Product Description
This is a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to the diagnosis, clinical features and management of inherited disorders conferring cancer susceptibility. This new edition is fully updated with much more molecular, screening and management information. It covers risk analysis and genetic counseling for individuals with a family history of cancer, and also discusses predictive testing and the organization of the cancer genetics service. It aims to provide such details in a practical format for geneticists and clinicians in all disciplines. This book differs from others in the field in that it is a practical handbook for easy reference for a wide clinical audience. There is a large reference list for further details, as well as information about the genes causing mendelian cancer predisposing condition and their mechanism of action. ... Read more

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"This is an exciting book. Its plea that genetic theory be integrated into social thought-rather than the other way around-is wonderfully lucid and well informed.A pleasure to read." --Vivian Gornick, author of The End of the Novel of Love ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Good, not great, book
I thought the book was generally well written, although as one reviewer stated, felt as though I was back in undergraduate lecture halls through some.She raises some interesting and thought provoking questions, but it sometimes takes her awhile to make her point.It was an interesting book, and certainly made me evaluate where I stand on some issues.

Important Issues
A former medical researcher and now a historian of medical ethics, I take a position between the two that have been expressed to date.We absolutely must consider the consequences of any new technology, and Rothman exploresthe possible deeper implications of the human genome-- which has at thispoint been deciphered.At times, her writing smacks of revisedundergraduate lectures with all their attendant hyperbole, but for the mostpart she presents crucial questions in a clear and readable manner.Iwould recommend this book to persons who want to think responsibly aboutgenome issues, but with the caveat that they should also read other pointsof view.

Fear of Technology
Very negative book that exaggerates dangers of a new technology.To demonstrate her exaggeration, turn to page 14 where she states "Every possible area of basic research has been cut, and cut again, and cut yetagain. But genetics gets funded."Between the books that exaggeratethe negative and those which ignore the dangers exist more balanced books. One such book is Lois Wingerson's "Unnatural Selection: The Promiseand Power of Human Gene Research." Lois correctly points out on page xthat "There are exaggeration and misinformation at both ends of thatspectrum--and a wealth of important detail in between, steadfastlyoverlooked by both sides." In my opinion, "Genetic Maps"represents the pessimistic end of that spectrum, and should be avoided.

powerful critique of science of genetics
This book helps us better understand the limits of genetic research and testing, and the dangers of believing that this magic new bullet will solve a host of social and medical "problems".For women especially,this book is must reading. ... Read more

Product Description
The debate over human Genetic Engineering (GE) is about to go mainstream. Not as a one-day wonder about cloning or a theological disagreement about embryos, but as a major political issue, driven in part by a grassroots movement of opposition.

Human Genetic Engineering is a highly readable and entertaining guide. It explains in accessible language for a popular audience the essential questions that will arise in the future debates: What is human GE? Will it work? What perspectives should we remember? Who is doing what, and why? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Fairly One Sided
I was quite annoyed after reading a few pages into the book. If one were to write about the ethical issues and problems that genetic engineering would induce, that person should be an expert at the matter, or better yet, have hands-on experience on it. I'm a neuroscience researcher at the Second ranking school in the nation. I understand how the mechanism behind this procedure and what we do as scientists; moreover, the guidelines we follow to prove ourselves as ethical as we can be. When it comes to genetic engineering, what is good for the individual is more important than what is good for the society. With that being said, genetic enhancement for personal advantage or desire is a questionable practice because it is the people's choice. This is America, isn't it? Are we all here because we believe in choices?

Slouching toward GATTACA?
Pete Shanks has written a terrific introduction to human genetic engineering and the fraught issues it raises. The basic question he takes on: How do we get what's good out of human biotechnology, but make sure we don't wake up one morning and find ourselves in GATTACA?

"Guide to Human Genetic Engineering" covers the cloning of people and pets, "transhumanism," eugenics, sex selection, designer babies, gene doping, stem cells, and more. It welcomes beneficial uses of biotechnology, but cuts through the techno-boosterism that characterizes far too much of the current public discussion of these issues.

The book's appearance is engaging, with a table or pull quote or something else visually interesting on almost every page. The writing is top-notch -- entertaining, even funny and intermittently irreverent, but without ever losing sight of the seriousness and importance of the subject matter. The author clearly explains the technical basics, and goes beneath the surface of the political and social controversies, but not so deep as to lose "perplexed" or simply curious readers. He makes it clear what he thinks, but it's obvious that he respects what others think too.

I recommend this book very highly.

Choosing where we should go
This is a great primer and source-book on just about everything connected with human genetic engineering -- cloning, stem cells, the fertility industry, gene therapy (and how it hasn't worked), and even the history of eugenics. There's really nothing like it. Every chapter has got suggestions for further reading, there's an appendix listing all the best websites and books ... and on top of it all, Shanks can really write. Clear, concise, accessible; this is the best introduction to the subject yet. ... Read more

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Rockefeller Univ., New York, NY. Theoretic aspects of linkage analysis for advanced researchers in human genetics. Includes a new chapter on genes causing diabetes, some cancers, and psychiatric conditions. Previous edition: c1991. DNLM: Linkage (Genetics). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Too many mistakes!
I can not believe that One can make so many mistakes for such a 400 pages book.On page 12, there are 2 major mistakes which will lead anyone who is not an expert in this area to hell.

THE book.
This is THE book on the subject. The bible of the field by a master. ... Read more

Product Description
Are eugenics practices morally defensible? Who should have access to genetic information about particular individuals? What dangers for cultural and racial diversity do developments in genetics pose? And how should scientific research be regulated and by whom? These are some of the questions addressed in this book, which comprises the 1998 Oxford Amnesty Lectures. The lecturers are all respected in their specific field, including Hilary Putnam, Ian Wilmut (co-creator of 'Dolly' the sheep), and Jonathan Glover. Each lecture is proceeded by a discussion article written by prominent lawyers, scientists, and philosophers, and a foreword has been written by Richard Dawkins. Fascinating and thought-provoking, this book is essential reading for all those interested in the future of genetics and humankind. ... Read more

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This handbook offers guidance on selections of appropriate computational methods and software packages for specific genetic problems. Coverage strikes a balance between methodological expositions and practical guidelines for software selections. Wherever possible, comparisons among competing methods and software are made to highlight the relative advantages and disadvantage of the approaches.

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The first in-depth look at personal genomics: its larger-than-life research subjects; its entrepreneurs and do-it-yourselfers; its technology developers; the bewildered and overwhelmed physicians and regulators who must negotiate it; and what it means to be a "public genome" in a world where privacy is already under siege

In 2007, Misha Angrist became the fourth subject in the Personal Genome Project, George Church's ambitious plan to sequence the entire genomic catalog: every participant's twenty thousand–plus genes and the rest of his or her 6 billion base pairs. Church hopes to better understand how genes influence our physical traits, from height and athletic ability to behavior and weight, and our medical conditions, from cancer and diabetes to obesity and male pattern baldness. Now Angrist reveals startling information about the experiment's participants and scientists; how the experiment was, is, and will be conducted; the discoveries and potential discoveries; and the profound implications of having an unfiltered view of our hardwired selves for us and for our children.

DNA technology has already changed our health care, the food we eat, and our criminal justice system. Unlocking the secrets of our genomes opens the door not only to helping us understand why we are the way we are and potentially fixing what ails us but also to many other concerns: What exactly will happen to this information? Will it become just another marketing tool? Can it help us understand our ancestry, or will it merely reinforce old ideas of race? Can personal genomics help fix the U.S. health care system?

Here Is a Human Being explores these complicated questions while documenting Angrist's own fascinating journey—one that tens of thousands of us will soon make.

Product Description
This timely volume clearly lays out the central ethical questions raised by today's rapid advances in biotechnology. James Peterson sorts through the maze of clinical decisions occasioned by human genetic intervention, organizing the range of moral considerations that now face us and exploring their practical impact on individuals, families, and communities. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

About the link between genetics, genetic programs and ethics
Genetic Turning Points provides an important link between genetics, genetic programs and ethics, examining the new choices and questions which arise through company interactions with humans. From clinical implications to the technology involved, this is written by a lay reader for lay readers and assumes no prior scientific grounding.

Clear Thinking on Genetic Ethics
In the past few decades the advances in bio-technology and genetics have been astounding. The scientific and technical breakthroughs have far out-stripped our ability to consider their ethical ramifications. The developments in the Human Genome project alone are raising many legal, ethical and social issues that need to be carefully thought through.

A number of books have appeared recently which examine these new developments, and their impact of society. One of the newest and most helpful discussions to date is this volume. Peterson has the advantage of not only having a PhD in ethics, but of having worked as a researcher in molecular and clinical genetics. So he knows about both worlds, and is able to deftly bring the two together in this incisive and comprehensive volume.

Writing from a Christian perspective, Peterson is able to discuss in detail the intricacies of genetic engineering without bogging the reader down in an overly technical fashion. He examines a number of the controversial issues: genetic testing, genetic screening, genetic surgery, genetic patents, genetic drugs, and genetic manipulation. While acknowledging the tremendous potential for good that the new genetic frontiers can offer, he is also keenly aware of the potential dangers and pitfalls.

Any one of these issues could warrant a whole book. Take the issue of genetic surgery. Many ethical questions are raised here. What exactly is a person? When we alter the physical attributes of a person, do we alter the person? Are we in fact creating people when we use genetic surgery? Could genetic surgery extend to behavioural issues as well? Peterson does a more than adequate job of laying out the issues and options, keeping the reader informed of the latest in scientific and ethical thinking on the debate.

Indeed, all the latest topics for debate are carefully examined: the Human Genome Project, the possibility of human cloning, and debates about human germline intervention versus somatic cell intervention. And all of this discussion avoids any kind of reductionism, whereby humans are reduced to their genetic make-up. The more we learn about genetics, the more we see their importance. But in spite of their importance, we also know that we are more than our genes. That is where philosophy and theology come in. Science by itself can only give us part of the picture. We need the bigger picture provided by religion and ethics.

Thus the value of this book.Conversant with the latest medical and bio-medical trends and practices, he is also well-versed in the Christian literature - both Catholic and Protestant. He does an admirable job of bringing these two streams together. This is a real advantage in an age where we tend to have either technical experts with no or little moral understanding, or ethical experts with no or little scientific and biological understanding. Such important issues are ill-served when either component is neglected or omitted.

While both components are nicely wedded in this volume, his conclusions on some matters - such as aspects of IVF - may not necessarily please everyone. And on some issues - for example, when does human life begin? - he carefully lays out the options without fully committing himself (although his sympathies do seem to lie with respect for life from conception). But readers can learn much both of the world of genetics and the realm of religion and ethics in this lively and informed book.

The genetic revolution will not go away. It is important that we all become as informed as possible on the issues involved. The way ahead is uncertain. As Peterson makes clear, the new revolution in genetics can be helpful if we are very careful. But there is a dark side to this development which must be eyed carefully. His final admonitions are worth mentioning: "Genetics does not so much make us automatically better as it can make us more capable. Genetic intervention, like many technologies, frees us from some constraints and increases our abilities and choices. Pursued as an end in itself it is at best a distraction, and when all-consuming, idolatry. If all we manage to do is relieve physical suffering and to control our physical world in the finest degree, our potential will be wasted."

In the end, the way the genetic revolution transforms life will in large measure be determined by how we, as informed citizens, keep the whole process in check. Run-away technology is always a danger. But new developments in bio-technology can be a blessing as well. Thus it is imperative that we all become as conversant with the issues as possible. Reading this book is a good place to begin. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (21)

The Great Human Diasporas: The History of Diversity and Evolution
As indicated by Jared Diamond this fascinating tour-de-force weaves human history, biology, genes, and language together in one grand sweep.Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza,author of History and Geography of Human Genes (1994)and his son, Francesco, discuss such questions as: Did the first humans originate in Africa? - Christopher Stringer, "Out of Africa" model for the Origin of Modern Humans (Anatomically Modern Humans) or in several spots on the planet at about the same time (Milford Wolpoff's "Multiregional Theory of the Origin of Modern Humans" - and how did humans get onto North America, South America, and Australia?

An excellent book on human origins and modern genetics.

Rowlands Opinion 2
I bought this book to help me understand how the people spread across the World. It is very interesting.

Disjointed
The whole book has a kind of disjoined feel to it. The earlier chapters are about mainly biology and evolution. It's kind of familiar territory and seemed a bit dated. The middle chapters were about linguistic, which were pretty interesting. After the end, the book seemed to lose what focus it had.

The presentation is chopped up into small sections that don't always flow well (hence, the disjointed feel). It was frustrating to read and felt simplistic at times (as if the reader cannot keep up with an extensive analysis or something).

TGHD is not terrible, but I've read better books on the subject.

Not recommended.

A Fairly Good Read
Cavalli-Sforza offers a concise account of human genetic history.Using his own research as well as the work of others, he makes some pretty convincing conclusions about man's colonization of the world.

This book's real strength is its explanation and simplification of biological terms and concepts.So many such books bog the reader down in unnecessary technical jargon.Cavalli-Sforza, however, has chosen to illustrate his points with simple examples, graphs, and tables.Simply put: this book will not confuse a layperson.

Cavalli Sforza's interdisciplinary approach is refreshing as well.It is not, as some reviewers suspect, meant to offer an ultra-thorough analysis, but rather it attempts to present a broad view of the anthropological, lingustic, historical, and genetic evidence for Cavalli-Sforza's ideas.

The book has several weaknesses.At times it proselytizes and wanders off topic, discussing issues such as modern religion and politics.Nevertheless, the book's strengths far outweigh its shortcomings.

Good introduction to anthropology
This is a book covering a wide range of topics relating to anthropology. Cavalli-Sforza tells of his experiences with African Pygmies in the Congo, and relates these experiences to ideas as to what hunter-gatherer life was like. He explains the discovery and history of the theory of evolution, and explains the human tree. The spread and migration of humans since the dawn of their evolution is described in good detail. Molecular biology is easily explained. He also describes theories of agriculture's emergence and significance. Cavalli-Sforza juxtaposes what we know of human migrations from DNA with what we know from linguistic evidence. He also discusses cultural anthropology and the concept of race. It is impressive that Cavalli-Sforza has such a good command of a wide range of subjects.

The book is a good read, especially for the layman. Overall, it is an account of humanity's evolution viewed from a variety of fields. ... Read more

Product Description
Never HIGHLIGHT a Book Again!Virtually all testable terms, concepts, persons, places, and events are included. Cram101 Textbook Outlines gives all of the outlines, highlights, notes for your textbook with optional online practice tests. Only Cram101 Outlines are Textbook Specific. Cram101 is NOT the Textbook. ... Read more

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The completely revised and updated New Edition of this definitive text—now in full color! Long known as the source to consult for guidance on diagnosis, prognosis, plan management, and genetic counseling, this easy-to-use reference focuses on the patterns of human defects caused by inborn errors in morphogenesis as opposed to defects caused by mechanical problems. It provides a wealth of information on normal and abnormal morphogenesis * minor anomalies and their relevance * clinical approaches to specific diagnoses * and normal standards of measurement for the entire spectrum of disorders. Each chapter includes a description of the specific abnormality—including occasional associated abnormalities—natural history, etiology, and references. On opposing pages are several descriptive photographs and line drawings of either an individual with the abnormality or specific features of the abnormality. * Provides over 1,450 photographs and illustrations to depict each malformation—many from the personal collections of Drs. Smith and Jones—to aid readers in diagnosis. * Uses a consistent chapter format to help readers quickly and easily find information on any given disorder * Offers the most current coverage available on existing disorders and their molecular basis, plus the very latest information on virtually any genetic or physiological malformation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Pleased With This Textbook
Wonderful resource, easy to use, pictures very representative.Would recommend this text for anyone with an interest in Genetics, Pediatrics or Family Medicine.

Podría estar mejor/Could be better
Recién comencé mi residencia en Genética Médica y uno de los libros recomendados es este. Sinceramente pensé que estaría mejor, lo compré sin revisar antes cualquiera de sus ediciones; aunque el libro hace revisión de un buen número de enfermedades genéticas, la información contenida en cada una es muy pobre, y no ayuda mucho en el estudio a menos que se quiera una revisión rápida de algo ya leído más ampliamente. Preferiría comprar otro por ese precio o algo más caro pero mejor.

Good resource material for clinical genetics
Nice guidebook to have to help you study cases of human malformation. Each syndrome comes with text information and corresponding pictures. The pictures help you relate a particular syndrome with actual patients. It also has an index which shows some of the more common dysmorphic features that you may see and lists the syndromes that usually present with these features. The only drawback is that the information about some syndromes are sometimes lacking, so you will need another reference to expound on these cases.

Genetics Bible
Every Genetics professional/student must have a copy of the Smith's.It is concise, clear and well organized.

The atlas for genetic diseases
This a great book with fantastic illustration of genetic diseases, a must for all in the genetic field. ... Read more

Product Description
Stepping effortlessly from myth to cutting-edge science, Mutants gives a brilliant narrative account of our genetic code and the captivating people whose bodies have revealed it—a French convent girl who found herself changing sex at puberty; children who, echoing Homer’s Cyclops, are born with a single eye in the middle of their foreheads; a village of long-lived Croatian dwarves; one family, whose bodies were entirely covered with hair, was kept at the Burmese royal court for four generations and gave Darwin one of his keenest insights into heredity. This elegant, humane, and engaging book "captures what we know of the development of what makes us human" (Nature). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

Normal defined by the abnormal
This would have been an excellent companion book for the developmental biology text that I had in graduate school. Obvious instances of development gone awry and determination of their underlying causes help elucidate the normal order of things. Leroi did a wonderful job of setting up chapters, presenting many sad, but interesting stories of "mutants" treated as curiosities for the amusement of the elite, or as subjects for medical dissection. As a result, they have their pictures taken, portraits painted, and skeletons preserved. This accounts for many of the figures and stories in the book and all are fascinating. Leroi's book loses a little momentum in the last two chapters: the chapter on aging has a long set-up for only a brief mention of conditions, like Werner's Syndrome, and unlike in other chapters, lacks explanation to any of its definitive causes; and the final chapter waxes poetic about genetic variety and really changes the focus of the book from its developmental biology beginnings to more of a book on genetic variation in natural selection. Maybe it was a literary device to illustrate mutation. Regardless, I would recommend this book to people who want to be amazed by nature creating forms that are stranger than fiction and learn about themselves in the process.

"The monstrous, the strange, and the deviant..."
A story about cyclops, mermaids, giants, pygmies, hermaphrodites, albinos, lobster-claw appendages, castrati, cretins, suicidal cells, sonic hedgehogs, glass bone men - in other words, mutants.

And it's true!

Oh, the drama of an embryo, the suspense of fetal development!

Mutants is a fascinating book about genetic mutations explained with substantive but not overwhelming scientific-ese, as well as historical details and occasional pictures. It is not a "freak show" type of book. Leroi handles his subject matter with respect, for the story of mutation is the story of human biology. What can and does go wrong reveals the wondrous ways in which our bodies develop inside and outside the womb.

Do not read this if you are pregnant or thinking of having kids because:


"Each new embryo has about a hundred mutations that its parents did not have...of these hundred mutations, about four will alter the meaning of genes...and of these four...about three will be harmful. To be precise, they will affect the ultimate reproductive success of the embryo, at least enough to ensure that, with time, natural selection will drive them to extinction."


That's right, I'm a mutant, and you, yes, you, are a mutant too. We have been mutants since before we were even born.


"We are all mutants. But some of us are more mutant than others."

Awsome.
Great book on what we know and what we still do not know about genetics and how mutations and change the out come of somethings in a big way.

Great Book
This was an excellent, if disturbing, book. It was informative and morbidly interesting to read. At some points, it got dryly scientific, and if you don't know anything about biology or genetics, you may end up spending time doing side research. A great insight into not only what can happen to us inside the womb, but a good insight into our historical views of what it once meant to be a "Mutant". Fascinating.

Exploring the definition of humanity
I originally met most of the diseases covered in this book during medical school. I found my academic knowledge of these disorders matured into a much greater understanding with the help of the history and personal stories provided by Leroi. Mutants is well-written, entertaining, and well-cited. The scientific and medical information is well presented and explained in a way that should be understandable to lay people but is not obnoxious to those more familiar with the subjects. Leroi brings to light the interplay between genetics and society, how we define humanity and normality. I was surprised to learn from many of the personal stories that people suffering from incredibly rare and often debilitating or stigmatizing diseases lived normal or even charmed lives during many times in the past. I wonder today if we do too much categorizing, if we try too hard to make every person live up to an arbitrary standard of humanity. ... Read more

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* Brief, accessible overview of methods and findings of behavioral genetics written by a leading scholar in the field. ... Read more

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This new edition builds on the success of the first by reviewing the increased understanding of the mechanisms of gene action in humans, focusing particularly on those derived from the study of genetic diseases. It deals mainly with the fundamental aspects of gene arrangement and expression rather than mutation. As well as updating and revising material from the first edition, it covers methods of exploring gene function and contains a range of chapters on specific systems which raise issues of special interest such as imprinting or homologous genes within clusters. ... Read more

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This is the first volume of its kind on prehistoric cultures of South Asia. The book brings together archaeologists, biological anthropologists, geneticists and linguists in order to provide a comprehensive account of the history and evolution of human populations residing in the subcontinent. New theories and methodologies presented provide new interpretations about the cultural history and evolution of populations in South Asia.

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Southeast Asia is regarded as one of the birthplaces of modern humans. Recent genetic evidence shows that it was probably the entry point of modern humans from Africa into East Asia and Oceania. With the help of new markers - mostly from the Y-chromosome and mtDNA - several recent efforts have been made to study the populations of Southeast Asia, which have been somewhat neglected in the past. A new picture of the origin and migrations of modern humans in this region is quickly emerging. In this book, the leading researchers in the studies of Southeast Asian, East Asian, and Oceanian populations present the most up-to-date results of their research. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Scientific Insight, Editorial Acumen
In this well-crafted omnibus, the editors have assembled a series of studies which provide insight into the peopling Asia and Oceania that is as deep as it is fascinating. The cross-disciplinary correlation of both field and laboratory data make for reading that will be interesting for a wide variety of readers. As a professional molecular biologist and an armchair anthropologist, I found the level of scholasticism to be more than approachable and the selection of included works to be thoughtful and incisive. ... Read more

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Focusing on the roles of different segments of DNA, Statistics in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology provides a basic understanding of problems arising in the analysis of genetics and genomics. It presents statistical applications in genetic mapping, DNA/protein sequence alignment, and analyses of gene expression data from microarray experiments.

The text introduces a diverse set of problems and a number of approaches that have been used to address these problems. It discusses basic molecular biology and likelihood-based statistics, along with physical mapping, markers, linkage analysis, parametric and nonparametric linkage, sequence alignment, and feature recognition. The text illustrates the use of methods that are widespread among researchers who analyze genomic data, such as hidden Markov models and the extreme value distribution. It also covers differential gene expression detection as well as classification and cluster analysis using gene expression data sets.

Ideal for graduate students in statistics, biostatistics, computer science, and related fields in applied mathematics, this text presents various approaches to help students solve problems at the interface of these areas.

Customer Reviews (1)

Looking for what DNA does.
Aimed at the beginning graduate student in statistics, biostatistics, computer science, and related fields in applied mathematics this book is positioned at an interesting place. It presumes that the student has had a good grounding in linear algebra and basic calculus along with some study of general statistics where calculus is used. It then presents a graduate level course in statistics, but specialized in those statistical procedures which have proven useful in the biological sciences.

As such the book spends time on just those techniques rather than being a general course in statistics. The unifying theme revolves around the basic questions: What does this segment of DNA do and which segment of DNA does that.

Along the way the book gives the student some background in biology, computer science, statistics and bioinformatics that enables him to understand just what it is that he is trying to accomplish and that subsequently he can use this knowledge when facing actual problems found in research. ... Read more