Book Description

This volume teaches calculus in the biology context without compromising the level of regular calculus. The material is organized in the standard way and explains how the different concepts are logically related. Each new concept is typically introduced with a biological example; the concept is then developed without the biological contextand then the concept is tied into additional biological examples. This allows readers to first see why a certain concept is important, then lets them focus on how to use the concepts without getting distracted by applications, and then, once readers feel more comfortable with the concepts, it revisits the biological applications to make sure that they can apply the concepts. The book features exceptionally detailed, step-by-step, worked-out examples and a variety of problems, including an unusually large number of word problems.The volume begins with a preview and review and moves into discrete time models, sequences, and difference equations, limits and continuity, differentiation, applications of differentiation, integration techniques and computational methods, differential equations, linear algebra and analytic geometry, multivariable calculus, systems of differential equations and probability and statistics. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Excellent self-tutorial
The book is based upon biostatistics courses taught by the authors. It is designed to be used as a self-tutorial if so desired. The explainations and examples are excellent.

additional comments on second edition
I have previously reviewed this book. My review pertains to the second edition as that is the only edition I have.

Recently I did some consulting for a colleague. He had some data that he wanted to test for the presence of a single outlier. I referred him to the procedures due to Grubbs and Dixon. I also mention the book by Barnett and Lewis which has the most detailed account of outlier methods. However, Barnett and Lewis is so detailed that it can be overwhelming for a beginner. Fortunately my friend has a copy of Sokal and Rohlf's book. I believe he has the same second edition that I have. They provide a good elementary treatment of these methods and have tables to use. Unfortunately, I discovered that the tables are in a separate supplement. My colleague has the supplement but I don't. The reader should be aware that the supplement is needed to implement some of the procedures in the book that require tables. It is not expensive but it is essential. I imagine that the same is true for the third edition but I am not sure. Regardless this is an excellent refer for biostatisticians and practitioners including regulatory affairs analysts and medical writers.

nice reference for users of biostatistics
This book has served well as a reference source on biostatistical methods for statisticians and non-statisticians alike. It includes many of the important topics. It provides detailed descriptions of regression, correlation and analysis of variance. It emphasizes the required assumptions. It is written at an introductory level. It also covers aspects of biological data and special topics such as "combining probabilities' (i.e. meta-analysis), randomization tests (i.e. permutation methods such as Fisher's exact test), and the jackknife.

Important topics that are not included are survival analysis, sample size determination and Bayesian methods.

Excellent basic text of statistical methods
This book and BIOSTATISTICAL ANALYSIS by Jerrold Zar are my main "go to" books when I have questions about statistical methods, applications, or interpretation.

Zar's book is probably the more understandable primer text on statistics of the two, but BIOMETRY is better at addressing non-parametrics, though it is certainly not a comprehensive treatment of that field of statistical analysis.

I typically go to Zar first, then to Sokal and Rohlf -- a great one-two combination that takes care of most of my statistical needs.

I appreciate the inside covers of BIOMETRY, with its summary table that provides a starting place for choosing the most likely statistical tests for a give comination of numbers of samples and numbers of variables in an experiment.

You should be advised that the book BIOMETRY does not contain tables of critical values. You will need to purchase the book STATISTICAL TABLES by Rohlf and Sokal to get them.

All in all, an excellent book on statistical methods.

4.5 to 5 stars...I'll give it 5 stars.

Alan Holyoak

Excellent for developing intuition, but that's about it
I took Biometry as a course at Stony Brook with Rohlf. I think the book does an excellent job at building a conceptual understanding of what different statistical techniques are used for. Coming out of the course (which was essentially Rohlf reading his book to us), one develops an excellent ability to look at an experiment and determine what type of analysis should be done. This is pretty damn important. What the book fails to do is, once you know which test to use, help you analyze your data using popular statistical programs. Other texts (e.g., Tabachnik and Fidel) appreciate that knowing which test to use is only half the battle. Biometry is weak at helping you actually run tests.

One great stength of Biometry is its treatment of non-parametric data. It is by far the best treatment I have seen in an introductory text. I would highly recommend this book to anyone whose data violates assumptions of the typical ANOVA model. ... Read more

Book Description

Mayr provides as convincing a testament to Darwin's genius as you are likely to find." --New York Times Book Review.

At once a spirited defense of Darwinian explanations of biology and an elegant primer on evolution for the general reader, What Evolution Is poses the questions at the heart of evolutionary theory and considers how our improved understanding of evolution has affected the viewpoints and values of modern man.

Science Masters Series ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Modern evolutionary science clarified
Ernst Mayr is a commanding figure in the field of evolutionary biology. Having published an awesome average of nine scientific papers a year since 1925, he has produced (at age 97) a comprehensive book on evolution for the general public. I think "What Evolution Is" will best suit readers who already have some familiarity with biology as well as with science in general.

The author does not take the reader's acceptance of evolution for granted. On the contrary, he pays considerable attention to opposing views and carefully builds a case using the mass of evidence which has accumulated in the 140 years since Darwin's speculative missile burst on a comfortably religious 19th-century world. That world was almost universally assumed to be inhabited by specially-created humans presiding over a vast array of plants and animals provided solely to sustain, entertain and amuse them.

Mayr ably describes and explains the chain of factual evidence and logical inference which has established (with extremely high probability) that in actuality all living things evolved over billions of years through a partly random, partly directed, wholly automatic process which tended to suppress harmful changes and reinforce beneficial ones. The inevitable conclusion is that humans were not supernaturally created as finished products, but rather were simply fortunate enough to emerge from a very lengthy parallel development contest as hands-down winners in the intellectual capacity category. Implicit in Mayr's section on human ethics is the idea that along with markedly superior intelligence should come a self-imposed sense of moral responsibility.

As an active participant in the development of evolutionary science, Mayr doesn't hesitate to state clearly and defend vigorously his positions on controversial issues. He freely acknowledges (as did Darwin) that evolutionary rates can and do vary considerably, but he views the Eldredge-Gould punctuated equilibrium concept as no more than a minor modification of the classical picture. On another contentious question, Mayr holds firmly that natural selection should be viewed as acting on the whole animal (the phenotype) rather than on individual genes or subsets of genes.

The last chapter contains Mayr's views on the current frontiers of evolutionary biology. As major unsolved problems he cites a) finding the true extent of biodiversity; b) solving the mystery of static species ("living fossils") which hardly change over hundreds of millions of years; and c) explaining the relatively rapid (200-300 million years) proliferation of new structural types in the early Cambrian. The second of two appendices is a sort of rap session in which the author gives pithy responses to twenty-four FAQs about evolution. These serve as a quick-reference guide to many of the points Mayr has tried to drive home in the main text.

"What Evolution Is" includes a generous complement of good quality illustrations and charts. Mayr makes liberal use of technical terms, but is careful to compensate by providing a fairly comprehensive glossary. I recommend this book to anyone ready to step up a notch from the normal run of popular books on evolution.

Good primer for the serious lay student
In the foreword, Jared Diamond says the book excels in filling a mid-level gap for educated lay people between biology texts and introductory material. He is right on the money. I was introduced to evolution in high school and college biology courses but further confused by television shows that are all over the map and all claiming to support evolution. I am a Christian Creationist but I do not hesitate to recommend this book for those interested in seeing a coherent account of evolution told by a true expert in the field. Mayr did not change my mind about macroevolution, but he did help me clear up a lot of my thinking about the current state of both evolutionary and creation science. I view the book as a very informative explanation, even a defense, of contemporary evolutionary thought. Mayr's gradualism is presented as the contemporary extension of Darwin's first revolution 150 years ago and of the evolutionary synthesis of the 1940's that brought molecular biology into the evolutionary fold. Other views of evolution and creation through the past 200 years are contrasted to Mayr's well-developed vision of how life gradually evolves. He generally builds a positive case for his position rather than directly attacking others.

Since Amazon has the technology to show the table of contents I will only summarize the contents of the book in an alternative way that Mayr himself hints at throughout the book. Chapters 1-4 are largely observations from the living world that suggest some sort of evolutionary process is at work. Chapter 5 devotes a lot of pages to modern theories of genetics and inheritance. Chapters 5-7 describe processes occurring within populations of living organisms. Throughout the book, Mayr stresses that diversity among populations, rather than unity of types, is the prevailing lesson of evolutionary biology. Chapters 5-9 form a major unit that describes the various mechanisms of microevolution including speciation. Chapters 10-12 get into higher-level macroevolution and use humans as a case study of mosaic evolution in a social species. I found these final chapters the least convincing and poorly backed by evidence (though it is well written and interesting to read). Mayr often admits the fossil record, especially for humans, is sketchy proof for evolution. To his credit he builds much of his case around observable biology rather than sketchy paleontology. Marvin Lubenow's "Bones of Contention" is an interesting and detailed analysis of the hominid fossils for those open to a very different (creationist) perspective.

Though I find much to disagree with in the philosophical assumptions and in some leaps of naturalistic faith used in the book, I think it serves its intended audience very well. The book could be better if it had more footnotes for further reading, especially to fossil statements and other phenomena such as rafting reptiles, teeth in baleen whale embryos etc. The bibliography is very extensive and Mayr does provide a list of anti-creationist books so the info can probably be located in those. If you are not well versed in biology and genetics you will probably want a dictionary handy, but this is exactly the sort of book I wanted as a deep introduction. Mayr is an honest, balanced and gifted writer for his position.

Outstanding complete compresion of the evolution concept
If you are a Biologist or are a curious naturalist this is a book for you. Mayr makes an outstanding abstract of evolution, he clearly defines it with mastery. I would just like to add that this is my favorite subject and have read a good amount of books on evolution and this is clearly one of the best (don't be mislead by the size nor the price). Of course there are huge treatises on evolution (like The Structure of Evolution, of Stephen Jay Gould), but such a Bible is, for most of the cases, unpractical and unnecessary. Mayr clears evolutions' place in Biology putting it at its' very center. Great book, great style.

What Evolution Was
Although it might be a good introduction for beginners, the views presented by Mayr have a feeling of 80s and 90s. Mayr does little to include the cutting edge research in evolutionary biology and his vision for the future of evolutionary biology is at best short-sighted.

In depth look at evolution
This book covers almost every aspect of evolution. A good book for understanding darwinism and evolution. This book is written for people of various backgrounds. Moreover, the charts and text boxes are used in a manner that add substance to the book. The second appendix is awesome. Twenty tough questions about evolution are asked, including questions such as: is darwinism a dogma and is evolution a scientific fact. The answers though are less than convincing and tend to sidestep the questions.

Mayr has some of the best material on speciation that I have read. In this book, Mayr covers issues such as human evolution, macroevoution, natural selection, variational evolution, mutations, etc. He goes in depth but not so much so that laymen cannot follow.

Overall, the author has written a good book. Problems revolve around Mayr's refusal to adapt his writings and beliefs to current facts. In other words, Mayr still argues that the fossil record is the best evidence for evolution. A fossil record showing stasis best illustrates evolution??? Is not this the ultimate display of blind faith. Horse evolution is the most complete picture of evolution?!? WOW!

Maybe Mayr has grown hardheaded in his age and needs to keep update with current findings. Further, Mayr says embryology supports darwinism. Haven't we got past this yet? Problems like this show how old myths die hard and prove that perception is actually more important than reality.

Buy the book if you want a great reference for what evolution is, just remember when reading that dogma dies hard. ... Read more

Reviews (50)

Molecular Biology - medical students need backup
Molecular Biology of the Cell is written in a straightforward easy-to-read manner. The book is especially well up-to-date on many ascpects and, to my delight, connective tissue components are given enough space. This is your book if you're interested in molecular biology. A drawback from the point of view of a medical student is the lack of integration of metabolism to the organ level, let alone human body. Molecular Biology of the Cell sticks to its header by consistently leaving out topics such as - insulin regulation of blood glucose - ketone bodies - fasting (and ketone bodies) - CYP enzyme family (cytochrome P450) - pentose phosphate pathway/hexose monophosphate shunt/glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase - purine catabolism/xanthine oxidase/uric acid/gout

Clearly, if backed up with a texbook of biochemistry or physiology covering metabolism on a higher level, Molecular Biology of the Cell is an excellent choice, even for medical students.

Best intro molecular/cell text out there.
Well, considering that this book got me through a full year of molecular and cell biology as an undergraduate, I'm pretty fond of the book. Especially considering that the second half of the year was taught by two people who had never taught a class in their lives before. Reason for the five stars is that this is an INTRODUCTORY level textbook written about 7 years ago. Even considering that, it's thorough enough and comprehensive enough for an entire year. I wasn't expecting work done last year to be included and I wasn't expecting that it would delve into the intricate details of photosynthetic reaction centers or the latest in optical methods in single molecule dynamics. If you want that kind of detail, go to the journals or specialized texts. However, for those undergraduates undertaking a full year of MCB, I can't recommend this text highly enough. And if you're looking for prokaryotic information, I'd go pick up a copy of Prescott, Harley, and Klein's "Microbiology."

A perfect introduction to the subject
I will say that I had no trouble in reading and understanding this book. All subjects are nicely elaborated and picturized with detailed schematics or with electron microscopy pictures. Scanning electron pictures are the best but very minimal.All basic concepts are covered structure of cell, protein synthesis, DANA , cell structures,nerve cells, atp, etc. You may want to skip better books when it comes to biochemistry or developmental biology but this book gives smooth introduction all subjects and than you make your direction. Compared to book written by Karp, I prefer this one for wider coverage but Karp has some sections called "experimental pathways" that open your vision to latest developments.

May be catagorised: "Antique"
Ounce apon a time in the beginning of the 90's there was a great book: "Molecular Biology of the Cell". However, this very book missed the oppportunity to keep up with exponentiall growth of knowledge accumulated in this field. Indeed it lacks the fundamental information needed by every cell biology student and may only satisfy the needs of a AP biology class at High School.

an outstanding book but somewhat outdated
This book is the most comprehensive book of cell biology I have ever read. I think it is still better than Lodish's Molecular Cell Biology, even the 4th edition of the latter is updated. It helped me greatly in my preparation for GRE Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Test (I received a score of 750, 98%). However, 7 years have passed since this edition and many progresses in cell biology have been made in these years and a new edition is needed. It is said on Medscape Bookstore that the 4th edition of Molecular Biology of the Cell is due to be published in 2002-04 and now I am waiting for it. ... Read more

Book Description

Technology today allows the collection of biological information at an unprecedented level of detail and in increasingly vast quantities. To reap real knowledge from the mountains of data produced, however, requires interdisciplinary skills-a background not only in biology but also in computer science and the tools and techniques of data analysis.To help meet the challenges of DNA research, Data Analysis Tools for DNA Microarrays builds the foundation in the statistics and data analysis tools needed by biologists and provides the overview of microarrays needed by computer scientists. It first presents the basics of microarray technology and more importantly, the specific problems the technology poses from the data analysis perspective. It then introduces the fundamentals of statistics and the details of the techniques most commonly used to analyze microarray data. The final chapter focuses on commercial applications with sections exploring various software packages from BioDiscovery, Insightful, SAS, and Spotfire. The book is richly illustrated with more than 230 figures in full color and comes with a CD-ROM containingfull-feature trial versions of software for image analysis (ImaGene, BioDiscovery Inc.) and data analysis (GeneSight, BioDiscovery Inc. and S-Plus Array Analyzer, Insightful Inc.).Written in simple language and illustrated in full color, Data Analysis Tools for DNA Microarrays lowers the communication barrier between life scientists and analytical scientists. It prepares those charged with analyzing microarray data to make informed choices about the techniques to use in a given situation and contribute to further advances in the field. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Far from superficial...
When entering the minefields of microarray data analysis, one has to understand and keep up with state-of-the-art technologies and interdisciplinary literatures. A background in molecular biology is clearly not enough to evaluate the pro and cons of the various statistical methods for selecting truly modulated candidate genes in a given experimental biological system. Choosing between the available analysis software's is not an easy task either. Draghici presents a complete visit of the microarray underworld by initiating the reader to all the facettes of this domain. From the fundamentals of slide production and target hybridization to image processing, statistical analysis, experimental design, data management and biological interpretation, all aspects treated herein are described with pertinent details. Draghici slowly, but successfully, tames the reticent molecular biologist to the arid world of statistics and even entertains the reader with anecdotes and humoristic citations.
Clearly written, with appropriate mathematical examples for each topic, this book even includes exercises at the end of some chapters, for the zealous student sleeping in all of us. It constitutes a very good didactic tool and the included CD's allow a good peek in some of the available image/data analysis software's on the market.
As a core facility manager and eternal student, I strongly recommend Draghici's book to life scientists and students who are struggling with statistical analysis and data mining techniques.

Brigitte Malette, Ph. D.
Project Leader, Microarray Platform
Centre for Structural and Functional Genomics
Concordia University
Montreal

Detailed and understandable
Draghici managed to write a manual on applying microarray (data) with a great feeling for explanation of hard issues. The book is relatively easy to read, very complete and covers most, if not all, analysis techniques that are currently around for microarrays.

Highly recommendable!

Good Overview of Microarray Technology
I have had the book for about a month now and I consult it quite frequently. Great coverage of Microarray Data Anlysis. It manages to be thourough without being dry or using excessive jargon. It's very readable and useful for both novices and experienced readers.

It's main strength lies in the use of excellent examples that show the main pitfalls encountered in analyzing microarray data. It has great coverage of statistics and their potential misuse and misunderstanding when they are applied to gene expression data sets. The experimental design section is especially helpful for researchers that are designing a project.

The graphics are excellent and the book is printed on good quality paper.

The book includes two CD's with demo versions of several commercial software packages.

Overall a great buy.

Data Analysis Tools for DNA Microarrays
A much needed book for the biologist interested in using DNA/protein microarrays. Examples are specific for microarrays. The material starts from ground zero and begins
with image analysis. All major methods for analysis are discussed.
Well worth the cost, quality graphics, includes software (have not used as yet).
A must read before discussing experimetnal design with your stats person. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

State of the Art Picture
The Birth of the Mind is a really excellent book. Gary Marcus has unified data from more than 500 papers into the state of the art picture of the interactions of the genome and the brain. Well organized and clearly written, Birth leaves no doubt that genes play a crucial role in programming the development of the brain, and paints a Vermeer-like picture of the nature of the influence. In doing so he addresses head on the two main objections to this view. He explains how only 30000 genes can encode a huge and complex brain by showing how genes can have multiple roles and act in groups to perform complex functions. And he resolves the conflict between nature and nurture by showing that the genes code flexible circuits that continue to adapt in response to the environment.

Readers interested in The Birth of the Mind will also enjoy What is Thought?. What is Thought? looks not so much at how the brain wires up, but at the computations mind performs, seeing the genome as source code and the brain as an executable. Recent results in computer science then suggests answers to big "why" questions. What is Thought? suggests fundamental computational principles why the genome being so compact is integral to the computations the brain performs being meaningful, and why learning requires the genome to encode meaningful information into circuits that adapt, as well as why the genome encodes consciousness which has the qualities we experience.

Clearest account of the nature vs. nurture debate.
I very much enjoyed and learned from this new and innovative book, Birth of the Mind by Dr. Gary Marcus. Still, before I could write my own review I came across a professional review in one of Britain's most distinguished journals, Nature Neuroscience. I present it instead:

"About half of the estimated 30,000-odd genes in the human genome are expressed in the brain. Among these genes is hidden the explanation for our unique human cognitive abilities, and for many of the differences between individual people. Developmental neurobiology is the essential bridge for connecting genome to behavior, but despite its obvious importance, there has not yet been a popular book devoted to this subject.

"The Birth of the Mind is an ambitious attempt to fill this gap. The author, Gary Marcus, is a cognitive scientist, but he has learned a lot about developmental neurobiology and has written a concise and very readable introduction to the field. By drawing on related disciplines such as genetics, cognitive science and evolution, he provides an overview of how the interaction between genome and environment gives rise to the human brain and by extension the human mind.

"Marcus gives as clear an account as I have ever seen of the nature versus nurture 'debate' In fact, most biologists no longer regard this as a debate (genes and environment are both important), and the fact that it is still perceived as such by the public may reflect the lack of clear popular account, which this book now provides.

"He also dispels a more recent myth, namely that there is a ˜gene shortage™ that precludes genes from encoding complex behaviors. It is admittedly surprising that we have only 30,000 genes but 100 billion neurons, particularly given that the nematode C. elegans has nearly as many genes yet only 302 neurons. But as Marcus makes clear, genes are complex individually and give rise to even greater complexity by acting in combination; moreover, the truth is that we have no basis for surprise, absent a theory to explain how many genes are needed for a given degree of biological complexity"

"Einstein famously advised that everything should be made as simple as
possible, but no simpler. Marcus takes this to heart, and his book contains
many simplifications but few misrepresentations.

"... enjoyable to read [and written] with a light touch .... I have no
hesitation recommending it to students, scientists from other disciplines, or lay readers wanting to learn something about this fascinating and fast-developing field."

[Nature Neuroscience, April 2004, at p. 117, by Charles Jennings, Executive
Editor of the Nature Research Journals.]

Science writing at its best!
This is an extraordinary book. It brings the reader up to speed on the fascinating and important research that is uncovering how genes and the environment conspire to build brains of extraordinary complexity. The writing is crystal clear, the style is engaging, and Marcus makes the cutting edge science he's discussing accessible to any intelligent reader. This is science writing at its best. If you enjoy reading other great science writers like Pinker and Dawkins, you'll find this a great read!

Building plans and specifications for your mind?
If you are among those still arguing the "nature versus nurture" debate has been resolved, visit an English Lit class. The humanities continue skirting the notion that genes play a role in our mental life. It challenges our ideal of "free will". Marcus, in this matchless survey, argues that "what's good for the body is good for the mind". And few dispute that genes build bodies. The mind, like the body, has deep evolutionary roots. Even the simple organisms inhabiting the planet with us today show how brains develop. Increased complexity of body is reflected in brain structure. And the mind, he reminds us, resides in the brain.

Marcus explains his notion with a wealth of research, most of it very recent. He explains how similar our brain structure is to that of other animals and what that implies for behaviour. The mechanism of building brains is common to all animal life, even when the final product varies. Genes transmit signals - "recipes" - of structure and function for all parts of the body. Brains, he continually reminds us, are not that different from livers. Neurons proceed from points of origin, finding appropriate areas to reside and assume functional duties. From origin to operation they show flexibility and adaptability. In this, Marcus argues, it's clear the brain is no different than any other organ.

It is our brain's interaction with the rest of the body that sets us somewhat apart from the other animals. Language, the element we hold so dear in protecting our unique status, is given a thorough examination in this book. There are no "language genes", Marcus stresses, but there are identified genes, notably FOXP2, known to impact speech ability. He explains that looking for "genes for" something is futile. Genes interact in too convoluted a manner to expect simple associations between a few nucleotides and something as complicated as speech.

Marcus offers a novel term to counter those railing against the strawman "genetic determinism". Having explained how evolution has led to building brains, he declares them "prewired" but not "hardwired". "Prewired" means that basic functions are spelled out biologically, but don't limit our interaction with our environments. All brains permit flexibility by neurons interacting with each other as conditions vary. We can learn because we are prewired to learn. However, we've only begun the research where our brains are concerned.

Marcus presents this trove of information with amazing clarity. His topics aren't simple mechanisms or ideas, yet he conveys it all with graceful logic. He avoids "dumbing down" the science, yet nothing is lost in his presentation. His theme and supporting examples, buttressed by a glossary and extensive bibliography, are expressed in delightfully accessible prose. Some explanatory graphics depict various elements and mechanisms in furthering the reader's understanding. The underlying concept is "universality" and it's easy to see how his ideas apply to all animal life.

This is a valuable book, easily absorbed by students, professionals in many fields, including, in the final chapter, lawyers. The general public should be the primary market for this book since Marcus makes clear what has been learned may be applied in various ways, from "gene therapy" to "designer children". He doesn't avoid the hard issues in showing how recent science has closed off many myths while opening as many new options. Further research is needed, he argues, to avoid foolish mistakes. Those failing to read this book may make or allow those errors. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

The 'gosh, golly' guide to genes, brains and minds.
This book is reasonably enjoyable and informative. The topic is a difficult one, and I think the author is successful in providing a comprehensible overview of a large, complex, and incompletely understood scientific project.

My main criticism is that the author seems to be uncertain about the audience for whom he is writing. At times he is glib and humorous, using colloquialisms and expressions which will quickly date. At other times, understanding the text requires expert knowledge. For example you might quess in Figure 5.3 that Pcx and Ncx stand for Paleocortex and Neocortex, but can you be confident in Figure 7.2 that the orthogonal axes labelled 'M' and 'R' are actually medial and rostral? Having decided to copy illustrations from other sources, the author should have edited them fully, or left the explanatory codes untouched. ... Read more

Book Description

Succinct and focused, this book presents today's most important facts and information about the microbes that cause diseases in humans. This text delivers balanced coverage of immunology, bacteriology, virology, mycology, and parasitology in a user-friendly and organized format, with an emphasis on teaching the student to think like a doctor.An extensive 4-color art program illustrates the text.The 4th Edition has been meticulously revised and updated to incorporate new knowledge, new treatments, and new illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Very thorough book, must buy
This book covers every medical microbiology topic that is needed for class exams or the USLME. The book is intensely filled with very elaborated information that any medical student needs to pass his or her exams. My study group and I also used the following for class exams and the USLME and found it extremely helpful. I also purchased this book on amazon which is the following:
Microbiology Study Guide: Key Review Questions and Answers by Patrick Leonardi (ISBN: 0971999635)
The questions in this study guide were on target with my class exams and was an excellent reference for the USLME. Buy both books. Most definitely!!

How pathogens cause disease
The first thing to understand about this book is that it is a textbook and a difficult one. The difficulty for the beginning student or general reader is not a fault of the authors. Rather it is because medical microbiology itself is a daunting subject full of organisms that can only be seen fuzzily with an electron microscope, if at all, organisms involved in processes and behaviors that are foreign to our everyday experience. Add the fact that most of the material covered here is not part of a non-specialist curriculum either in high school or college, and effectively speaking the untrained reader is starting from scratch.

Well, why do that? First of all, because the material itself--how viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other infectious organisms enter the body, replicate, and cause disease--is fascinating and of immediate relevance to our lives. Second because (to my knowledge) there is little or nothing else available to the general reader that goes beyond a sketchy introduction to the subject. One is forced to read a text book. Fortunately this is a good one and it is thorough.

The text covers the range of infectious disease from viruses to tapeworms. The amount of technical information presented is daunting, and the sheer expanse of terminology a challenge (why is there no glossary?). The text is lavishly illustrated with photos and electron micrographs of the pathogens, as well as numerous schematic drawings showing how microorganisms cause disease, how they replicate, their chemical structure, their morphology, etc.

The instructional schematic drawings I found less valuable than the electron micrographs, but I suspect for the student of microbiology it might be the other way around.

What you'll get out of this handsome book depends on how much time and energy you are able to devote to it. I started reading this in the hope that I would, perhaps by osmosis, pick up some feel for life at the micron level, and I did. Obviously if I had been able to study the text with the help of an instructor, I would have learned a lot more.

pretty decent
This is a great book for students...because it's not heavy! Seriously, the chapters are short and concise,heavenly stuff when you're cramming the night before exams.The writing is clear and focused...it doesn't meander off into extreme details. The illustrations are self explanatory...and the pictures are graphic and gross...like they should be in a infectious disease textbook. Too bad there aren't more of them!

OF COURSE THERE ARE DEFECTS
Reading Murrays Microbiology prooved to be harder than i thought
I will focus my review in one "setback" because the previous reviewers seem to eagerly praised all the good points :
Of course the how-do-diseases-look-like pictures are extremly helpful but there are only few of them .On the top of that there is the total absence of illustrations for visual learning(so visual learners stay away!)

The very plus of this book is the summary boxes.Microbiology is a tough field with millions os info a student needs to know.At least that way the writters point out the basic that definately must be learned first.Otherwise it may be very easily to get lost in tones of information.
Furthermore i would like to mention the fine artwork and especially the front cover.It may sound dump but its a "psycological triggering".It worked for me!

IT'S SUPERLATIVE!
Without questions, this superlative text ranks among the finest and the most up-to-date package on medical microbiology. It demonstrates that this interesting branch of medicine can be both versatile and concise. The book is full of valuable illustrations which students can depend on for quick revisions. Ubiquitous tables, colourful charts and figures all help to accelerate comprehension. Also, there are two additional sections whose chapters handled Immunology and Parasitology in significant detail.
No single textbook may be without shortcomings, but I sincerely recommend this one. ... Read more

Book Description

Biology is in the midst of a era yielding many significant discoveries and promising many more. Unique to this era is the exponential growth in the size of information-packed databases. Inspired by a pressing need to analyze that data, Introduction to Computational Biology explores a new area of expertise that emerged from this fertile field- the combination of biological and information sciences. This introduction describes the mathematical structure of biological data, especially from sequences and chromosomes. After a brief survey of molecular biology, it studies restriction maps of DNA, rough landmark maps of the underlying sequences, and clones and clone maps. It examines problems associated with reading DNA sequences and comparing sequences to finding common patterns. The author then considers that statistics of pattern counts in sequences, RNA secondary structure, and the inference of evolutionary history of related sequences.Introduction to Computational Biology exposes the reader to the fascinating structure of biological data and explains how to treat related combinatorial and statistical problems. Written to describe mathematical formulation and development, this book helps set the stage for even more, truly interdisciplinary work in biology. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A modern classic
The first name people learn in bioinformatics is the Smith-Waterman algorithm. Some people never learn anything else. This is by that Waterman. Although written in 1995, it still has some of the best discussion I've seen on the topics it addresses.

The first few chapters deal with the "digest problem," reconstructing a DNA or protein sequence from the fragment sizes of enzyme digests. The technique is not used as much now as it was then, but it's always good to know the background of modern techniques.

The digest problem doesn't stand alone, though. It introduces concepts - islands, anchors, etc. - that still matter. The problems in reconstructing molecules from digests yield the same kinds of intermediate results and the same ambiguities that arise in modern sequencing. As Waterman advances the discussion, shotgun sequencing appears as a logical extension, at least mathematically, of digest assembly.

Sequence assembly involve end matching, perhaps in the presence of sequencing errors. That introduces the topic for which Waterman's name is famous, approximate string matching. The next few chapter progress through dynamic programming and multiple alignments. The logical connections between the techniques shown are so tight that chapter boundaries are almost artificial. It was a real pleasure to see the computational and practical relationships laid out.

The final topics, RNA structure and phylogenetic trees, lack the continuity that characterized the first dozen chapters. The RNA structure may be the weakest chapter in the book, but still a very competent introduction.

Throughout, Waterman emphasizes mathematical rigor without insisting on uninformative theorems. Every topic is presented in rich detail, with special attention to scoring and background models. Perhaps there are newer discussions of some topics. I don't know of any clearer discussions, though. Best, I think, is how Waterman prepares the reader to ask all the right questions in any future discussion: what are the elements of the computation, how can elements be recombined, how good is a result, and how does the result stand out from the statistical background.

The final chapter is what a bibliography should be. It doesn't just list authors, titles, and dates of publication. It actually discusses the contribution that each source made to this book. Rather than leave the reader to wander aimlessly among obscure titles, Waterman shows which sources are most informative on which topics. I wish more authors took the time for such commentary.

This is a book worth having. It covers topics that I haven't seen elsewhere, and shows how many different topics relate to each other. It is rigorous without giving distracting detail. Most of all, it keeps the biology in sight of all calculations. Some authors seem to forget that anything exists but the arithmetic; Waterman puts the math clearly in the service of its subject. I enjoyed it immensely, and look forward to applying its content in my own research.

Packed full of good information
This book gives a good survey of the different techniques employed by computational biologists. After a brief review of molecular biology in Chapter 1, the author treats the mathematical modeling of restriction maps in Chapter 2 using graph theory. His presentation is somewhat hurried, but he does give references and gives the reader three exercises at the end of the chapter. Multiple maps are treated in Chapter 3, wherein the author first makes use of probability theory, via the Kingman subadditive ergodic theorem. The proof is omitted but the author does a good job of explaining its use in studying the double digest problem (DDP). The best part of this chapter is the author's explanation of the difficulties of using Kingman's results for solving the DDP, and goes on to discuss multiple solutions of the DDP. Graph theory is again used in the discussion. This sets up the discussion in Chapter 4, which outlines algorithms for the DDP. The author gives a very compact introduction to P- and NP-complete problems in the theory of computation, then proves that DDP is NP-complete. The author does a good job of discussing subsequent approximate methods used for the DDP, such as simulated annealing. Markov chains are introduced in the book here for the first time, but due to the shortness of the presentation, the reader should do outside reading as a back-up. The author does a great job of explaining the difficulties if measurement error is introduced in the DDP at the end of the chapter. Cloning is discussed in Chapter 5, with tools from probability theory used to deal with partial digest libraries. The chapter is really short though, and the working the problems at the end of the chapter is essential for the understanding the results of this chapter. The author switches gears in the next chapter, wherein physical maps are discussed. The discussion is fairly detailed and interesting. Sequencing is discussed in the next two chapters, and the treatment is very good. Hashing is introduced here, and psedocode is given throughout. The very important method of dynamic programming is outlined in Chapter 9, which is beautifully written, and again pseudocode abounds throughout. Genetic mapping is left out though, but the this, the longest chapter of the book, is a detailed introduction to this area. The results in this chapter are used to study multiple sequence alignment in Chapter 10, wherein hidden Markov models are introduced for the first time. The discussion of these models is very curt, but there are other books and notes available if the reader needs further guidance. The best chapter of the book follows, which discusses probability and statistics for sequence alignment. The theory of large deviations is brought in, and the author does an excellent job of discussing this important, and powerful theory. The reader's level of mathematical sophistication is assumed to be a lot greater than the rest of the book in this chapter. Knowledge of measure theory and martingales are assumed here. The author uses the very powerful tool of relative entropy, so indispensable in other applications of probability. The problem set at the end of the chapter is challenging but working them through is definitely worth the time involved. The next chapter also uses some heavy guns from probability theory to study sequence patterns. The author returns to matter of a more empirical nature in Chapter 13, which deals with RNA secondary structures. The reader with a background in simple combinatorial theory should find the reading straightforward and informative. Continuous-time Markov chains are introduced in the next chapter to study trees and sequences. The treatment here is rather hurried, so again the reader should work the exercises at the end of the chapter. The book ends with a discussion of the literature and references. All in all a very nice book, worth the price, and worth spending time reading. The only minus might be the total omission of actual source code, but that really was not the intent of the book. Readers with a strong mathematical background will like the book, as well as anyone interested in going into the area of computational biology. ... Read more

Book Description

Welcome to the fascinating world of biology. Learning about living things is like piecing together a complex puzzle. BioInquiry: Making Connections in Biology, a National Science Foundation-supported project (DUE #97-52454), was designed to help you assemble these pieces, to see their connections, and to reveal the beautiful and compelling pictures they create. The text, CD, and web site were developed together from the start to create an engaging, active learning experience. You'll take a virtual tour of the cell, travel with Darwin to the Galápagos Islands, transcribe DNA, perform powerful experiments, and link to the latest biological research on web sites around the world. You'll experience for yourself the profound biological discoveries that forever changed the way we think about life. Enjoy your explorations! ... Read more

Book Description

Limnology is the study of the structural and functional interrelationships of organisms of inland waters as they are affected by their dynamic physical, chemical, and biotic environments. Limnology: Lake and River Ecosystems, 3rd Edition, is a new edition of this established classic text. The coverage remains rigorous and uncompromising and has been thoroughly reviewed and updated with evolving recent research results and theoretical understanding. In addition, the author has expanded coverage of lakes to reservoir and river ecosystems in comparative functional analyses. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Difficult to Read
Well there is no doubt that this book contains a large amount of information, it CANNOT be used as an introductory text. It is much to difficult to comprehend, and Wetzel makes absolutely no effort to teach the concepts. Here merely presents a synthesis of limnological research.

Good as a Limnology Primer
This is an excellent general reference text. Can not say enough about the excellent content of this text. But it is need of an edition update with information for lake mapping and restoration. Dr. C.L. Nelson of St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN has an excellent small text on physical limnology for the mapping aspect. This book does do an excellent job on the biological aspects of limnological work.

My view of the Wetzel's limnology book
The book contains a lot of information related to lakes. It's a complete work about the conditions on this systems. Include a study about the performance of the ionic particles in this systems. It's a suitable book for students like me, to understand the freshwater ecology. ... Read more

Book Description

The 5th Edition of this comprehensive title continues the tradition of delivering an accessible, engaging, and current introduction to this essential subject. The authors describe the principles of basic and applied immunology in a concise, straightforward manner, while incorporating the most up-to-date information. Over 400 illustrations help readers quickly and easily grasp key concepts. The entire text has been revised and includes new information about the organization of lymphoid organs and the mechanisms of innate immunity. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Excellent Intro to the subject
For the advanced reader, I like Janeway's text better because of the depth of information presented, but for an introductory class, Abbas is more accessable and understandable in the introductory chapters. I recommend using them in tandem, I do! The figures are good, but interestingly enough, the illustrations in all the major texts on immunology are largely the same! If you need a CD with illustrations (you are an instructor or want to use them for a presentation etc) I recommend the CD accompanying Peter Parham's text book.

Excellent intro, the way a textbook should be
My only immunology background was in medical school in the early 80s. I bought this book to try to get a basic grasp on what immunology is about now, 20 years later. This book is excellent for that. As other reviewers have commented, the material is well organized and illustrated. The illustrations are numerous enough and detailed enough to almost form an outline in their own right.
While there is considerable repetition, I consider that this is one of the best features of the book for a newcomer such as I. The repetition is clearly very intentional, not the result of disorganization or sloppy editing. Rather it enough to let the reader grasp both the forest and the trees. It also lets you, to some extent, read from any section of the book without being totally lost if you don't remember the previous material.

Primer on the subject
The title of the book says it all: this book treats the expertise of immunology at the cellular and molecular level. It approaches the subject through a collection of explanations of experimental observations. Neither am I a physician nor a medical student, I find this book very comprehensible and helpful in explaining the principles of molecular biology/biochemistry [along with my expertise in chemistry] pertinent to the HIV virus. The book is abound with illustrations and pictorials though the authors at times drag on repeating concepts. The section on effector mechanisms of the immune responses is done in excellent gory details. Tons of illustrations, graphics making understanding of biochemical and immunological mechanisms a less strenuous task. For example, the HIV virus, the book will cover the abnormal events that occur at the first contact of the HIV virus. Then it talks about the virus mechanisms and the effect on the immune response. This 5th edition has been revised and now includes new info and materials about the lymphoid organs and innate immunity mechanism. I recommend it to medical students, pre-meds, and all health care professionals. 4.0 stars.

Pretty good reading...somewhat repetitive
I first read an earlier edition of the book in 1993, during my first graduate level Biology class, under the same title as the book. Since then, some important strides have been made in the field of Immunology, and the book has grown about 50% thicker. However, many themes are repeated too often in the book. 1/2 of a sentence is OK to stress repetition in learning concepts, but often they repeat entire paragraphs 4 or 5 times to strike home a point. If they were to get rid of all those redundant paragraphs, the book would be leaner and meaner and less boring to read. One of the most interesting concepts in the book deals with the Th1/Th2 immune switch, which occurs in allergic patients. The authors classically define this switch simply as going from microbial immunity to allergen immunity. But in my opinion, Th1 to Th2 switches do much more than that. They can affect whether an allergic person is more or less immune to microbes, whether they are differentially immune (ex. more immune to viruses, less to bacteria), and also may significantly affect the person's behavior. Behavior, you ask? What does the immune system have to do with behavior? A lot! Histamine is released during the Th1 to Th2 switch, and Histamine is a neurotransmitter. Also, Serotonin is usually released along with Histamine, and you should know that Serotonin is a key neurotransmitter. The immune system affects the central nervous system much more than many researchers understand. For a more elaborate review of this phenomenon, you can read the book The Failures of American Medicine.

Abbas got me past my qualifying exams in immuno grad sch...
Target audience: Any undergrad or grad student in life sciences. Little background needed beyond the basics of genetics, what is a cell etc. A bit too much for the typical MD course; try Abbas's Basic Immuno. It is a reference for basic immuno concepts, not a reference for every last detail in modern immunology (for that try Paul's Immuno).

What Abbas does: After reading this book (or at least skimming the pictures) you will be able to read the abstracts for immuno journals; you'll be able to say "I vaguely understand why the heck this journal article is important/furthers knowledge of immunology".

Pros: The most up-to-date (more recent than Janeway). A proven favorite of grad students. The pictures are easy-to-follow and demostrate all the main points. In fact, it may be better not to read much of the detail filled text, if you just want general knowledge. Little text boxes that highlight a technique, a historical development (e.g. how they cloned T Cell receptor). Nice section in the back on common lab techniques. Nice chapters on clinical correlates (human disease).

Cons: It is not comprehensive (like Paul's Immunology) nor is it meant to be comprehensive. The signal transduction is hopelessly out of date (all textbooks will fall behind rapid developments in sig transduction).

Geeky immuno nit-picking: Some controversial topics are presented as gospel (for example, anergy and the 2-signal hypothesis, which has not been convincingly demonstrated in vivo "natural system"; if you don't know what i'm talking about, don't worry about it). ... Read more

Book Description

Elaine Marieb's clearly written and comprehensive lab manual guides readers through well-planned lab activities and features new illustrations and full-color photographs that help readers visualize and master lab concepts. Designed to stand alone or for use with other materials, the manual contains anatomical and physiological terminology essential for use in one- or two-semester anatomy and physiology courses. PhyisoEx 4.0 now includes an entirely new laboratory simulation on Acid/Base Balance that focuses on respiratory and metabolic acidosis and alkalosis, as well as renal and respiratory compensation. The lab is accompanied by a written exercise. The Histology tutorial now features 40 new slides plus written worksheets to increase reader comprehension.For college instructors and students, or anyone interested in human anatomy and physiology. ... Read more

Book Description

This second edition of a very successful text reflects the tremendous pace of human genetics research and the demands that it places on society to understand and absorb its basic implications. The human genome has now been officially mapped and the cloning of animals is becoming a commonplace scientific discussion on the evening news. Join authors Julia Richards and Scott Hawley as they examine the biological foundations of humanity, looking at the science behind the sensation and the current and potential impact of the study of the genome on our society.

The Human Genome, Second Edition is ideal for students and non-professionals, but will also serve as a fitting guide for the novice geneticist by providing a scientific, humanistic, and ethical frame of reference for a more detailed study of genetics.

New in this edition:
· 60% new material, including data from the Human Genome Project and the latest genetics and ethics discussions
· Several new case studies and personal stories that bring the concepts of genetics and heredity to life
· Simplified treatment of material for non-biology majors
· New full-color art throughout the text
· New co-author, Julia Richards, joins R. Scott Hawley in this revision ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Awesome!
I am a Genetics student at the University of Kansas with the intent of beginning medical school in August.I strongly feel this text has helped me to be better prepared on this topic.I enjoyed the style in which this book was written since you can almost hear the authors speak directly to you as you're reading.I especially admire and appreciate the authors' human sides come across in the examples that are given.Too bad my other science textbooks aren't as interesting!

Better than before!
I personally think that the first edition was unfairly reviewed-A couple of the ridiculously negative reviewers who bashed the book (without providing much explanation or insight) were probably written by former students whom the authors flunked, since the attacks appear personal. Of course, the first edition wasn't perfect, although it was pretty darn good!I recently had a chance to peek at the new, 2nd edition, and was thrilled to see so many improvements.The language is much clearer and easier to follow since the authors use a nice conversational tone and less-technical language.The color art is really impressive and ADDS to the new edition.The book is at least twice as long and packed with current, up-to-date information such as human cloning, the human genome project and genetic diseases.I definitely recommend buying this book!

Timely and Thorough revision
This SECOND EDITION is a major improvement on the first (which was already pretty good). It's an excellent text on modern Human Genetics. Not too overwhelming for non-experts, in fact perfect for the absolute novice, but enough science to really get the gist of the issues. It goes a long way to explaining some difficult concepts that I haven't seen treated correctly elsewhere.

Individual aspects of disorders covered
I had this text for a MCB 10 (genetics) course at UC Davis in California.I found the science part of it interesting and for the most part helpful.I think the authors really tried to keep the reader's interest, and make asubject that is not always thought of as fascinating a little more lightand relevant.People may disagree about including anecdotes in a textbook,but I think the anecdotes, while they may have been out of place,made thebook more readable for me.Also, I really admired the way the authorsfocused on the individual aspects of the disorders they mentioned.As ayoung woman with Turners Syndrome, I can say that it was very refreshingthat for once we were not portrayed as genetic mutants, and that individualdifferences that occur in any disorder was pointed out.I think it's sad,looking down the reviews, that only the bad reviews were seen as helpful. I would hope that people will give this book a chance.

A great book for a genetics course
I enjoyed reading Dr. Hawley's book.I found it very interesting and useful in the study of genetics.A few of the chapters were very advanced and difficult to read and there were a few points that he could haveelaborated on, but over all the book covered most of the important topicsthat are pertinant to a broad study of genetics. ... Read more

Book Description

Extensively revised and updated throughout, with seven entirelynew chapters and the insights of 31 new contributors, the Third Editionreflects the explosive growth of information in the dynamic field ofimmunology. Coverage includes recent groundbreaking discoveries onmolecular events that regulate the immune response, antigen processingand presentation, cytokines, and immune responses to infectiousagents.Six chapters in the Third Edition focus on completely newtopics--immunoglobulin class switching; somatic mutation and affinitymaturation; immunosuppression; and immunity to viruses, intracellularbacteria, and extracellular bacteria. Antigen processing andpresentation, which were only touched on in the previous edition, arenow described in detail in a separate chapter. Coverage of the role ofspecific cytokines in the immune response has been greatly expanded.Chapters on HIV infection, primary immunodeficiency diseases, allergyand hypersensitivity, and immunoparasitology have been rewritten by newcontributors who are preeminent authorities on these diseases. Allchapters include updated references. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

excellent
the next best thing to actually following the literature. a great way to get a background in a less familiar topic.

Fundamental, not necessarily introductory
This book is in many rspects the Immunology equivalent of the G&G pharmacology bible. Or in other words: if you do Immunology for a living, this book should always be within reach. Just like G&G's book, Fundamental Immunology started out in the same way the "encyclopedia" started in the Age of Enlightment: a compendium of all the knowledge available. With the exponential expansion of both Pharmacology and Immunology, these disciplines no longer fit in one, ten, or even a hundred volumes each, and tough choices have to be made. In Paul's FI, these choices are very much geared towards the professional, and far less so to the student. Yet, many of the subjects are treated in a way that not only incorperates much of the up to date details, but also gives thorough treatment of the fundamental concepts behind them. Thus, this book should also be the text of choice for those students that have sufficient tutoring resources available to guide them through the maze of the wild and wonderful world of Immunology.

It can be used as a dictionary.
It is not recommended as a text book, but is as a dictionary. Because it contains many informations about immunology and few illastlations.

Not the best book on the subject
Overly complex in exposition. Insufficiently illustrated. Represents an NIH viewpoint, not the best in science. Does not relate the molecular details to the cellular interactions sufficiently. ... Read more

Book Description

Tailored for the introductory microbiology laboratory course, the book features approximately 400 color photographs that demonstrate the results of laboratory procedures and show the morphology of important microorganisms.The photographs demonstrate the unique characteristics of common microorganisms and also their appearance after various stains and tests. Many of the photographs are labeled to point out important structures. The clearly written descriptions accompanying the photos helps students understand and, in some cases, achieve the results depicted in the photographs. Each laboratory procedure has the following sections: a Purpose and Procedure Summary, Tips for Success, and Expected Results. For anyone interested in microorganisms. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

You need this book!
Trust me, you will love it. Even though most microbiology courses come with a lab book, it is nothing like this book. It has ALL the pictures you need, information, easy to read and most of all, will surely get you through the course with ease. It helps in every aspect. I would not have gotten through my 5 week intense summer course without it. It surely was my lab lifesaver, and I have the grade to thank for it:)

Awesome Atlas
Pictures are of top quality. This makes microbiology a lot easier to understand. This book also helped me with lab. It showed pictures of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as examples quite clearly. I also highly recommend: Tortora's Microbiology Textbook. Tortora explains bacteria, viruses, parasites very well. For test preparation, get Microbiology Study Guide: Key Review Questions and Answers by Patrick Leonardi. This study guide showed me what to expect on my college microbiology exams. This photo atlas is a definite keeper. Definitely not selling it back.

EXCITINGLY MICRO-VISUAL
With hundreds of high-quality pictures, this atlas stands out. It is hard-to-beat!
Together with their sound descriptive texts, the figures of this book will serve as indispensable guide for both beginners and advanced learners alike. The print-resolutions of all the photographs are fine. As a result, each culture-colony was well-defined and represented.
This atlas is a significant visual lab, which would assist students in honing their understanding. As well, practicing laboratory scientists would cherish the complementary knowledge it provides. And given its fair price, there is no reason why I should refrain from recommending it. It's cute!

Great photos, great text, great book!
I loved this book. It's a very helpful companion to your microbiology/parasitology book and class. It has a beautiful paper and photos that will be hard to find elsewhere. Also the price is great, compared to other books or atlases. Don't think twice and get it!!. You'll be amazed by Mr. Steve K. Alexander et al.

would not have survived microbiology lab without it
this is by far the best atlas if you are taking a college level microbiology course. the lab section of the course moves very quickly and normally you're lab experiment book will not tell you what your results should be or what they will look like. every page of this atlas is high glossy quality color photos and the text is laid out in an easy to read format. every diagnostic test that is done in the lab is covered in this book not only in text but with color photos that show how each different microbe reacts under those conditions. i can not say enough about this atlas and you could spend a lot more money on other books that are far less informative. the publisher and the author must have been out of their minds when they set the price for this book. believe me you will be so pleased with this purchase, i use it every day. FYI i am pursuing a masters degree in microbiology and i have gotten a solid A in all of my microbiology courses, thanks to this book ... Read more