Gene Cloning and DNA Analysis: An Introduction

Customer Reviews:

clearly written undergraduate text.......2006-11-30

As an introductory text on its subject, the book is well written. With copious diagrams that are easy to understand and that illustrate key ideas. A merit of the book is the clarity of the textual exposition, reinforced by those diagrams.

The text is also quite up to date in this fast changing field. With the good coverage of many topics. Including the seminal Polymerase Chain Reaction, that is the basis of so much else. You can see that genomics/biotechnology is now a practical and quantitative science. With plenty remaining to be understood, to be sure. But the book shows that we now have powerful tools to experiment with, to reduce our ignorance.

Up to date and still very readable.......2006-04-12

This book has become the standard introductory text at the undergraduate level for students in the first or second year of college and as an introductory book for researchers whose specialty lies in other areas but needing to know more about the subject. While an introductory text, it does presume that you are approaching the subject with at least some background in biology. If nothing else, you need to know what a gene is and have some idea about why you would want to clone it.

This basic book has been around for about twenty years. The twenty years since then have seen tremendous advances in the techniques and science as they now exist. This is the fifth edition of the book and it is as up to date as any printed book can be.

Since the book was written the public awareness of genetically altered plants has increased tremendously. A major goal of this new edition is to present to the student the true facts about genetically modified agricultural products. The final chapter on Forensic science and Archaeology is most fascinating as it provides a non technical look at DNA analysis in criminal acts and in the tracing of the human species.

Highly recommended.

A Good Book for Introductory Courses in Molecular Biology.......2004-12-31

I am a science student Studying Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I used this book as a reference book for an Introduction to Genetic Engineering course. It was a great help for me. The book outlines the basic principles and methods in many aspects of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering in the simplest of ways. The book is easy to understand even to people with no big background in Molecular Biology as it explains everything from zero. It is a great book for introductory courses or as a quick reference for the basic ideas of some techniques and advances in the field. It does not give a lot of detail and explanation that is usually required from university students, such as myself, so more in-depth references are certainley required. However, as a joyful read for those interested in the field, or simply as a quick revision of the basics before your final exam, this book works wonders! Trust me... I got a straight A (99% on my final) :) All in all, it's a good book!

A Versatile, Accessible Introduction.......2001-10-14

I came away very impressed from Dr. Brown's latest edition. The book is extremely readable but does not dumb down the material. I'm taking an upper-level molecular genetics lab and am doing independent work in genetics, and this book is a great reference. However, I think that this book would be pretty easy for someone with introductory level biology--heck, I think some AP Biology high school teachers may be able to use this text for their classes.

Book Description

Unlike many other plant anatomy textbooks, the 18 chapters in this volume incorporate information from the latest research in cellular and molecular biology as related to plant development. Topics include the integrative significance of plasmodesmata and the concept of the symplast, the concept of multicellularity, the role of the cytoskeleton in development, signal transduction, and the genetic control of development. Brief sections on evolution and function are also included. The textbook has been designed for undergraduate and graduate students with a basic knowledge of plant science. .

Primate Anatomy, Third Edition: An Introduction

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Primate Anatomy, Third Edition: An Introduction
Friderun Ankel-Simons
Manufacturer: Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0123725763
Release Date: 2007-01-15

Book Description

This book is unlike ay other work on primates: it systematically reviews the biology of all living primates, including humans. It describes their bio-geographical information and provides crucial data pertaining to their body size, fur coloration external distinguishing features, habitat and basic life strategies.

Now in its third edition, Primate Anatomy discusses species that are new to science since the last edition with details concerning anatomical features among primates that were re-discovered. New research in molecular primatology is also included due to recent relevant findings in molecular biology in accordance with new technology. The basics of biological taxonomy are introduced, along with photographs of all major groups. Important new and controversal issues make this edition key for every primatologists, anthropologist, and anatomist.

* Offers up-to-date reviews of molecular primatology and primate genomics
* Concentrates on living primates and their overall biology
* Discusses the genetic connection of function where known
* Introduces primate genomics for the first time in a textbook
* Provides instructive and comprehensive review tables
* Includes many unique, novel and easily understandable illustrations

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Introduction to Bioinformatics
Arthur M. Lesk
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0199251967

Book Description

Bioinformatics is the collective name for a set of skills that has now become arguably one of the most important information-gathering and knowledge-building tools in current science research. The increase in the reliance upon bioinformatics in current research has made it essential for training in these skills to become an integral part of current science education. Introduction to Bioinformatics is a timely and much-needed textbook which provides an accessible and thorough introduction to a subject which is becoming a fundamental part of biological science today. As a pioneer of the use of bioinformatics techniques in research, Dr Lesk brings unrivalled experience and expertise to the study of this field. The aim of the book is to generate an understanding of the biological background of bioinformatics, and to integrate this with an introduction to the use of computational skills. Without describing computer science or sophisticated programming skills in detail, the book supports and encourages the application of the many powerful computational tools of bioinformatics in a way that is both relevant to and stimulating for the reader. The book contains numerous problems and innovative Weblems (for Web-based Problems) to encourage students to engage with the subject and, with the accompanying web site, to develop a working understanding and appreciation of the power of bioinformatics as a research tool. Web site www.oup.co.uk/best.textbooks/biochemistry/bioinf/ A logo in the text alerts the reader to check the web site for the full text of programs referred to in the book. The web site also has links related to the book's problems, the innovative Weblems (for Web-based Problems), to encourage students to engage with the subject and, with the web site, to develop a working understanding and appreciation of the power of bioinformatics as a research tool.

Topobiology: An Introduction to Molecular Embryology

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Interactions between cell surfaces allow embryo to develop
Heavy going, big payoff
Thick going, but worth the effort

Topobiology: An Introduction to Molecular Embryology
Gerald M. Edelman
Manufacturer: Basic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0465086535

Customer Reviews:

Interactions between cell surfaces allow embryo to develop.......2000-11-26

Analytic and innovative, yet fairly easy to read, book on the place-dependent interactions of cell surfaces with other cell surfaces that regulate the processes of embryological development in metazoans (ie, animals).

Heavy going, big payoff.......2000-05-09

Edelman's Topobiology provides an excellent introduction to the field of molecular embryology. In the book you will be introduced to CAMs (cell adhesion molecules), SAMs (substrate adhesion molecules), and CJMs (cell junction molecules) that are produced and used by the body to keep itself organized and literally stuck together as it develops and grows. The processes of development and growth are extremely complex, and involve interactions among many different entities in the body. As the header suggests, this book is not an easy read; it presents abstract concepts, and the author uses extremely complex sentence constructions to tell his story. This is not a book for the faint of heart, it is written with the professional biologist in mind.

If you have the strength and the courage, I suggest that you give this book a try

P.S. I am the "reader" from Manchester College in the previous review -- I didn't get my name on that one though.

Thick going, but worth the effort.......2000-02-05

As the header suggests, this book is not an easy read; it presents abstract concepts, and the author uses extremely complex sentence constructions to tell his story. This is not a book for the faint of heart, it is written with the professional biologist in mind.

Book Description

Flow cytometry is a technique for measuring both scattered light and fluorescence from single cells at very rapid rates. Typically up to 5000 cells can be analysed per second. Using various fluorochromes this allows a cell population to be analysed for cells showing certain characteristics such as the presence of a particular enzyme, cellular constituent or other gene product. The information it can provide is invaluable in helping to diagnose certain cancers as well as aiding pure research into many aspects of cell biology such as the cell cycle and gene expression. This book describes the technology in a simple and direct way. The fundamental concepts upon which the technology is based are outlined and the book goes on to describe flow cytometers and what can be gained from using them in biology and medicine. The book gives a particularly detailed account of how artifactual results can arise and where ‘noise’ is generated. Anyone starting to use, or already using this technique, will need to read this book.

The Beginnings of Life: An Introduction to Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology

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The Beginnings of Life: An Introduction to Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology
Ricki Lewis
Manufacturer: William C Brown Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0697141934

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience: An Introduction (Fundamentals of Cognitive Neuroscience)

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no mirror neurons?
Halfway between popular science and textbook: an ideal introduction
Introducing a new field in style
Confusing

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience: An Introduction (Fundamentals of Cognitive Neuroscience)
Mark H. Johnson
Manufacturer: Blackwell Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0631202005

Book Description

This long-awaited second edition of the classic introductory text that gave the field of developmental cognitive neuroscience its name, this book will continue to be the definitive introduction to the subject. The text reviews the current state of knowledge in the field in the context of an integrative theoretical framework within which the plasticity and maturation of the brain are analysed.The second edition has been thoroughly revised and updated, changes include:A four-colour plate section of brain scans and images.A new chapter on objects and number.An updated chapter on 'building a brain ', to cover activity-dependent neural development, changes in adolescence, and more.A new emphasis on different developmental disorders.A completely revised chapter on the emerging social brain, placing more emphasis on aspects of social cognition other than basic face processing.An extensively revised chapter on integrating developmental cognitive neuroscience, focusing on a new framework for understanding human functional brain development - 'interactive specialization '.This book is also supported by an accompanying website featuring password protected exam questions, downloadable figures and tables and links to related books and information sites - including Mark Johnson's lab website. Visit www.blackwellpublishing.com/dcn for more details.

Customer Reviews:

no mirror neurons?.......2007-01-25

Johnson writes at a technical level probably well suited for an undergraduate reader in biology. It is at a higher level than a popular-type book aimed at a mass audience. There is a good discussion of the development of the neural networks and the internal structures of the brain.

Vision is given an entire chapter because of its importance to the organism. Also, the visual structures of the eyes are usefully understood as a direct pipeline into the brain, or, equivalently, as a simple extension of the brain. Higher level processing is described in the case of social interactions and speech processing.

No mention of mirror neurons. Perhaps these are not seen as significant for the infant's development?

Halfway between popular science and textbook: an ideal introduction.......2007-01-09

In a few places throughout the second edition of his landmark book, Mark Johnson suggests that the field of developmental cognitive neuroscience has matured from infancy to toddlerhood. This book, then, is a sort of biography, from the field's theoretical ancestry in 17th century debates between "vitalists" and "preformationalists" to current (and in some ways similar) debates between nativists and empiricists. In between, Johnson expertly covers everything from prenatal cortical differentiation to developmental change in the distributions of various neuromodulators, to the development of simple oculomotor function, to prefrontal processes supporting object permanence. Johnson draws from genetic, neuroimaging and behavioral research, postmortem analysis of developing human brains, various neural network models, and even in vitro experiments with a variety of brain tissues.

Along the way, Johnson analyzes how each aspect of functional brain development can be accounted for by three basic views. One, which he terms the "maturational" view, supposes that brain development is largely pre-determined by genes, and further that these neural changes can be directly related to cognitive change. A second contrasting view, which Johnson terms the "skill learning" view, supposes that the mechanisms guiding cognitive development are similar or identical to those guiding skill acquisition in adults. Finally, a third view - which Johnson calls "interactive specialization" - represents a fusion of the previous two perspectives. According to this perspective, broad patterns of connectivity are innately specified, but the ultimate computations supported by brain regions rely on an interaction between maturational processes and neural activity resulting from experience throughout a variety of neural networks.

Although this tripartite framework necessarily simplifies the theoretical debates surrounding each topic, it has many advantages as a rhetorical device. For example, the tone of the book is noticeably more conversational than the didactic quality of other textbooks which avoid controversial issues altogether (or perhaps worse, present just a single interpretation as fact). Secondly, this framework gives the book a strong coherence, despite the wide variety of methodologies, levels of analysis, and topics reviewed throughout. This leads to a polished work equally suited to the graduate classroom as to the libraries of interested laypeople.

In general, the book is skewed towards infancy; accordingly, the visual system is covered in detail while much less space is allocated to the development of higher-level cognition and explicit memory. On the other hand, Johnson's treatment of early social cognition is particularly impressive and wide-ranging, covering topics from parental "imprinting" in chicks to the development of face recognition, gaze-tracking, and ultimately theory of mind. Johnson notes that an introductory text such as this is necessarily selective, but the analytical depth of what is covered more compensates for this in my view. Furthermore, Johnson recommends additional readings for nearly every major point, which provides a great starting point for readers interested in learning more about a specific topic.

This book is likely to be enjoyed by dedicated laypeople, new graduate students, and research professionals alike, thanks to Johnson's knack for explaining even complex topics at an easily-understood level of detail. Unlike many popular science books, this more academic text steers clear of over-generalization, instead carefully explaining the evidence used to support each argument. Johnson's Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience comes highly recommended as an introductory textbook to this exciting new field.

Introducing a new field in style.......2001-03-01

This is the first introductory textbook on the emerging field of developmental cognitive neuroscience, and one that sets high standards. Professor Johnson provides a clear and comprehensive overview of the essential mechanisms of the development of brain, behavior and cognition. Developmental cognitive neuroscience is a relatively new field of research, and Johnson has been one of its pioneers. The book deals not only with research on human infant development, but also deals with early learning and development in animals. This book is required reading for advanced undergraduates and postgraduates, and it is an excellent guide for researchers and teachers in this field. I will certainly want to use it for courses in developmental cognitive neuroscience.

Confusing.......2000-09-30

I can see that the author knows his stuff but he really has little idea how to write or to communicate information in such a way that the reader can follow it. He is addicted to saying 'First', 'Second' and 'Finally', without appearing to have any appreciation of the fact that readers will then expect to see information appearing in that order. Two examples:

In Chapter one, under the heading An Outline of this book, he talks about the 'next chapter'. One might reasonably assume a brief overview of each chapter, but this is not forthcoming. From 'the next chapter', he skips to Chapter 9 and leaves it at that.

In Chapter 6, he details three approaches, the final one of which is 'a number of neural correlates'. Turn the page and what do we see? Not a detailed examination of these approaches in the right order, but another set of approaches apparently specific to neural correlates, the last approach of the previous page. At no point does he continue with the stages detailed in his overview.

Book Description

This invaluable textbook introduces students to the molecular biology of animal development, drawing together elements from the fields of genetics, nucleic acid biochemistry and embryology. The genomic DNA, its packaging as chromatin, and its expression as RNA are considered in the first three chapters. A fourth chapter deals with the strategy of animal development in molecular terms. Three more specialized chapters examine the differentiation of red blood cells, the hormonal control of egg-protein production, and aspects of insect development.

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