Book Description

Around 60,000 years ago, a man--identical to us in all important respects--lived in Africa. Every person alive today is descended from him. How did this real-life Adam wind up father of us all? What happened to the descendants of other men who lived at the same time? And why, if modern humans share a single prehistoric ancestor, do we come in so many sizes, shapes, and races?

Showing how the secrets about our ancestors are hidden in our genetic code, Spencer Wells reveals how developments in the cutting-edge science of population genetics have made it possible to create a family tree for the whole of humanity. We now know not only where our ancestors lived but who they fought, loved, and influenced.

Informed by this new science, The Journey of Man is replete with astonishing information. Wells tells us that we can trace our origins back to a single Adam and Eve, but that Eve came first by some 80,000 years. We hear how the male Y-chromosome has been used to trace the spread of humanity from Africa into Eurasia, why differing racial types emerged when mountain ranges split population groups, and that the San Bushmen of the Kalahari have some of the oldest genetic markers in the world. We learn, finally with absolute certainty, that Neanderthals are not our ancestors and that the entire genetic diversity of Native Americans can be accounted for by just ten individuals.

It is an enthralling, epic tour through the history and development of early humankind--as well as an accessible look at the analysis of human genetics that is giving us definitive answers to questions we have asked for centuries, questions now more compelling than ever. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

"Y" is the answer - not the question
A few years ago a furor arose over the announcement that a calculation of mitochondrial DNA mutation rate formulated an "African Eve". Since then other genetic ancestral studies have been undertaken. Most notable of these was the determination that Neanderthal was not a direct ancestor of modern humans. Spencer Wells provides an enthralling overview of the research tracking changes in the Y [male] chromosome. The studies verify again that our origins are African. Somewhere, around 60 000 years ago, lived one man, a flesh and blood individual, from whom we've all descended. His progeny, in an amazingly short span, scattered around the globe. The scattering isn't news, but the verification of the paths and chronology is lucid and vividly outlined in this book.

The key to the tracking, as Wells makes abundantly clear, are various polymorphisms [changes] in the Y chromosome. These mutations are reflected in today's populations and the rate of their diversity indicates the approximate age of the various regional groups. These changes, nearly all prefixed "M" [male?] are used as ingredients in recipes Wells offers as illustrative metaphor. It's a clever ploy, so long as you remember ingredients may only be added, never removed nor replaced. That's how genetics works, he reminds us. He portrays the build-up of recipe ingredients with maps and diagrams. The diagrams are almost redundant as the clarity of his prose enables you to envision them.

Following the paths of migration, Wells shows how some archaeological finds offer support for the patterns he sees. Fossils are rare, elusive and sometimes misunderstood. Genetics, buried deep in our cells, are unequivocal in providing their evidence. Dating methods are briefly described and their shortcomings mercilessly paraded. Wells doesn't give the paleoanthropologists much voice. His story needs telling and the reader may go elsewhere for countering information. Yet he acknowledges the importance of confirming information from various digs around the world.

Wells firmly addresses a great anomaly - if modern humans arose from the evolutionary bouillabaisse about 60 millennia ago, how did the Aborigines arrive in Australia at nearly the same time? His answer is that the track followed shore routes, not inland ones. Hunter-gatherer groups, subject to the whims of climate, food resources and population pressure took the softest trail. Africa to Australia during ice ages was a gentle, if lengthy, stroll.

Nit-picking department: Wells' opening gun is turned on the racial "expert" Carleton Coon, who asserted the human races each followed a separate evolutionary path. Coon has been refuted in so many ways by so many researchers, Wells' effort seems superfluous. There are more competent scientists adhering to the "Multiregional" thesis. Some of these researchers might have been given a small voice in an annotated bibliography. While Wells offers a reading list for each chapter, a full bibliography would be an enhancement. Many of his references are remote. That doesn't tarnish the value of this book. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Death Blow for the Multiregionalists
After reading this book, I don't know how anyone can seriously entertain the theory of multiregionalism anymore. The genetic evidence is conclusive and proves that we have all descended from a band of anatomically modern humans somewhere in Africa 50,000 years ago.

Wells has written a cogent and persuasive book that looks at every phase and aspect of the human odyssey from these African origins to modern times. If I have any criticism, however, it's that the book tends to slow down a bit after the settlement of the Americas is discussed. The chapters on the spread of agriculture and the evolution of language were less coherent than the others and seemed to digress from the central thesis. Still, I highly recommend the book to anyone interested in the recent origins of modern man. It shows that only 2000 generations ago, we were all one family living in one place. The racial differences we all note today are thus very recent and very superficial. This is all the more important to understand now that the world is heading toward genetic convergence rather than genetic divergence. In another couple thousand years, we will probably all look like Tiger Woods (one of the multi-racial examples Wells cites in his book).

Impressively little content.
One doesn't learn a lot about evolutionary genetics from this book. When the author talks about how statisticians arrive at a result he does a really poor job of explaining the calculation for a layman. He presents almost nothing at all, just stating results. The book contains a lengthy list of results from many different fields. Most people want to know a lot more about how the various quantities are deduced, even a newspaper article goes more in depth. Science via inductive logic is a little sketchy, but you get the impression that the author doesn't understand that what he studied in grad school is inductive. One receives the impression that the author doesn't question much of anything at all.

This is a book about everything he learned as a post-doc, all the people that he met, and all of their theories. But, I don't think that many people will take anything away from The Journey of Man - it lacks the substance that readers of layman's science books desire.

Why I love this book!
I am Indian (with roots in the Indian subcontinent) and I like the way Spencer Wells touches upon our "aryan" Y-chromosome that (as he explains) we share with the eastern europeans. Take that Hitler. And yes I too feel this book beats Seven Daughter of Eve (by Bryan Sykes)by far.

No photos in the paparback edition!!!
The paperback edition does not include any photographs. They are essential and included in the hardcover edition in a great number!!! ... Read more

Book Description

The Phylogenetic Handbook is a broad introduction to the theory and practice of nucleotide and amino acid phylogenetic analysis. As an unique feature of this book, each chapter contains an extensive practical section, in which step-by-step exercises on real data sets introduce the most widely used phylogeny software including CLUSTAL, PHYLIP, PAUP*, DAMBE, TREE-PUZZLE, TREECON, SplitsTree, TreeView, SimPlot, MEGA2, PAML and BOOTSCANNING. The book provides a strong background in basic topics: the use of sequence databases, alignment algorithms, tree-building methods, estimation of genetic distances, and testing models of evolution. ... Read more

Book Description

From its first-published account in 1985, the polymerase chain reaction has become a standard research tool in a wide range of laboratories. Its impact has been felt in basic molecular biological research, clinical research, forensics, evolutionary studies, and the Human Genome Project. The PCR technique originally conceived by Nobel laureate Kary Mullis has proven to be exceptionally adaptable and has been transformed into a myriad array of methods, each with different applications.

PCR Primer: A Laboratory Manual introduces the complex world of PCR by beginning at an accessible level and then moving to more advanced levels of application. First, the practical requirements for performing PCR and other amplification techniques in the lab are introduced and then the basic aspects of the technique are explained by exploring important issues such as sample preparation, primer design, efficiency, detection of products, and quantitation. Protocols for a wide range of PCR and amplification techniques—each written by an expert investigator—are presented for cloning, sequencing, mutagenesis, footprinting, library construction and screening, exon trapping, differential display, and expression, and these include RT-PCR, RNA PCR, LCR, multiplex PCR, panhandle PCR, capture PCR, expression PCR, 3' and 5' RACE, immune PCR, in situ PCR, and ligation-mediated PCR. Each protocol is augmented by analysis and troubleshooting sections and complete references. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Best PCR manual there is!
I have used two different protocols from this book, 1, RACE-PCR and 2, mutagenesis.These two methods were described very well, both theoretically and practically. The protocols were described in detail, were easy to follow, and they work! I'm sure that the other protocols in this book also work equally well. If you do PCR, you need this book! ... 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

Amazon.com

Having trouble deciphering your genetic code? Do dominant genes make you feel recessive? Let reigning nonfiction cartoonist Larry Gonick and microbiologist Mark Wheelis ease your way through Mendelian genetics, molecular biology, and the basics of genetic engineering. Gonick's drawings range from a moderately detailed look at ribosomes in action to loony pictures of dancing scientists, talking peas, and opinionated fruit flies. Matthew Meselson, co-discoverer of the "one gene-one protein" principle, says, "it puts textbooks to shame"--and he's right. --Mary Ellen Curtin ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Demystifies DNA
I'm no science genius and college zoology left me still in the dark regarding DNA. I bought this book because one reviewer said that his colleague was using it for a genetics course and I knew a student who needed some help with genetics. I read the book myself, and then spoke with the student. This book would be great for someone in Introductory Biology but for someone in a genetics course it's simply not advanced enough. But the book did help me understand DNA for the first time. It also showed me that a good instructor can make the whole field understandable and interesting unlike my college zoology professor who only made it intimidating and boring. Now if the genetics instructor I'm thinking of would read this maybe she'd figure out how not to bore her class to sleep.

Seriously I loved the historical approach to the field, the cartoons and the jokes were great. This book took the intimidation factor out of biology to a degree. Now I can at least talk intelligently about the subject. High school students could learn a lot from this, and struggling college freshmen might not struggle quite so badly in introductory biology with this at their side.

Historical tour through genetics in a comic book
The cartoon guide to genetics is like a comic book through the history of genetics starting with ancient times and going through modern genetic engineering. The chronological arrangement of information is informative and interesting. In the age of the sequenced human genome it is often hard to think of what science was like without information that is now taken for granted. The scientists that paved the way for modern genetics -Mendel, Beadle, Griffith, Chargaff and many more and their landmark experiments are all given a moment in the spotlight. Even some incorrect theories are introduced including the reasoning behind them at the time. The section on Mendel's famous pea plant experiments is especially well done. There are several pages of Punnett squares (though the author doesn't really use that word) and drawings of what causes the different ratios. This concept is often hard for students to understand, but it is explained well and simply here.

This book does not assume that the reader has any scientific background and everything is explained from the basics. It also does not get into real detail about anything, but that kind of detail isn't necessary for a broad understanding of genetics. Most of the comics aren't really that funny, but even so they bring levity to an often difficult topic. I happen to enjoy the picture of the human-strawberry hybrid. This is a great book for visual learners who like to see everything; the diagrams in this book make complicated systems simpler without leaving out too much. This is a good background resource for anyone who wants to understand the hot topic of genetics. Granted a lot has happened since this book was published, but the foundation is still the same.

An excellent intro to an important field
Genetics, as you've probably heard, is a field of study that's likely going to play a very big part in society's near future. It's also a tough branch of science to grasp. What's the difference between DNA, a gene, a chromosome and a genome? How much of a role does genetics play in your health - is DNA destiny?

This book is a solid introduction to understanding genetics: the basics of the science, the history of humanity's knowledge of it, how it relates to other fields (ie evolution) - all explained well, in both word and the highly helpful illustrations. As always, Gonick tosses in some humor with his cartoons, but don't be fooled into thinking this is kid stuff. He delves into serious science. (And I noted with great amusement that one reviewer who hated the book was a big fan of the "for dummies" series. Irony much?)

I liked this book a lot - not quite as good as The Cartoon Guide to Physics, and bear in mind that current advances in genetics may well render parts of the book outdated soon... but it's still well worth reading.

Introduction to Genetics
I use this book to introduce 8th graders to Genetics as it is entertaining, gives them good basic information and keeps them amused (and therefore reading!). Because we are working with basic genetics and because I am able to bring them to the present once they understand the basic concepts this book works very well as a text. I also find that it works well with a variety of ability groups. For the poor reader it is very visually stimulating and the writers are pretty funny. It also reads well in spurts or chunks. For the more advanced reader or student it is good because they can read through it quickly and get all the basic information that I need them to have for this class. I highly recommend the book for any middle school teachers that want to introduce a fairly abstract topic to a group of students who are predominantly still concrete learners. If you are looking for a book to inform you on new discoveries in the field this is not your book, but if you need a book to introduce genetic concepts to young people (or older non-readers), this is an excellent choice.

Fun, but not doesn't cover more than the basics
I purchased this book to review the basics of genetics, mostly to be able to sound more knowledgeable than my pre-med significant other. I was very dissapointed to find that the book covered fundamentally the same material I remembered seeing as a freshman in high school 15 years ago. Not only has it not been updated to reflect the explosion in genetics, it basically covers the same fundametals one has gotten in a basic high school course. If you didn't understand it then, this book will help, otherwise it will just give you an interesting hour or two. I love Larry Gonick's other works (especially the History of the Universe series), but this one just doesn't measure up. ... 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

Oxford University Press is proud to present GENES VII--the latest edition of Benjamin Lewin's best-selling textbook. This authoritative work provides an integrated account of the structure and function of genes and incorporates all the latest research in the field.

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT REORGANIZATION TO DATE

The power of direct analysis of the genome has made a significant difference in the approach of GENES VII. In a departure from previous editions, which started with a traditional analysis of formal genetics, the new edition begins with the molecular properties of the gene itself. The text is now reorganized to begin with the concept of genes as a segment of DNA coding for protein, and then proceeds directly to the characterization of the genome in terms of its content of genes.

INTEGRATED APPROACH

GENES VII first explains the structure and function of the gene as a means to revealing the operation of the genome as a whole, and offers an integrated approach to prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The gene is considered from all aspects, including:

* Basic forms

* The numbers and relationships among genes in a genome

* Their packaging into chromosomes

* The process of gene expression from transcription through translation

* The reproduction and safeguarding of the gene structure

* Aspects of the overall circuitry through which genotype determines phenotype

STREAMLINED, FULL-COLOR DESIGN

GENES VII has been considerably restructured and reorganized to highlight the latest research and technology. It contains more that 800 full color illustrations that are extremely useful in teaching the key concepts presented in the book.

GENES VII CONTAINS NEW, GROUNDBREAKING INFORMATION ON:

* New technologies that count and compare expressed genes

* Accessory proteins (chaperones)

* The role of the proteasome

* Licensing

* Reverse translocation

* Connections between repair and recombination systems and human diseases

* Connections between the structure of chromosomal material and control of gene expression in eukaryotes

* The process of X chromosome inactivation

* Imprinting

* Control of gene expression by epigenetic changes

* The enzymatic activities that control chromatin structure and affect the regulatory process

* Archeael enzymes

* The mechanism of RNA editing in lower eukaryotes

* The role of RAG genes

* Interactions within and between pathways

* The use of protein degradation to control passage through the cell cycle

* Programmed cell death

* Telomerase and its role in carcinogenesis. And much more! ... Read more

Reviews (21)

It's earned a spot on my bookshelf
Although many of my college textbooks have been packed away into neat little boxes and shoved into an attic, this one sits on my shelf and will be called into duty in the future. In an ideal world, the author would have written just for me: reordered the chapters, gone into greater detail for some topics and less for others, and inserted images that pertained to the level of detail I needed. However, the world isn't ideal. The book comes as close as any text can to meeting the needs of readers who need the book as a fundamental learning aid and as a reference guide. However, although it's jam-packed with information, it's a little tedious reading through the elementary text to get to what you need. Perhaps he needs to split the book into two texts: an Introductory Genes (Green Genes?) and an advanced text. Overall, worth the money.

Thumbs down from a frustrated professor
Lewin's Genes series has dominated the market in Molecular Biology textbooks ... Unfortunately, its monopoly status seems to have insulated Lewin, his illustrators, and his editors from the corrective influences of a competitive market...so far.

I am in my second year of teaching from this book and I find it very frustrating. Lewin's writing style is unclear, difficult and distracting. Tangential ideas and subjects appear out of nowhere in the middle of chapters for no logical reason. As I write this, I should be preparing my lecture for Chapter 26 (Signal transduction). Why does this chapter start with a discussion of transporters? Later parts contain sentences that are almost unreadable and way too much detail about the alphabet soup of different kinases.

Although it is much better than some earlier editions, Genes VII still contains a variety of major and minor errors, including serious problems in explaining how lagging strand DNA synthesis is coordinated in the replication fork - several experts tell me that the model in figure 13.16 is simply wrong. The holoenyme does not lose one of its catalytic subunits with each cycle of Okazaki fragment synthesis. The clamp simply lets go and the clamp loader grabs the next fragment with a new clamp. I realized this semester that I had been ignoring the book and teaching what I knew from seminars.

Even when the content they describe is basically correct, figures in Genes VII can be astonishingly bad. Homologous recombination is illustrated with DNA strands that are only color coded and where the 5' and 3' ends are not labeled (Chapter 14). Unlabeled spliceosomal proteins change their color codes in the middle of the pathway - transesterification to form the lariat also seems to change U2 into U1 (Figure 22.10).

I am hoping that one of the newer competitors for Genes VII will prove to be a suitable replacement. I am examining Robert Weaver's Molecular Biology - I like what I've read so far - and should get a review copy of T.A. Brown's Genomes soon. ...Disclaimer - I have no financial interest in the success of any of these. All of them are available on Amazon.

By the way, I do have a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology. I'm not an expert in all of the material covered by Genes VII, but I was trained in labs whose work is cited in Genes VII.

the best book
In my opinion it is the best book i have partly read by far and every time when i have a free time i intrestingly like to read this book. In fact, i have found it very usefull to undrestand basic meaning of celular and molecular phenomenons and genes.

Great book
This book is well written and provides an excellent introduction to the subject matter. It's a comprehensive text for anyone who wishes to gain a thorough exposure to the genes, genomes and gene regulation. However, this book does have it's drawbacks. Recent advances in genomics maybe covered on a later textbook. Perfect for an undergraduate or a beginning grad student. I suggest this book as a companion for a more comprehesive text such MBOC by alberts et al. If you are faced with a choice of either alberts or Genes VII, I suggest alberts. For the seasoned molecular biologist I urge you to look elsewhere.

Good
This book is useful but if your new to genetics and want a nice reference book that is easy to read I recommend "Concepts of Genetics" by Klug and Cummings. I have the 6th version and even though it is not as popular as Lewin's texts it reads well and has great pictures. ... Read more

Book Description

Genetics and Analysis of Quantitative Traits brings together the diverse array of theoretical and empirical applications of quantitative genetics under one cover, in a way that is both comprehensive and accessible to anyone with a rudimentary understanding of statistics and genetics. What was originally envisioned as a single text has now become two, with the focus of this first book being on the basic biology and methods of analysis of quantitative characters. (The second book, Evolution and Selection of Quantitative Traits, will address the basic principles that govern the evolutionary dynamics of quantitative characters under the forces of mutation, random genetic drift, and natural and/or artificial selection, integrating the theory of evolution of such characters with existing empirical data from natural and domesticated plant and animal populations.) Written as a general text in quantitative genetics, the book will also be useful as a basic reference for the seasoned professional. Throughout, central theoretical concepts are developed from first principles. To aid the less statistically sophisticated reader, several chapters and appendices focus on the basic statistical tools needed to digest the book. Wherever possible, theoretical and analytical concepts are illustrated with empirical examples from diverse settings.

Three major features of Genetics and Analysis of Quantitative Traits distinguish it from earlier work. First, it reflects the explosive influx over the past few years of quantitative-genetic thinking into evolutionary biology. Second, in animal breeding, enormous strides have been made in the development of new techniques for estimating breeding values (for the purposes of identifying elite individuals in selection programs) and for estimating variance components from samples of complex pedigrees. In this text's last two chapters, the authors outline the basic principles of complex pedigree analysis, without getting bogged down in technical details. Third, Genetics and Analysis of Quantitative Traits provides a broad overview of the newly emerging array of techniques for quantitative-trait loci (QTL) analysis, currently one of the most active fields of quantitative-genetic research.

Genetics and Analysis of Quantitative Traits contains numerous fully-worked examples and illustrations of theoretical concepts, as well as over 2,000 references with indices by subject, author, and organism. In addition, the authors maintain a World Wide Web site featuring up-to-date lists of computer programs and on-line resources, and added information on various topics presented in the text. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Comprehensive in scope
I read this book with the expectation that it would give me an idea of the extent to which organism traits or phenotypes are determined optimally. Discussions on evolution frequently regard the functioning and attributes of an organism as being optimal at the particular time in its evolutionary history. A successful theory of evolution as a theory of mathematical optimization would entail a thorough understanding of the evidence for this hypothesis of optimality of phenotypes.

Another interesting question as to what effect a certain mixing of genetic factors, each one of these factors determining a phenotype separately (and optimally), would determine an optimal phenotype. An answer to this question would be important from the standpoint of transgenic strategies.

But this book is not about optimization theory in genetics, but one that introduces the reader to an analysis, in the authors view, of how evolution happens, and not a predictive tool of what ought to evolve. And, as the authors correctly point out, the time scales needed to evolve an optimal phenotype are not usually dealt with in discussion on optimization strategies. The authors also argue that optimization theories do not consider the expected phenotypic variance or the influence of random drift or mutation. Quantitative genetics does this, they state, and they define it as a mechanistic theory of the evolutionary process.

What is also interesting about quantitative genetics is that it was responsible directly or indirectly for a large body of statistical theory, many of these results being standard material in modern classes in statistics. It is also beginning to find an intersection with the theory of molecular genetics. The authors remark that eventually both quantitative and molecular genetics will have to answer to each other, and they give a taste of this in the chapter on marked-based analysis and QTLs.

There is no question that the reading of this book will give the reader a comprehensive overview of quantitative genetics. But, it takes an very long time to get through, and there are no exercises to test the understanding. Readers will need a fair knowledge of statistics to read the book, but there are three chapters and appendices in the back of the book outlining some of the necessary statistical concepts. The level of mathematics is the most sophisticated in the last chapter, which uses techniques such as maximum likelihood, expectation maximization, and restricted maximum likelihood. Readers with a background in bioinformatics will be very familiar with these techniques. Newton-Rhapson methods and Fisher's scoring method are discusses as derivative-based methods for solving the ML/REML equations and compared with the EM methods for doing the same. The authors are very convincing in informing the reader of the difficulty in estimating genetic variance components in real populations. Also, and most importantly, there are myriads or real-world examples given to illustrate the theory.

For molecular geneticists, and for those very curious about the connection between molecular biology and quantitative genetics, chapter 14, covering the principles of marker-based analysis, would probably be the most interesting in the book. The treatment is both historical, discussing the effects of entire chromosomes, and modern, discussing topics such as using markers or the construction of nearly isogenic lines and cloning individual QTLs. In the 'classical' approach to marker-based methods the authors discuss chromosomal assays, wherein a chromosome from one line is substituted into a standard genetic background chosen to have minimum variance. Since a chromosomal segment may contain a large position of the total genome, the authors take what could be called a 'coarse-grained' approach that utilizes genetic factors rather than a 'microscopic' one emphasizing individual genes. Such a strategy requires large sample sizes if one is to detect factors that result in extremely small effects. Examples of this approach are given, and the authors discuss its weaknesses, one being that a large chromosomal section can have QTLs that have effects in opposite directions, resulting in a net effect close to zero. Thoday's method is also discussed in order to point out the limitations of using flanking-marker mapping methods. The genetics of Drosophila bristle number is also briefly treated, but many references are given.

Recoginizing that direct sequencing of DNA gives a measure of genetic variation, the authors point out though that restriction fragment length polymorphisms are suitable for most purposes, assuming that these are detectable. The advantages and disadvantages of other techniques, such as randomly amplified polymorphic DNAs, are also discussed. The arithmetic involved in genetic mapping is treated in fair detail, the authors overviewing what is involved mathematically in map distances, recombination frequencies, and in the estimation of how many randomly distributed markers are needed to gaurantee that a portion of the genome is within a given number of map units of a marker. The strategies for mapping and cloning of QTLs are the main emphasis in the rest of the chapter. Some of the more interesting discussions here include: 1. The phenomena of 'linkage drag', wherein linked undesirable geness can be dragged along with the marker; 2. Candidate loci and their use in the study of genetic disorders. The authors outline in great detail the problems with this approach, such as linkage disequilibrium; 3. Gene cloning and its use in the study of QTLs. The authors discuss two different cloning strategies, namely that of transposon tagging and positional cloning. The authors emphasize the need for inbred lines for the detection of QTLs by transposon tagging to reduce variance from segregation at other loci. Because of this need, they seem skeptical of the general use of this technique, but give a brief argument as to its possible success using homologies in sequence data between species. The authors also emphasize the complexity involved in the use of positional cloning and comparative mapping and then outline an algorithm as to how to use NILs to do positional cloning of a QTL.

Comprehensive
An amazing book that really tells you all you need to know about designing and analyzing quantitative genetic experiments.

Wonderful book.
An awesome book. Everything you ever wanted to know about quantitative genetics and more. A must for every evolutionary biologist. ... Read more

Book Description

A new edition of the classic handbook that has become a standard in the Drosophila field. The book is expanded to include topics in which classical genetic strategies have been augmented with new molecular tools. Included are such new techniques as homologous recombination, RNAi, new mapping techniques, and new mosaic marking techniques. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Bible of the Fly Pusher!!!!!
A really must-have!!!
The basics, the tips,
all for manipulating drosophila at the beginning and even later.
Here you'll find a lot of informations about balancers, recombinations, how to do crosses, markers, etc...
A very good introduction to the drosophila world!

A "must" for all fly pushers
The contents in this book are well upto the point. This book saved my skin when i first joned a fly lab. It taught me all the basics i need to know to work on Drosophila. It is been 2 years since i first read it but even today for every little doubt i have on flies, I first go back to this book to see if I got my concepts right. It is an excellent book for all fly geneticists, be it amateurs or professionals for all aspects on fly pushing. Actually i give this book 6 stars out of 5. ... Read more

Book Description

The application of computational methods to DNA and protein science is a new and exciting development in biology. Bioinformatics: Sequence and Genome Analysis is a comprehensive introduction to this emerging field of study. The book has many unique and valuable features:

It is written for any biologist who wants to understand methods of sequence and structure analysis and how the necessary computer programs work

Sequence alignment, structure prediction, phylogenetic and gene prediction, database searching, and genome analysis are clearly explained and amply illustrated

Underlying algorithms and assumptions are clearly explained for the non-specialist

Examples are presented in simple numerical terms rather than complex formulas and notation

Theoretical underpinnings are linked to biological problems and their solutions

Extensive tables provide descriptions and Web sources for a broad range of publicly available software

Based on the author's extensive experience as a molecular geneticist and bioinformaticist at the University of Arizona, this is a uniquely educational book, ideal as a laboratory reference for investigators and also as teaching reference for graduate and undergraduate students studying this fast-changing discipline. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

good for computational biologist
If you are a biologist and just want to know some background information of how to apply bioinformatics to your research, do not read this book. My recommendation for you is "developing bioinformatics computer skills" and some other books like that.
If you are a student or scientist who study bioinformatics, this book is an excellent book and really worthy to read. This books gives very detailed information on algorithm to help us understand how the software such as BLAST and FASTA are designed. The illustrations are easy to understand compared with other books I have read, especially for the statistics part of any algorithm.
One weak point is that the book focus on nucleic acid sequence analysis while talk little about protein.

Horrible. A lot better books should be available nowadays
In short, the author does not have enough writing skill to write this text book.

I purchased this book a while ago. At that time, the book was really difficult to read. I thought that it is because I do not have enough knowledge to understand the material. So I stopped reading this book and studied bioinformatics by other means.

After gaining enough knowledge in bioinformatics, I re-opened this book, and it is funny to find that I still have the same amount of difficulty in understanding what the author wrote about topics that I have already built good understanding. Reading this book will only deteriorate one's understanding.

Several years ago, only just a few books were available on the market, so one needed to purchase this book. These days, there are lots of varieties to choose, and any choice is likely to be better than this book.

Horrible
While this book may, and I stress the word may, contain useful information, it is so badly written that it is incomprehensible. Dr. Mount seems to believe that ten words are better than one, making "Bioinformatics" very tedious to read. After awhile I felt like I was reading a Victorian novel.
Despite being wordy, the explanations are too brief and not clear. If you don't know what he is talking about before hand, you will never understand what he is explaining. He uses an excess of words, and rarely provides a clear, concise example of what he is referring to (or if he does it is in another chapter in the book).
It also appears that the book was never edited. For example, when trying to define "ortholog" and "homolog," he writes two opposing definitions for ortholog and none for homolog. Clearly this is a mistake and Dr. Mount accidentally used the word ortholog twice while meaning to use ortholog once and homolog the other time (pg 56). While it can be argued that this mistake is unimportant and the reader can look up the definitions, it makes me wonder what else in the book is wrong that I have no way of detecting (until I waste a bunch of time doing something incorrectly).

Strong foundation builder
This book will give you very strong foundations in
the basics of computation in the bio world. Though
this book does not give details of the computation
methods, it does give a very clear picture of math-
ematics and the science involved.

This book has a good coverage of FASTA and
BLAST. (Though a little bit short)

The programming techniques coverd are bare. Though
concepts like searching sequences using dynamic p-
rogramming are covered, you are better off reading
something like Proteome Research by wilkins et al.

I am yet to find a good book that deals only with
the technical and programming aspects of bio informatics
if you do find some thing interesting lemme know.

On the whole this book helped me understand a lot
about sequencing, alignment and prediction. The illustrations
and pictures provided are good and the text to the point.

If you are reading this review pls understand that I am
primarily a programmer trying to get into the
bio informatics business. I do not have any schooling
or degree or even experience in the bio informatics world.

Hope this helps

Santy

whatever
Decent qualitative overview. Some discussions of algorithms are so superficial that they are misleading. Slick presentation. Used at Stanford's intro to methods course - a good recommendation.

So far, the best there is for a survey course - but for depth and accuracy in sequence analysis algorithms, go to Durbin et al or Gussfield. ... Read more

Book Description

The national bestseller that reveals how we are descended from seven prehistoric women. One of the most dramatic stories of genetic discovery since James Watson's The Double Helix, The Seven Daughters of Eve reveals the remarkable story behind a groundbreaking scientific discovery. After being summoned in 1997 to an archaeological site to examine the remains of a five-thousand-year-old man, Bryan Sykes ultimately was able to prove not only that the man was a European but also that he has living relatives in England today. In this lucid, absorbing account, Sykes reveals how the identification of a particular strand of DNA that passes unbroken through the maternal line allows scientists to trace our genetic makeup all the way back to prehistoric times, to seven primeval women, the Seven Daughters of Eve. ... Read more

Reviews (81)

Educational, Evocative and Entertaining
Of the many science books I have read, very few have been as well-written and sheerly entertaining as they have been educational.

In "The Seven Daughters of Eve," Bryan Sykes broadens the view of human evolution, tracing migrations through time and around the globe. His descriptions of the discovery and his defense of the paradigm shift of using mitochondrial DNA in anthropology are clear and easy to understand.

The heart of the book is the fictionalized reconstruction of the lives of the seven European "clan mothers" discovered by mitochondrial DNA analysis. Mr. Sykes weaves stories of the day-to-day struggle for survival of women at different points in human history. The stories are evocative, and connected me with the actual women more than simply reading "25,000 B.C." would have done. I enjoyed the stories very much. I only wish that Mr. Sykes had footnoted which of the objects mentioned in the stories had actually been found by archaeologists.

I loved Mr. Sykes' use of the word "feminine" to describe the traits that have nurtured and supported human survival. This book is an antidote to superficial definitions of femininity.

I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in human evolution. I would especially recommend the book to women who want to feel a closer connection with their fore-mothers.

Wonderful book! Accessible science for non-scientists
First of all, this is not a book for those already thoroughly familiar with the workings of genetics. Yes, this book is written in a very popular style but I do not believe this is a flaw, but rather its strength. I found Prof. Sykes' writing style extremely engaging and enjoyable, and quite literally could not put this book down.

He manages to draw the reader in and share his great excitement on his journey of discovering the secrets of DNA. He discusses his DNA analyses on the "iceman" discovered in the Alps, the Cheddar man discovered in a cave in southern England, and even on the bones of the Tsar of Russia, and how all of these led him to realize how DNA analysis could be applied to the greater question of how we are all related. He also naturally adds chapters on what exactly DNA is and how it works, but these are never dry or boring.

The seven chapters in which Sykes fictionalizes the daily life of the seven women he has traced to be the common maternal ancestors of most Europeans are the weakest part of the book. However, while I share reviewer D. C. Smith below's doubts about the monogamous nature of prehistoric male-female relationships and while those lines he cited in his review did have me cringing a bit, overall I would have to say that even these chapters served their purpose quite well, as after reading them I have a much clearer idea of the KIND of existence that these women would have lived. The only drawback I can see is if people take these chapters literally, and after having their own DNA analyzed begin seeing themselves as the descendant of the actual individual depicted in these chapters. These seven chapters are only intended to give us an IDEA of how they lived.

In conclusion, I'd have to say that I really did enjoy this book very, very much and have no problem with giving it a rip-roaring rave review! I hope that soon we will see further works providing more detail on the other maternal clans outside of Europe tantalizingly introduced in this book's final chapter.

In the mean time, I can't wait to have my own DNA analyzed by Prof. Sykes' labs at Oxford at the service listed at the back of the book, and find out just where my own ancestry fits into the big picture. I know it sounds extremely corny to say this, but I really do feel this book has to a tiny extent changed my life!

Absolutely painful to read is this book!
Either this stuck up English twit Sykes is writing all about himself or he's writing stupid, phony stone age stories. If I want dumb stone age fiction I'll watch The Flintstones.

The Journy of Man is a better book!
It was on here i read that Spencer Wells's Journey of Man book was better than this conceit-trip by Bryan Sykes (TSDOE is a book of which I have had the bad misfortune of reading since---one of the worst reading expeiences of my life). I have since gotten JOM and loved every bit of it. Wells's book is full of much more important facts and there's also a neat section in JOM on the Aryans. Get Spencer Wells's far superior book and learn more about the aryans possibly in your genetic background. Skip this garbage!

Not much good comes from this ego trip
Outside of the following. Sykes, in spite of his egomania, conveys the important fact that the all important and numerous British have a good deal of mitochondrial DNA of the Syrian kind. This explains why, say, Charlton Heston (Britsh) looks like Ralph Nader (Syrian). As a British person myself (now residing in the USA) I find it interesting that I have so much arab blood from 10,000 years ago. Everything else in the book is worthless. Basques and Polynesians are too few in number the world over so explaining their origins was a total waste (besides what was an explanation of polynesian dna doing in this book anyway, they aren't even Europeans). Also, we already knew (from Paabo!) that Neanderthals aren't in our dna (at least not very much). And the whole stone age historical fiction concept is really dumb and totally fake. An overall rotten book. ... Read more

Book Description

"PCR: the basics" is the ideal practical introduction to PCR practices in the laboratory. By providing basic theory, background material and suggestions for suitable protocols, it enables a novice to become a proficient user of many PCR techniques. Coverage includes: * Experimental aspects * Analyzing and manipulating PCR products * Genome analysis * Gene cloning and manipulation * Gene expression and medical diagnosis "PCR: the basics" is invaluable for undergraduates, graduates, or experienced researchers who are about to undertake PCR for the first time. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

PCR for beginners: A must-have !
This book explains really good all the basics of the PCR.
For the beginning PhD student, or even before, all you need to know and even more is inside. Some applications are more complicated, but the book is never too difficult to understand.
A must-have!!

Great Book on PCR
This book is a great practical introduction to PCR. It truly does cover the full spectrum of PCR topics from background to benchtop (real-world) applications. It is very clearly written and easy to understand. I own about 10 books on basic and advanced PCR methods, and this one is by far the best. If you want a clear, concise, comprehensive introduction to PCR, this book is it.

PCR is Good
PCR by McPherson and Moeller, is a great great little book that addresses the practical and theoretical aspects of the polymerase chain reaction. The fundamental aspects of PCR, ranging from reagents and instrumentation, to PCR optimization, to the analysis of genomes, are outlined in each of 10 chapters with companion protocols for each application. Each technique is explained with clarity and numerous illustrations greatly aid in the understanding. I tried personally the "SOEing" method to generate a deletion mutants and it worked to perfection. Another great feature of this book is that it explains many of the potential pitfalls associated with PCR technology in a very comprehensive manner, and gives simple solutions to remedy these problems. PCR has been around for some 15 years, and the many applications of this revolutionary technique have often been overlooked due to the sheer number; PCR takes many of these new applications and makes them simple for the reader, and in that it constitutes one of the more comprehensive educational books on the subject. PCR will surely simplify the task of students and veteran molecular biologists alike, and for these reasons I highly recommend it.

Attention All Molecular Biologists
This book is ideal for both students and experienced researchers. In addition to covering the basic and theoretical aspects of PCR, the book also describes cutting-edge PCR methods and applications. It's nice to have such a comprehensive, up-to-date book on PCR. The clarity of the text made for enjoyable reading. This is a must for students and any molecular biology laboratory. Happy Reading! ... Read more

Book Description

Completely revised and updated, this second edition of the best-selling Molecular Biotechnology covers both the underlying scientific principles and the wide-ranging industrial, agricultural, pharmaceutical, and biomedical applications of recombinant DNA technology.This new edition includes expanded coverage of the types of organisms and cells used in molecular biotechnology, DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis, the methodology and applications of genetic engineering of plants, and microbial production of therapeutic agents.Updated chapters reflect recent developments in biotechnology and the societal issues related to it, such as cloning, gene therapy, and patenting and releasing genetically engineered organisms."Milestones" summarize important research papers in the history of biotechnology and their effects on the field.TABLE OF CONTENTS: Fundamentals of Molecular Biotechnology The Molecular Biotechnology Revolution Molecular Biotechnology Biological Systems DNA, RNA, and Protein Synthesis Recombinant DNA Technology Chemical Synthesis, Sequencing, and Amplification of DNA Manipulation of Gene Expression in Prokaryotes Recombinant Protein Production in Eukaryotic Cells Directed Mutagenesis and Protein Engineering Molecular Biotechnology of Microbial Systems Molecular Diagnostics Microbial Production of Therapeutic Agents Vaccines Synthesis of Commercial Products by Recombinant Microorganisms Bioremediation and Biomass Utilization Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria Microbial Insecticides Large-Scale Production of Proteins from Recombinant Microorganisms Eukaryotic Systems Genetic Engineering of Plants: Methodology Genetic Engineering of Plants: Applications Transgenic Animals Human Molecular Genetics Human Gene Therapy Regulating and Patenting Molecular Biotechnology Regulating the Use of Biotechnology Patenting Biotechnology Inventions ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good introductory material for the technical
To those who are interested in the functional aspects of the DNA this is the right introductory stuff. It covers areas including basic molecular biology to commercial methods for manipulating the genes. Pretty useful for someone who's more interested in the technology than the biology!

Good overview but lacks technical rigor
I am currently using this book for a course in Molecular Biotechnology taught through the chemistry department. Although the book covers a wide range of biotechnology fields, from manipulation of gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes through human gene therapy, it does so in a somewhat shallow and repetitive way. I have also seen clearer and more concise diagrams covering similar topics in other biochemistry books, and there is a paucity of in-depth coverage in any particular area. This is not necessarily the authors's fault, however, arising from the plethora of information found in the biotechnology field. If someone wants a broad review of molecular biotechnology, this is a decent book, but if you want to focus on a specific area within biotechnology, look somewhere else. ... Read more

Book Description

Genomes 2 covers modern molecular genetics from the genomics perspective, incorporating major advances made in the past three years, including the sequencing of the human genome, characterization of genome expression
and replication processes, and transcriptomics and proteomics. The text is richly illustrated with clear, easy-to-follow, full-color diagrams, which are downloadable from the book's website (www.wiley.com/brown).
... Read more

Reviews (14)

Where's the genome?
On the basis of a favorable "Nature Genetics" review, I bought the first edition of this book--and I was quite disappointed with what I found. Basically, it is just another text on molecular & cell biology but with lousy graphics. (The author explicitly states that the figures and other visualizations somehow limit one's learning & thinking.) I am hoping the recent crops of explicit genomics-oriented texts will be better. But I'd steer clear of this one.

Excellent General Overview of Genomics
I found that "Genomes" provides the reader with a thorough yet gentle introduction to the field -- ample illustrations, well-written text, frequent sidebars describing relevant techniques or developments. I've found the book to be a good reference to have on the shelf, and have purchased copies for people when they join my lab group in order to introduce them to or refamiliarize themselves with the technologies underlying the generation of sequence data. I can very easily see this book being used to supplement lectures in an introductory course on genomics and biotechnology.

Useful Text
"...probably the most up-to-date textbook on molecular biology...a useful text...and reference..." (Annals of Pharmacotherapy, September 2003)

Marvelous Text
"...a marvelous text...plenty of definitions and excellent illustrations essential for an introductory textbook...the reader is...guided wonderfully through the text...this text is an essential cornerstone of information..." (Pharmaceutical Research, Vol. 19, No. 12, December 2002)

User Friendly
"...a second edition to incorporate new developments in genome science and to make the book more 'user friendly'...the book substantially exceeds that modest objective; this is a text suitable for anyone who does not specialize in genome science." (Clinical Chemistry, Vol. 48, No. 12) ... Read more

Book Description

The first two editions of this manual have been mainstays of molecular biology for nearly twenty years, with an unrivalled reputation for reliability, accuracy, and clarity.

In this new edition, authors Joe Sambrook and David Russell have completely updated the book, revising every protocol and adding a mass of new material, to broaden its scope and maintain its unbeatable value for studies in genetics, molecular cell biology, developmental biology, microbiology, neuroscience, and immunology.

Handsomely redesigned and presented in new bindings of proven durability, this three-volume work is essential for everyone using today’s biomolecular techniques.

The opening chapters describe essential techniques, some well-established, some new, that are used every day in the best laboratories for isolating, analyzing and cloning DNA molecules, both large and small.

These are followed by chapters on cDNA cloning and exon trapping, amplification of DNA, generation and use of nucleic acid probes, mutagenesis, and DNA sequencing.

The concluding chapters deal with methods to screen expression libraries, express cloned genes in both prokaryotes and eukaryotic cells, analyze transcripts and proteins, and detect protein-protein interactions.

The Appendix is a compendium of reagents, vectors, media, technical suppliers, kits, electronic resources and other essential information.

As in earlier editions, this is the only manual that explains how to achieve success in cloning and provides a wealth of information about why techniques work, how they were first developed, and how they have evolved. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Comprehensive guide to do-it-yourself cloning
When Bobs first recieved this set as a gift I thought it would make a lovely doorstop. My last pregnancy, however, was a triple birth that Bobs and our live-in next-door neighbor, Chompson, cooked up in a petrie dish down in the basement. I thought that this cloning business was all a bunch of hogwash, but as the years pass I've come to realize that two of the babies are exact clones of Chompson! (the third appears to be a clone of Bobs' favorite TV goddess, Farrah Fawcett-Majors) While I think that Bobs was remiss in his choice of subjects, you have to respect the science that makes miracles like this possible.

the BIBLE of every biologist
So few and so much to say about this bible of Biology at the bench...
You'll really find everything you want in it, including the composition of all the buffers and solutions, the new protocols for high-tech biology (FLIM-FRET), some paragraphs about bioinformatics and more.Incredibly precise, this book is consequently a big book (3 huge volumes), so better know exactly wath you're looking for before opening it!
The must have of every lab!

the BIBLE of every biologist
So few and so much to say about this bible of Biology at the bench...
You'll really find everything you want in it, including the composition of all the buffers and solutions, the new protocols for high-tech biology (FLIM-FRET), some paragraphs about bioinformatics and more.Incredibly precise, this book is consequently a big book (3 huge volumes), so better know exactly wath you're looking for before opening it!
The must have of every lab!

Excellent reference for all
In this 3 volume set of books the authors summarize the most important laboratory protocols for DNA analysis and cloning. As someone involved in computational biology and mathematical gene sequence analysis, I was needing such a summary to get an idea of just how genetic engineering is actually practiced in the laboratory. The book is definitely written for those readers that are very experienced in these "wet" techniques, but it still could be perused profitably by anyone who is curious about genetic engineering. There is also an excellent website that owners of the books can go to and search for protocols and obtain updates and additions to the protocols.

At the beginning of each chapter, the authors give an introduction to the protocols and this is of an enormous help to those readers with only rudimentary acquaintance with the laboratory procedures. Typically, this introduction contains an historical summary of the procedures as they were developed or discovered. One can only marvel at the ingenui