships so that they may be clearly seen. Concepts traditionally separated by chapters of information are brought together in the space of a funny drawing or two in this book. I wish I had this book before I went through basic biology, because I think I would have gotten more out of the course with such an overview. But that didn't stop me from killing all hope of a curve at exam time:)
By the way, although this book was published in 1991 the content remains quite accurate to this date with few exceptions, most notably the 2 page emphasis on `one gene - one enzyme' (pp114-115). This has changed now with the discovery of alternative splicing just a few years ago. But overall, the book remains a very useful overview of an incredibly fascinating field of science.
5 stars ... Read more

Book Description
Following the completion of the Human Genome Project the content and organization of the third edition of Human Molecular Geneticshas been thoroughly revised.
* Part One (Chapters 1-7) covers basic material on DNA structure and function, chromosomes, cells and development, pedigree analysis and the basic techniques used in the laboratory.
* Part Two (Chapters 8-12) discusses the various genome sequencing projects and the insights they provide into the organization, expression, variation and evolution of our genome.
* Part Three (Chapters 13-18) focuses on mapping, identifying and diagnosing the genetic causes of mendelian and complex diseases and cancer.
* Part Four (Chapters 19-21) looks at the wider horizons of functional genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, animal models and therapy.
There are new chapters on cells and development and on functional genomics. The sections on complex diseases havebeen completely rewritten and reorganized, as has the chapter on Genome Projects. Other changes include a new section on molecular phylogenetics (Chapter 12) and the introduction of 'Ethics Boxes' to discuss some of the implications of the new knowledge. Virtually every page has been revised and updated to take account of the stunning developments of the past four years since the publication of the last edition of Human Molecular Genetics.

features:
* Integration of Human Genome Project data throughout the book
* Two new chapters 'Cells and Development' (Chapter 3) and 'Beyond the Genome Project: Functional Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics' (Chapter 19)
* Completely rewritten and reorganized coverage of complex disease genetics
* Increased emphasis on gene function and on applications of genetic knowledge, including ethical issues
* More prominence given to novel approaches to treating disease, such as cell-based therapies, pharmacogenomics, and personalized medicine
* Special topic boxes that include detailed coverage of ethical, legal and social issues, including eugenics, genetic testing and discrimination, germ-line gene therapy and genetic enhancement, and human cloning
* Contains two indices: a general index and one that contains names of diseases and disorders. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Nice illustrations
This book is a pretty good read for thoes with advanced genetics knowledge. It reviews some of the more basic processes in the beginning before diving into the human stuff. As a warning though, it doesnt really hide anything like a beginning bio book so know what your getting yoruself into.

clinical geneticist
each addition of this text provides a close to current state of the science review of human molecular genetics, it is an excellent way to update onself about the field.

Excellent Reference Text Book for Moelcular Biology
I have used this book earlier for my post-doctoral research work and now I am using this book for the online Medical Laboratory Diagnostic course that I am taking. This is an excellent text book for students and researchers. This booknot only offers detailed insight into the fundamentals of human molecular genetics but also gives a review ofDNA and chromosome structure and function, cellular development, population genetics, cancer genetics, gene therapy, and different techniques of molecular genetic, its applications, and analyses. The figures and illustrationscomplement the text very well and are easy to understand. I would highly recommend "Human Molecular Genetics" by Tom Strachan and Andrew P. Read to senior-level college students, undergraduate students, graduate students, technologist working in a Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory and researchers.

Good book, nice figures.
I've only read through chapter 8 so far, but the text is understandable and the figures are clear and helpful--especially in the human genome project chapter, which had the potential to be very confusing.

Excellent reference for students and researchers.
This book offers detailed insight into the fundamentals of human molecular genetics.The contents review DNA and chromosome structure and function, cellular development, population genetics, cancer genetics, gene therapy, and a myriad of molecular genetic techniques, applications, and analyses. The figures and illustrations beautifully complement the text with easily understood captions and legends.The organization of the book is such that the reader can easily find a topic of interest without thumbing through the entire text.I would highly recommend "Human Molecular Genetics" by Tom Strachan and Andrew P. Read to senior-level college students, graduate students, and researchers.This is a must-have in the library of any geneticist. ... Read more

Book Description
Genetics: Analysis of Genes and Genomes, Sixth Edition by Hartl and Jones presents the modern world of genetics; treating classical, molecular, and population genetics as unified subdisciplines in a field that, even in our post-genomic era, still goes by the name "genetics." This approach to teaching genetics is a logical progression in a time when the various subdisciplines of genetics are so closely interwoven.

Written by two renowned authorities in the field, Genetics, Sixth Edition provides the most current, clear, comprehensive, and balanced introduction to genetics and genomics at the college level. It treats transmission genetics, molecular genetics, and evolutionary genetics as fully integrated subjects, and provides students with an unprecedented understanding of the basic processes of gene transmission, mutation, expression, and regulation. The text also explores the connections between modern and historical experimental methods used by geneticists, and offers valuable insight into the important historical and social context of genetics and genomics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Horrible Book
Absolutely horrible book. Chapters are written very poorly. They don't follow a pattern, but if I had to say there were one it would be tell you the big picture first so you have no idea what they're talking about then go into detail about each of the units and then after you've read the whole chapter you find it useful to reread the beginning again because you now know what the authors are talking about. Inconsistent use of vocabulary as well, they talk in colloquial terms and then all of the sudden use the word 'nascent' for instance, then you never see the word again. Nothing wrong with such things but the lack of consistency in the book makes it extremely poor in my opinion. Very poorly written, the information is there but organization is pathetic

BEAUTIFUL DESCRIPTION ABOUT GENES AND GENOMES ! SUPERB
GOOD PICTURE REPRESENTATION WITH EXCELLENT NOTES AND LOTS OF EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT GENE AND GENOMES . PROBLEMS HAVE SOME ERRORS ITS LITTLE CONFUSING BUT OVERALL A FABALOUS TEXT BOOK OF GENETICS. GOOD FOR STANDARD EXAM PREPARATIONS AND ALSO FOR UNDERGRAD/GRAD STUDENTS . ALL THE BEST CHECK FOR FOR MINNOR ERRORS IN THE TEXT .... TAKE THE BEST OUT OF IT .....
... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Excellent Intro and More
This is extremely well written introducton for undergraduates. I am using it as the backup since my instructor assigned Harwell et al's book, which is not nearly as well written. This book has excellent graphics, the whole book is well organized and well written.

great book, concise
This book covers genetics quite well its concise. It covers all the topics pretty well and also has plenty of genetic problems to make sure you know your stuff. I'd recommend getting the solutions book as well

decent book - satisfactory genetic text
My class didn't use this text much as part of the course but when i read it i found it helpful - the reviews were well done and outlines helped cover the material.

I used this book for my lectures.
OK, let me put it simply.

I used this book to prepare for my lectures to 2nd year medical undergraduates- and I received outstanding feedback. The students just loved it!

A descent book for beginners
Before making any critics about this book I should stress upon the fact that the authors well deserve a four star rating for this most readable book, both for the writing style and for the contents.Almost everything written is clear, concise and well presented.The captions are of high quality and if you ever buy this book feel sure that you are not wasting your money!I am referring in particular to chapter 16: Genetics of Bacteria and Bacteriophages which in reality is quite tricky but here presented with simple words.You may not have to read it more than once for you will understand it right from the first lecture.For in-depth study though you might need something more advanced!
However I did not really appreciate the way the fluctuation test of S.Luria and M.Delbruk was presented nor was the following work of J.Cairns and B.Hall in chapter 14: Gene mutation, DNA repair and Transposable elements.There seems to lack the true essence of it.Furthermore the existence of mutational hotspots is limited to a subsection only of chapter 14 and a few lines on the work of S.Benzer.Even B.Lewin in Genes VII gives a better treatment of mutational hotspots.Finally I would have expected a chapter on Mutations to talk about mutator mutations as possible ways to increase or decrease the spontaneous mutation rate but no such references were made.
Despite these few things, if you love genetics or need an introductory course be sure that this book is meant for you! ... Read more

Book Description
Genetics: Analysis and Principles is a one-semester, introductory genetics textbook that takes an experimental approach to understanding genetics.By weaving one or two experiments into the narrative of each chapter, students can simultaneously explore the scientific method and understand the genetic principles that have been learned from these experiments. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

I keep returning to this textbook
This is the only genetics book I have.However, I have completed a graduate level biochemistry course.In biochemistry, we discussed many of the subjects presented in Brooker's textbook.Despite having an excellent biochemistry text, Brooker's presentation was often superior, providing a clearer explanation.

I have heard the graphics of the text often derided; I believe this is because some of the graphics were not printed well.Often the graphics are somewhat "fuzzy."However, comparing how well the graphics in this text present concepts against how well the graphics in other texts present the same concepts has been illuminating.Another student actually brought Brooker's text to our biochem lab several times to show other students the graphics to help explain some concepts.The graphics may be fuzzy, but they get the point across.

I'm keeping this in my library.I have returned to it several times.

There is a solutions manual to go with the text.I recommend getting the solutions manual.Working the problems at the end of each chapter will provide a good understanding of the material.

nice diagrams, bad information
I recently used this book in an undergraduate genetics course that was taught by a M.D./Genetics Counselor who, after the first month or so of using the book and the accompaning powerpoint presentation got so frustrated that told us not to bother reading the book anymore.An example would be the improper use of the Chi Square test that the book uses and instructs.

If you are an instructor save yourself the trouble of dealing with a book with so many errors in it.

Excellent text for self-directed learning
I used this textbook in a distance learning course and have found it to be invaluable to my learnng experience.

For anyone who has taken Genetics, you'll account for the fact that it is not an easy course. Taking it without a professor present is even more challenging. Luckily this text is well written and easy to follow. The author uses a mix of theory and experiment examples to drive important concepts home. The language is not dry like in many Biology texts. Instead, it is easy to read, almost to the point of being enjoyable.

There are a few things I really liked:
1. The illustrations in this book are paramount to learning difficult concepts. When explaining experimental procedures, the text is accompanied by step-by-step instuctions and illustrations as to how the experiment was carried out. This proved helpful in visualizing the procedure.
2. Each chapter is well organized and easy to understand. The author speaks in easy to understand terms (that is if you have had previous Biology courses.) His writing style is dynamic and never boring.
3. Difficult concepts are often explained more than once. Sometimes the book gets a little ahead of itself, but page numbers and chapters are always given so you can read about things you don't understand.
4. The end of each chapter provides the reader with provocative critical thinking questions that solidify important points from the chapter. Best of all, even numbered answers are given in the back so you can check yourself without hunting through the book.

Overall I'd give this book an A and it will remain in my collection of Biology texts.

The Best Undergraduate Textbook I've Seen for Genetics
I've just completed my first semester teaching Genetics at a small liberal arts college in Indiana.Because I was jumping into the position I was stuck using the text previously designed for the class.Almost a third of the book was classical genetics, which I enjoy, but was certainly overplayed. Molecular Biology areas were a jumble of terms to learn and lists to inscribe into their brains.The problems in the book did not reflect the material in the text, leaving the class pretty much upset with the book.By midterm it was time to find another sources for the class.

I found myself reaching for other texts, and "Genetics, Analysis and Principles" turned out to be the jewel.It is well balanced, very clearly written, and does not spend its time making students read long memory lists of genes or proteins that the class is going to forget less than two weeks after the term.I think this is largely reflectedby the way he wrote the book; with input from students.

Reading the intro I was afraid that this text was going to be way over into the experimental design/ data side which I've seen in other texts mean "no content". Not so this text; experimental design has been written into the book to describe genetics and content, not replace it.I think what is truely unique about this book is the use of scientific process as a way to teach concepts.I wish I had more books like this one for other courses.I hope Dr. Brooker's format for Biology (and yes other science courses) is adopted for other courses.

If you are considering a text for your Genetics classes, I think you will be very pleased with this book. ... Read more

Book Description
Genetics: From Genes to Genomes is a cutting-edge, introductory genetics text authored by an unparalleled author team, including Nobel Prize winner, Leland Hartwell. The Third Edition continues to build upon the integration of Mendelian and molecular principles, providing students with the links between early genetics understanding and the new molecular discoveries that have changed the way the field of genetics is viewed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Decent
This book is decent. It seems like it could be used in a lower-level undergraduate genetics class. One good thing is that it includes the answers to odd problems in the back of the book (it would be better to have the answers to every problem). One bad thing is that the answers in the back of the book are not exact -- it seems like the authors used decimals in their work and carried the rounding errors into the final solution. For instance, an answer like 3/4 will sometimes appear as 0.746. In some cases, two parts of the question should have the same answer, but again, they vary due to rounding errors. This was confusing to me at first and is the main reason why I wrote this review.

Also, this book is way too expensive for what you get. Most of the material in this book is covered in [better] books that you will use later in your studies (i.e. The Molecular Biology of the Cell). If you can avoid buying this book new, then it might be a good deal. Otherwise, save your money because it is not worth it (ask your teacher if you can use a different book for the class -- in many cases, this will be acceptable).

Not for the uninitiated
This is a good book if you already have a foundation in genetics. Oddly, the book is marketed as your basic undergrad genetics text. Yet instead of just explaining the concepts, it leads you on the path of discovery of how researchers figured all this stuff out. If you are still learning the subject, you may do better with Klug/Cummings/Spencer. If you are going into higher levels of biology and want to learn some research methods, this is a good book.

Genetics: From Genes to Genomes
The book came in very quickly and I am very happy with the purchase. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good general reference
Good text, quite readable and easy to understand.Written by experts in cancer biology at U of WA and Cornell. ... Read more

Book Description
The smart way to study!Elsevier titles with STUDENT CONSULT will help you master difficult concepts and study more efficiently in print and online! Perform rapid searches. Integrate bonus content from other disciplines. Download text to your handheld device. And a lot more. Each STUDENT CONSULT title comes with full text online, a unique image library, case studies, USMLE style questions, and online note-taking to enhance your learning experience. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Best Succinct Text for Medical Genetics
I have been teaching medical genetics to medical students and graduate students for more than twenty years, and I have been using the Jorde textfor teaching medical students since it was first published.

This text is the most succinct text available to my knowledge on the topic of medical genetics.This is perfect for medical students who have relatively little time in their schedules for genetics (16 lecture hours versus 48 hours for graduate students).The text is very clear, has great examples, ties in medical applications with the scientific explanations of principles, and has a wide array of online resources readily available.With very little exception, every page is worth the reading for medical students, and is helpful for them in learning what they need to know to become fully conversant in medical genetics and well acquainted with the general principles and emerging technologies.[I wish the cytogenetics chapter were illustrated better, but this is a minor weakness relative to the other strengths in the text.]

This is not the best text available for graduate students in clinical or medical genetics if the text is to be used alone (i.e. not supplemented with articles to add deeper levels of details).For students with a full 3-credit graduate course in medical genetics, it does not have quite sufficient depth, in my opinion.I don't have any significant experience teaching undergraduates, and will leave that area to others.

All in all, these authors have put together the clearest and most concise resource on medical genetics, and I highly recommend it for any audience whose needs are for efficient and palatable material on the principles of medical genetics.

Good review of medical genetics
I did not select this book, it was required for a class I was taking, but it is a well written book.This book offers a good review of medical genetics at a moderate level.It features "case study" areas about some individual genetic diseases (i.e. hemophilia) and is user friendly.

An excellent preclinical book
This book was intended to prepare medical students to understand the basic science principles that form the foundation of clinical genetics. It is not intended to be a clinical handbook.It does an excellent job showing how the clinical genetic diseases illustrate the scientific principles of genetics.I think that it is very well written, and forms a foundation to pursue more clinical studies.

medical genetics
I think the book is fine,but there ought to be detailed explanations about various genetical disorders in human genes.

Medical Genetics
This book is extremely limited in discussing how these genetic disorders manifest themselves clinically.I would not recommend this book for students who plan to apply their knowledge in the clinical setting. Explanations of certain genetic terms are not always clearly defined norare certain biologic processes such as meiosis.Overall, a poorly writtenbook for anyone but a graduate student of genetics. ... Read more

Book Description

Balancing classical and modern genetics, Essentials of Genetics helps readers understand basic genetics concepts, apply those concepts to genetics problems, and recognize the logic behind them. This succinct treatment features coverage of new research that will capture readers’ interests.

Customer Reviews (4)

Essentials of Genetics (6th Edition)
This is for people that want to learn the basics of genetics. It is a simple book with illustrations that you can find in any genetics book that has pictures. The written material is the same drab of any genetics book. Only buy this if you need it for a class. If you are getting it for a light read, get an older edition and save some money. YOu will get the same material that way.

P-S nonsense
PLEASE tell somebody to eliminate the "-P-S-" abbreviation! (Fig. 9-12B, p. 201)
For years, I am fighting this imbecile representation of phosphate-sugar chain that persists in many, many textbooks, including Klug et al.

Nobody should abbreviate sugar as S (especially after Hershey-Chase experiment explained a bit earlier). Ask the Chemistry department!
"P" for phosphate is bad enough as well; so many students do not know the difference between phosphate and phosphorus!

Also, on Fig. 10-8 deoxyriboses have two strange features:
(a) they seem to miss C5' atom completely; (b) if P here is phosphate (-PO4), as I hope, then what is an extra oxygen doing here? Or "P" on Fig. 10-8 is different P from that on Fig. 9-10?

Difficult for Beginners
If you are taking an introduction to genetics course, this book is difficult to understand. It seemingly presents the concepts for those that have had previous knowledge of genetics. The chapters on Mendelian Genetics, Mitosis, and Meiosis are done well, but later chapters dealing with regulation, mutation, transcription, and translation are difficult to understand. The pictures are not very helpful, either. If this book is required for your introductory genetics course, i recommend getting another book in addition to this one.

very interesting concepts for learning
I took this course because it is a required course for my major.After getting into the first month of classes, I started to read the textbook.Genetics is a very interesting topic, and this book displays this.It breaks down concepts for the student to understand, and has great photos and figures.There are also one to two page "stories" which relate to the concept of the chapter at the end of each chapter.These are real stories of history or happenings of how Genetics has severely affected people.There is also a review and questions at the end of each chapter.Overall, I would give the book a four star rating. ... Read more

Book Description
Eating genetically modified food is gambling with every bite.
The biotech industry’s claim that genetically modified (GM) foods are safe is shattered in this groundbreaking book. Sixty-five health risks of the foods that Americans eat every day are presented in easy-to-read two-page spreads. The left page is designed for the quick scanning reader; it includes bullets, illustrations, and quotes. The right side offers fully referenced text, describing both research studies and theoretical risks. The second half of Genetic Roulette shows how safety assessments on GM crops are not competent to identify the health problems presented in the first half. It also exposes how industry research is rigged to avoid finding problems.
This book, prepared in with input by more than 30 scientists, is for anyone wanting to understand GM technology, to learn how to protect themselves, or to share their concerns with others. It is presented in the clear, accessible style that made Jeffrey Smith’s Seeds of Deception the world’s best-selling book on genetically engineered foods. As the world’s most complete reference on the health risks of GM foods, Genetic Roulette is also ideal for schools and libraries. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great reference on GM foods
Genetic Roulette is well organized, well researched and well documented. It's layout makes it easy to pick out the main points of a topic or get all the details. It makes a handy reference and a good resource for plowing through all the specifics.

Jeffrey Smith is a stickler for accuracy. When I contacted him to use some excerpts from his books in my new editon of FOOD ADDITIVES: A Shopper's Guide..., it was very clear to me that he wanted to make sure that I was absolutely accurate with my facts. He demonstrated to me, his commitment to complete and total accuracy and publishing only factual information.

If you want to know the truth about genetically engineered food, I highly recommend this book.

GENETIC ROULETTE is a unique reference not to be missed.
GENETIC ROULETTE: THE DOCUMENTED HEALTH RISKS OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS is a recommended pick for college-level health libraries: it covers everything from genetic transfer issues and risks for children and newborns to safety-related assumptions that have been proven wrong, signs of toxic reactions, and more. Packed with charts, FDA review information, details on regulatory issues and industry studies, and overall health concerns, GENETIC ROULETTE is a unique reference not to be missed.

Food Advice from Flying cultist? Be my guest
Jeff Smith purports to present "science" demonstrating the dangers of genetically engineered foods. Rather than deconstruct the hilariously paranoid, non-scientific boogeymen that Smith and others see in GM foods, I think readers should know just exactly who author Jeff Smith is. Then they can decide if this self-published book is worth reading. (yes, Smith published this book himself, as no respected publisher would take it)

Jeff Smith is an ardent and long-time follower of the Maharishi cult that has taken over a small town in Iowa. Over the past decade, the Maharishi cult has meddled in many things (their town only allows the sale/serving of "organic foods."), including attempts to get their members elected into political office.

Jeff Smith was an aide to a Maharishi cult candidate running for the U.S. Senate in Illinois in 1996. During the campaign, Smith and others would demonstrate "yogic flying" on the campaign trail and explain how SCIENCE shows yogic flying reduces crime, etc.

According to the University of Illinois' Daily Illini student newspaper (10/28/1996):
"Jeffrey Smith, a Davis aide and one of the three flyers, explained the idea and effects of yogic flying, which relies on practicing transcendental meditation, to the small crowd.

"Smith presented charts with evidence of a correlation between the presence of yogic flyers and an increase in the quality of life and a decrease in crime. Smith cited limited yogic flying programs in Washington D.C. and near the Middle East that resulted in less crime and more harmony.

"'(This is why) Jim Davis as the Senate candidate for the Natural Law Party believes that any city that has a group of say 7,000 yogic flyers practicing together will not only generate great coherence and cleansing effect for the nation and the entire world, but will enjoy a dramatic reduction in crime rate within the city,' Smith said."

So, please -- if you're into "yogic flying" and believe that science proves "yogic flying" reduces crime, then this book (and author) will be credible. If you have a more "grounded" view of science and food safety, steer clear of this paranoid rant.

P.S. Smith also teaches Swing Dancing if that's builds up his credibility any.

The last word on GM risks
What's your response when someone comes out with a statement they've picked up from somewhere to the effect that "There's no evidence that GM food is harmful"?

If you have time and energy, perhaps you manage to scrabble together bits and pieces from memory, the web, or an article. But considering the number of calls that the business of living places on us, perhaps you just shrug your shoulders and muse that the world is going to hell in a handbasket of Bush, Blair, and Monsanto's making and there's nothing you can do about it.

Well, now there is. Just point them in the direction of the latest book from Jeffrey Smith, Genetic Roulette.

A must-read for policy-makers, educators, and journalists, it's also invaluable for anyone who wants to sharpen their weaponry in the battle against the imposition of GM foods. And judging by emails I've received from students asking about the risks of GM food, every educational institution and public library needs a copy.

Those who enjoyed Smith's previous book, Seeds of Deception, should be warned that this isn't the same sort of read. Seeds laid out the fraud of GM through its stories: the honest scientists who were gagged, threatened, and persecuted; the consumers who got sick and died from eating a supplement produced with GM bacteria, only to have their suffering covered up by a government protecting industry interests. Genetic Roulette is not a book of stories, but an easy-to-use reference book of scientific and other documented findings on the risks of GM foods.

Contrary to what the industry would have us believe, a considerable number of findings show GM causes harm, and they are clearly presented in this book. Given the worrying lack of substantial published research, Smith also draws upon unpublished studies, case studies, medical reports, media reports, and eyewitness accounts. Unlike the notorious pronouncements of biotech industry supporters, statements of opinion are never misrepresented as scientific fact. The author has gone to great lengths to maintain accuracy, having each section of the book checked by at least three scientists.

Conspicuous by their absence are follow-up studies to those that show harm from GM foods. The book details tactics that industry uses to bury inconvenient research, including ignoring it, attempting to discredit the research or its authors, and funding competing studies so poorly designed that no meaningful findings can be extracted. If all else fails, industry-aligned researchers discount deaths of experimental animals or claim that statistically significant results have, magically, no significance at all.

The layout of the book is an exemplar of clarity and should serve as the model for any reference book. It is designed to make the material accessible to three levels of reader: scanners, casual readers, and those who want detail. Each double-page spread is devoted to a problem with GM foods, with the left-hand page having the topic heading, a quote by an expert, and a few summarizing bullet points; the right-hand page gives technical detail. You don't need a science background to understand it. While the book is not bedtime reading, terms are defined and the boggle factor is kept low. The table of contents enables the reader to scan the problems with GM food and quickly to access the evidence on each.

Smith has to be the best science communicator alive today, and this book stands as the final word on GM health risks. It's the definitive answer to those who don't know, those who don't want to know, and those who know but don't want anyone else to know. ... Read more

Book Description
Human Genetics, Seventh Edition, is a non-science majors human genetics text that clearly explains what genes are, how they function, how they interact with the environment, and how our understanding of genetics has changed since completion of the human genome project. It is a clear, modern, and exciting book for citizens who will be responsible for evaluating new medical options, new foods, and new technologies in the age of genomics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Informative material
I bought this book for a class I am taking. It has great pictures and explanations, which are beneficial in the understanding of the material.

A textbook you can use
For professors who are thinking of using this book, as a student I felt it engaged me immensely. For students who are contemplating shelling out the $$ for the book, I don't quite know what to tell you. The book is very easy to read, lots of colorful pictures, not just dry text. Each chapter starts off with a semi-personal story about the topic at hand. My teacher didn't use it that often for work but I found it helpful to support what I was learning in class. Great reference. Human Genetics is a very interesting topic and can get any lay person to talk about their views on what kind of world they want to see.

fast service
i was very happily suprised when i saw the book in the mail.their expedited shipping is really expedited shipping

The Human Drama
I needed it for class, she gets too caught up in social causes and debates.Having to deal with emotional issues in a science book is trash.If I wanted a book on morals, and social causes, with the emotions I would buy one.I want a science book, cut and dry.She should get a life.

easy to read text
great text book for genetics course. I use it at NYU. Easy to read, great illustrations, helpful index. ... Read more