genetics books

	Advanced Genetic Analysis: Finding Meaning in a Genome
	By: R. Scott Hawley, Michelle Y. Walker ISBN: 1405103361 Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Release Date: January, 2003 Bioscience book rank: 72890	This is the first book I've encountered that discusses genetics from the point of view of the research scientist. I use it in my first year graduate genetics class. For instance, chapter 2 is entirely devoted to mutant hunts. Another chapter covers extragenic suppressors- even allele specific suppression. Chapter 5 covers epistasis and mosaic analysis. Alas, there is even a comprehensible discussion of LOD scores. This is all great stuff that any geneticist will love. <br /> <br />However, any book falls short on something. The emphasis is on non-mammalian model organisms. Thus, there is very little discussion of the use and pitfalls of dominant negatives and RNAi and no discussion of gene targeting in mice. The book would also benefit by a discussion of modern genomic methods.
	Genes in Conflict: The Biology of Selfish Genetic Elements
	By: Austin Burt, Robert Trivers ISBN: 0674017137 Publisher: Belknap Press Release Date: 15 January, 2006 Bioscience book rank: 411491	I was EXTREMELY lucky to have taken an one-on-one course with Dr. Trivers and I must say that he's the first to both praise and point out pitfalls in this book. <br /> <br />While being the most definitive guide to the subject out there, it can at times be very technical and hard to understand. Especially the chapters on genomic imprinting, exclusion (for me). However, I feel that this complexity only arises from the fact that the chapters are written out with as much detail as possible (as you will be able to see from the pages and pages of references in the bibliography). <br /> <br />Each chapter comes with its relevant illustrations, with the figures for mechanisms of selfish drive being the most important ones. Figures showing data can be complicated and at times, he even CALLED the authors while I was in class to answer a question I had. <br /> <br />The book is very well organized with the authors laying out the background followed by each chapter dedicated to a specialized genetic element. Work on B chromosomes, genetic imprinting, sex chromosome and autosomal drive are particularly well written with implications and mechanisms detailed out with the latest (uptil time of publication) information. <br /> <br />The only think lacking that I thought from the book was a better and more thorough summary chapter at the end, but then again I'm just being picky. With so much detail on the each topic within the chapter, the summary is pretty well written out. <br /> <br />Finally, I want to add that this is a book on evolution and the evolution and role of selfish genetic elements in shaping the evolution of host genomes (if it happens at all). It can get technical but the subject is never introduced in any form of education that I have experienced so the concepts were relatively new to me. This book will be a difficult read for the average reader not well versed with some concepts in biology as kin-ship theory or "degrees of relatedness". But if you want a solid and detailed description of the world of selfish elements, this is the book ! When Richard Dawkins published "The Selfish Gene" two decades ago, today one wonders if he had any inkling then of what his idea launched. The din of protest over the concept was loud and vituperous. Yet, a generation of research has proven him more correct than anybody imagined then. In this work, researchers Trivers and Burt have summarized the wealth of information derived over the years. Genes do far more, it seems, than simply act to replicate themselves. They intrude, divert, even kill parts of the genome to provide themselves with any and every opportunity to endure down the generations. Some genes wish to protect the genome, while others seek to damage it - both for selfish ends. In this impressive and detailed overview, we learn which types of genes strive for dominance and why. <br /> <br />Your body is a mosaic of cell collections. These can be winnowed down to two basic types - somatic cells and sex cells. This is essentially the case for all plants and animals, down to such simple types as protozoa. The sex cells, the gametes, have the role of carrying the messages that will build the new body of somatic cells and containing new gametes. None of this process is as straightforward as was formerly thought. Within every body, conflicts rage as genes contend for favoured conditions. The genome, that fundamental instruction mechanism, is the arena where various genes, some with a long evolutionary history, insert themselves to provide a different recipe for life. The successful ones have what the authors describe as "drive". These genetic elements contrive to be transmitted to a disproportionate fraction of the organism's progeny" - a victory over the 50-50 Mendelian ratio taught in introductory biology classes. <br /> <br />The authors try to follow these actions from the molecular to the evolutionary, but as they accept, the full lines of evidence either have not, or cannot be tracked completely. They provide a brief history of research in selfish gene elements, then go on to expand on this with more recent work. Their account addresses such questions as how does the selfish element accomplish its ends, when and how did it likely originate, how far does it spread and how quickly, does it produce co-adaptations, and what does it do to the host and its lineage? The twists and turns of these elements vary from mundane parasitics who use the host only to replicate to killers which can modify sex ratios. The classifications they use permit the book to be read in any order, with the reader's interests easily covered by their chapter organisation. <br /> <br />Selfish genes may be readily identified in many cases by their tendency to locate on the centromeres of a chromosome. This is a critical area, hence protected from intrusion. Many of the groups, which may contain hundreds of genes, once found the means to enter this zone. Meiosis and cell division convey these groups through the process of reproduction and body construction, thus allowing them to proliferate easily. Of the ten topical areas, one of the more fascinating is that of gene imprinting. Unlike the "imprinting" of newborn creatures choosing the first moving object it sees as its parent, gene imprinting is parent-specific gene expression. Either the male or female parent may contain such genes, but in either circumstance, once established, a dominance will result that is passed to future generations. In many cases that imprinting will drive the sex of the embryo, usually favouring female progeny over male. Is it this sort of gene structure that contributed to the change from solitary insects such as the ancestral wasps to the social forms, including bees, that we see today? Is the formation of our own bodies, which are but groupings of specialised cells, the result of selfish genes that have learned to work together? How does it all hold together? <br /> <br />Clearly, as the authors point out, it is the sexual species where selfish gene elements have made their greatest successes. Some of them may find and invade the gamete cells and drive how the resulting union follows. In a few cases, the intruders have developed ways of ejecting unwanted segments from the gametes or the fertilised egg itself. With these methods available, they may even kill embryos of multiple-birth species, leaving only those individuals who carry their coding. With meticulous care, the authors describe those about which something is known, while pointing to areas needing dedicated research. Inevitably, the issue of stem cell research looms large in their proposals. <br /> <br />While the book is well-organised, effectively illustrated, and containing a useful glossary, it is the references that give it a firm underpinning. Burt and Trivers have made contributions of their own, but the nearly one hundred pages of source material are an invaluable resource. The authors have gone so far as to expand the subject areas in a special section to aid searching for topics. An unequalled work, this book will long endure - to be supplanted only by the ongoing investigations they call for. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada] Burt and Trivers have produced an encylopedic compilation of examples of selfish genetic elements. There is a wealth of information available in this book, but you have to work hard to wade through the authors' ambiguous wording, contradictory phrasing, utterly confusing tables and figures, and almost complete lack of follow-through on any of their ideas. This book is not for the general public. I read it with a group of professors and graduate students who focus on evolution, and we had a hard time getting through it. <br /> <br />Despite the problems with the book, I recommend it to anyone with a serious interest in this subject area. It's a great reference and source of ideas. It also provides a solid overview of what research has already been done and what remains to be conducted. Furthermore, it has some amazing examples of organisms with truly bizarre natural histories; those parts of the book are fascinating to read. <br /> <br />Overall, I'd say if you really think you'd be interested in this topic, buy the book. But be prepared to work hard while reading it, and expect to be frustrated with it on a regular basis.
	Genetics: From Genes to Genomes, 2nd Edition
	By: Leland Hartwell, Leroy Hood, Michael L. Goldberg, Ann E. Reynolds, Lee M. Silver, Ruth Veres ISBN: 0072919302 Publisher: McGraw-Hill Higher Education Release Date: 2004 Bioscience book rank: 597980
	Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding
	By: George Acquaah ISBN: 1405136464 Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Release Date: 27 September, 2006 Bioscience book rank: 293129
	Oxford Desk Reference Clinical Genetics (Oxford Desk Reference Series)
	By: Jane A. Hurst, Helen V. Firth, Judith G. Hall ISBN: 0192628968 Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA Release Date: 01 September, 2005 Bioscience book rank: 377215	This reference book has provided useful notes for a list of diseases and conditions one may need to look up from time to time. Geneticists would benefit the most, especially in my opinion, ones that have not specifically worked in the clinical field. As mediterrenean folks, we were surprised to find out FMF was left out. Some other common dysmorphic features were not as comprehensive as others. Nevertheless, I think this book is a must in a hospital genetician's library; hence the title "desk reference". As a desk reference this book is not intended to be a replacement for a textbook on the subject, but to provide a well indexed quick guide to problems likely to confront the clinical worker. <br /> <br />In addition, the clinical worker is likely to find this to be a useful book to share with patients seeding additional information about particular conditions. The ability to show such patients (or their parents) brief descriptions of conditions being discussed is often a help. This is especially true in those cases where diagrams are included that can be shown to illustrate the condition being discussed. <br /> <br />This is the first edition of this book. It is remarkable in that so much information is included. It is such a useful concept that I expect there will be future editions over time and that it will become one of the standards kept on everyone's desk. This is an all encompassing guide to clinical genetics. Straight forward for the lay person to understand but essential to all professionals in the field
	Control of Canine Genetic Diseases (Howell Reference Books)
	By: George A. Padgett ISBN: 0876050046 Publisher: Howell Book House Release Date: 26 October, 1998 Bioscience book rank: 116844	I was advised by a breeder to get this book if I was interesting in breeding in the future. <br /> <br />As there is such a small gene pool here in Australia, I felt that I needed to get as much information as possible about possible genetic diseases and if they can be bred out. <br /> <br />Whilest I have not really started to read this book as yet, will start soon, I have been told that it is fantastic for new people who are looking to enter the breeding ring. This is the kind of book tha every breeder should have! Not only by clear way he puts how to track and understand genetic diseases, but by his proposes about Open Registries. Being a vet student I've always heard about how difficult genetics are and how it bores us to death. This book is written so well that there aren't too many technicalities or hard words to understand. It is extremely clear and well written and its a must for everyone intending to breed dogs.
	Chromosome Abnormalities and Genetic Counseling (Oxford Monographs on Medical Genetics, No. 46)
	By: R. J. McKinlay Gardner, Grant R. Sutherland ISBN: 0195149602 Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA Release Date: 28 August, 2003 Bioscience book rank: 141219	One of the most important books you will need for education in genetic counselling and interpretation of cytogenetic results. Its a pleasure to read and additionally, delivers insight into psychological problems rising from integration of cytogenetically "abnormal" individuals in the human society.
	Discovering Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics (2nd Edition) (The Genetics Place Series)
	By: A. Malcolm Campbell, Laurie J. Heyer ISBN: 0805382194 Publisher: Benjamin Cummings Release Date: 12 March, 2006 Bioscience book rank: 436449	This book follows a convoluted path to describe basic methodologies that could be taught in a much more straightforward manner. The authors get so mired down in the biology of specific applications of bioinformatic tools that the tool itself falls into the background. The poor layout of the book even makes it difficult to read. The main text of the book is interspersed with examples, "Math Minutes" and other text which are not properly set off from the main text. <br /> <br />The web links associated with the book are outdated and do not appear to be updated by the publisher to keep up with changes. If a web site is associated with a book, it should at the very least keep up with changes. In a quickly changing field such as bioinformatics these updates are absolutely critical. <br /> <br />The book is also overpriced given the low quality content and paperback binding. The figures are subpar with only purple and gray coloring. I would expect at least a few full color figures for a book at this price point. <br /> <br />Overall I would say that this book is not a useful tool for teaching bioinformatics or genomics. This was a great textbook. The website was very helpful and I liked how the author did not waste paper/printing/money on images and half of the information was on the web. It was nice not carrying around a heavy text all semester, even if half my reading/work was done in front of a computer. A lot of information packed into this book. One sentence sometimes requires a lot of knowledge (thank goodness for my professor who explained it all). I would have to say, without a lecture, I would walk away from this text thinking I knew something but not knowing much at all. For an amature like me, I definitely need a lecture to go along with this text. Although some mistakes were found, a lot less than the first edition (so I'm told). This book represents a breakthrough in textbook design. It starts with a 'case study' for a child visiting you the physician. You get the basic symptoms from the mother, then you are sent to the web to go attempt to establish a diagnosis. And you are not sent to some private web site, but to the Online Mendelian Inheitance in Man (OMIN) database of human diseases and genes, and to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Immediately the student is exposed to a wealth of information far beyond what any book could provide. It's rare that you see a textbook that attempts to take the student into the real world. <br /> <br />Intermixed with the case studies is textual materials that provide the student with the basic background that they need. In addition there are almost random Math Minutes and Discovery Questions that direct the student into further depth of understanding. <br /> <br />If you are planning to teach this kind of class, you owe it to yourself to at least investigate this book before selecting a text.
	Genetics of Populations (Biological Science (Jones and Bartlett))
	By: Philip W. Hedrick ISBN: 0763747726 Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Publishers Release Date: November, 2004 Bioscience book rank: 537289	El libro esta bien, solo que en la parte de abajo vino un poco roto. Pero por lo <br />demás esta bien. El tiempo de entrega fue el convenido. This and Hartl and Clark's book are the standard textbooks for population genetics. I am an applied math/bio grad student working in this area. Hedrick's book contains a huge amount of information, but honestly I think it is poorly organized and often poorly written. Rather than a clear explication of the theory with examples, it is constructed more like a collection of related ideas, facts and examples thrown together to make loose rather confusing chapters. Population genetics is a tricky subject and Hedrick does not make much of an effort to communicate the ideas clearly. For example, in the mutation chapter, rather than say something like: here is the general problem, here are types of mutations, here are some mutation models with examples, here are some ways to estimate mutation and here are some case studies from the literature, he mixes all these things together presenting formulas and data in an jumbled, intermingled way that is not particularly easy to read. The result is that it is difficult to extract (for me) the essence of the concepts and summarize everything for myself. If you are required to use this text for a class, I highly recommend looking at other resources. Hartl's book's good, but slightly more basic. Gillespe's Concise Guide is also really good, but again, the subject is difficult and requires a good amount of mathematical background. To summarize, if you study pop gen, you should really probably read and own this book because of its ubiquity and the information contained within. However, don't be surprised when you find it sub par. A superbly presented and comprehensive introduction to population genetics as one of the fundamental underlying principles and processes of the evolutionary process, Genetics Of Populations is now published in a newly updated and significantly revised third edition. Author Philip W. Hedrick (Arizona State University) integrates theoretical issues with a clear and acceptable presentation of experimental population genetics with empirical data providing students and researchers with one of the most articulate and up-to-date texts available. Features new to this latest addition is a focus on data from genome projects that compare population samples to identify patterns of genetic diversity and genes that have been under selection. All of the individual chapters have been completely updated with the latest examples and approaches in this rapidly evolving field of study. Of special value for curriculum development are the new and updated tables, chapter exercises, end-of-chapter problems, art, photographs, featured researchers, extensive bibliography, and detailed index. Highly recommended. <br /> <br />
	Clinical Genetics in Nursing Practice: Third Edition
	By: Felissa R. Lashley ISBN: 082612366X Publisher: Springer Publishing Company Release Date: 15 April, 2005 Bioscience book rank: 186128