genetics books

	Lange FlashCards: Biochemistry and Genetics (Lange Flash Cards)
	By: Suzanne Baron, Christoph Lee ISBN: 0071447369 Publisher: McGraw-Hill Medical Release Date: 01 June, 2005 Bioscience book rank: 62823	I recently bought 6 different packs of science flash cards. I was disappointed with most of them. What I was looking for were flash cards with diagrams, where structures are pointed to with numbered arrows and you have to come up with the term that identifies it: with the answers on the back side of the card. But these were essentially nothing but English-style questions on one side and answers on the other. I could do that myself, using index cards! <br /> <br />These flash cards also do NOT help (in my opinion) students in genetics or biochemistry courses. So I was disappointed here too. <br /> <br />THESE ARE MEDICAL FLASH CARDS!!! They deal with disorders and diseases related to genetics and biochemistry. <br /> <br />I did not know that, nor did I bother to look up USMLE (which I now know stands for United States MEDICAL Licensing Exam), so it is MY fault that the cards are not what I was looking for: that's why I still gave them a rating of 4 (I think they would be pretty good for their intended purpose). <br /> <br /> I used these cards to prepare for the biochem and genetics shelf exam. They are very thorough and cover many of the concepts in biochem and genetics from a clinical perspective whereas a lot of review books on these topics are written with less emphasis on clinical presentations. I liked how they had some introduction cards at the beginning of each topic to help refresh my knowledge of basic principles. <br /> <br />I plan to keep using them to stay up on this knowledge for Step 1. For the reviewer who didn't like these, they are not intended for a student just learning biochem for the first time. I made my own flashcards for my undergrad biochem class. If you use them for what they are intended for (USMLE Step 1 prep), they should be fine. These flash cards are not for entering or learning anything about Biochem or Genetics. They're designed for the analytical stage of learning, NOT the knowledge level. Only get these cards if you have already finished your nursing or higher knowledge base and need these for certification refreshing. Do not get them thinking they can help you in either of these subjects.
	iGenetics: A Molecular Approach (2nd Edition with CD-ROM) (The Genetics Place Series)
	By: Peter J. Russell ISBN: 0805346651 Publisher: Benjamin Cummings Release Date: 17 April, 2005 Bioscience book rank: 230152	The book cover was torn-up around the edges, and there were a lot of markings everywhere in the book. The delivery time also took longer than what was quoted.
	iGenetics: A Mendelian Approach (The Genetics Place Series)
	By: Peter J. Russell ISBN: 080534666X Publisher: Benjamin Cummings Release Date: 14 April, 2005 Bioscience book rank: 174650	The most useful features in this book are "analytical approaches to solving genetics problems" and "questions and problems" at the end of each chapter. Many of the pictures and diagrams are also nice. <br /> <br />However, the writing style tends to be rather dreary and over wordy, which is great for insomniacs, but horrible for those who actually want to learn something. Most of the material is presented in a manner best "learned" by memorization, rather than understanding. As seems to be typical of many biology texts, the "what" is emphasized over the "how" and "why". The sections that approach genetics from a molecular level tend to be better than the others, but the writing style is still too verbose. <br /> <br />Probabilities are treated in a fast and loose manner, but I am willing to concede that such use may be common among geneticists. <br /> <br />I also found several errors and typos in many of the chapters. <br /> <br />I tend to find genetics intrinsically interesting and this book could be worse, but if my only exposure to genetics were through this book, I would probably like the field about as much as I would like to work with potassium cyanide. I think this is one of my favorite text books that I've encountered to this point. It's wonderfully straight forward and has beautiful diagrams that clearly illustrate the subjects being taught. It's also very nice reading, which is more than I can say about most text books!
	Genetic Entropy & the Mystery of the Genome
	By: John C. Sanford ISBN: 1599190028 Publisher: Ivan Press Release Date: 25 October, 2005 Bioscience book rank: 18074	I've read about a dozen or so ID books lately, from the fairly scientific kind to the more philosophical kind, and have taken to them more than I thought I would. This one is somewhere in the middle, but to me was a far weaker effort than that coming from Johnson or Behe or some of the other authors. <br /> <br />For starters the book is in your elderly aunt font- it would be more of a pamphlet than a book if it were printed in any kind of normal manner. The lines are about triple-spaced as well, so it has the feel of a term paper set up to meet the professor's minimum page count. Granted quality counts more than quantity, but I thought I was buying a book and not just a wordy article. <br /> <br />That aside, I also had some quibbles with even some of the more basic observations. The premise of the book, to be succinct, is that not only are we not evolving, we're devolving. I give him credit, amply, for tackling the issue and actually analyzing what it would entail for natural selection to pick enough mutants to get humans out of some chimp-like ancestors. The difficulties are overwhelming, and while we just hear one side of the story he often uses the statistics and observations of neo-Darwinists themselves to give credibility. It is amazing how much we are asked to take on faith, and how few attempts have been made to flesh out exactly what would be involved in accomplishing evolution. He also does a pretty decent job with Behe's argument about irreducible complexity, and views it from his background as a plant-breeder. <br /> <br />On the downside, his overall observation that we are devolving and actually headed for extinction seems a stretch. He quotes a book titled something along the lines of "Why aren't we dead 100 times over?", and that would seem a good question. If half of his points are valid we should be a band of drooling cyclops by now, at best. That they can't all be valid, and often cancel one another out seems clear. For example he says if we really started as chimp-like creatures six million years ago, not only would we not have evolved to become humans, we would actually be dead by now. Well then why hasn't that happened to the chimps themselves? They seem to still be around. He also points out how much genetic mutation is going on, but then he casually mentions that much of this mutation isn't actually herediteray. He points out we have 3 kids for every 2 adults, but then says this number is actually much lower due to a variety of fertility related reasons. What? Shouldn't the 3 for 2 number have taken that into account already? <br /> <br />But again, I give him credit for opening up the hood and seeing if the Darwinian engine is capable of moving the car or not. Most scientists get very nervous if you even kick the tires, much less try to see if it will run. He may have overstated the case, and he certainly would've been helped by a rewrite or two and some more aggressive editing, but the perception he brings as a plant-breeder and geneticist himself gives him some insights that still make the book a worthwhile read. It came across more as rough draft than finished product to me, and I was a bit surprised to see that it was actually even on its second printing. That said I'd still add it to the ID library, but I'd like to see a version 2.0 one of these days because I think the overall premise is intriguing. Here's an example of how easy it is to dispose of the arguments Sandford presents in his book: <br /> <br />Sandford says that the problem is not survival of the fittest but arrival of the fittest, since information theory proves noise (mutation) can only degrade, not improve a signal. Sounds fair enough? <br /> <br />However, 'degrade' and 'improve' in information theory only refer to the accuracy with which a transmitted message is received. Of course, noise cannot make a signal a MORE accurate version of what was sent. But information theory says nothing at all about the value of the modified message to the recipient. <br /> <br />Easy to follow example: say a bank transfer for £100 is accidentally corrupted, and becomes a transfer of £1000. Good, or bad? Depends on whether you're paying or being paid! Same goes for if it is corrupted to £10 - its value to you depends upon context. Either change represents a degradation of the original signal - it's not what it SHOULD have been - but that's irrelevant when considering whether or not the modified signal is of greater or lesser value to the recipient. <br /> <br />Now, if you think an author who can miss something as obvious as that is worth listening to on a subject as complex as evolution, by all means buy his book. Sanford proves definitively that natural selection has never been up to the job of weeding out the overwhelming number of slightly harmful mutations and therefore the human genome and other animal and plant genomes have been deteriorating for a long time. Also he shows that natural selection has never been able to detect and accumulate any slightly favorable mutations. Evolution desperately needs a new paradigm. The present paradigm of mutation - selection has been a big joke ever since it was introduced 70 years ago.
	Principles of Population Genetics, Fourth Edition
	By: Daniel L. Hartl, Andrew G. Clark ISBN: 0878933085 Publisher: Sinauer Associates, Inc. Release Date: 31 December, 2006 Bioscience book rank: 153491	It is a classical text, but it lack of a chapter on Conservation Genetics A new revision of a work I already thought perfect. Adds population genetic approaches using new molecular techniques. Superb.
	Mega Solutions Manual For Introduction to Genetic Analysis
	By: William D. Fixsen, Diane K. Lavett ISBN: 0716763109 Publisher: W.H. Freeman & Company Release Date: 28 May, 2004 Bioscience book rank: 256656	I'm taking genetics this semester and it's gotta be one of the hardest classes I've ever taken. The professor assigns us a lot of the problems out of the book, and I don't understand how to approach them all. The solutions manual shows some really good ways to approach genetics problems and has really helped me. I recommend it, though get it used from someone else if you can to save a few bucks. If you do the reading and work the problems and check your answers with the solutions manual, you'll understand genetics a lot better. A good buy--it really goes into detail with hard problems and is quite helpful to have! The solutions manual is excellent. The Interactive CD that comes with it is one of the best I have ever used. I wish that more interactive genetics was contained on the CD or even possibly a tutorial of the information contained within the Genetics book.
	Mutants: On Genetic Variety and the Human Body
	By: Armand Marie Leroi ISBN: 0142004820 Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) Release Date: 01 February, 2005 Bioscience book rank: 203960	Excellent book for anyone that is an amateur biologist for even a bio-inclined person who wants to enjoy a leisurely but educational stroll through human variations. Author mixes interesting history and personal stories with the genetic/molecular/scientific stuff to explain mutations. I'm super busy and this was the first book in eons that was not a mandatory read and it was thoroughy enjoyable. I picked up this book after looking through [[ASIN:0922233241 The Mutter Museum: Of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia]] coffee-table book I received for my birthday. This book looks at human genetic variety through the lens of 'mutants' - people who, in years past, might have been referred to as 'freaks.' The genetic basis of each disorder is laid out. The book teaches much about developmental biology and genetics. In addition, it has many individual life stories as well as bits on history and the history of science. <br /> <br />I picked up this book really intending just to browse through it. I ended up quickly reading the entire book. I am a lover of science books written for the layman, and this is one is very good. It will give you an appreciation for yourself and all those around you. I am in the process of reading this book, so far I am enjoying it. I am, however considering discontuing reading because of a gross mistake. The author refers to the RU486 as "the morning after pill". This is completely false! RU486 is the so-called abortion pill(s). This is taken AFTER the woman becomes pregnant, generally within the 1st 8 weeks of conception. The morning after pill is a PREVENTATIVE method. If there is an actual pregnancy the morning after pill will DO NOTHING to the pregancy! This book is obviously written by a man who understands the basics of science, but I suppose women's health is excluded from science.
	Biological Science, Volume 1: The Cell, Genetic, and Development (2nd Edition) (Biological Science)
	By: Scott Freeman ISBN: 013150293X Publisher: Prentice Hall Release Date: 28 December, 2004 Bioscience book rank: 231662
	Concepts of Genetics and Student Companion Website Access Card Package (8th Edition)
	By: William S. Klug, Michael R. Cummings, Charlotte Spencer ISBN: 013169944X Publisher: Benjamin Cummings Release Date: 28 March, 2005 Bioscience book rank: 274328	This is extremely well written introducton for undergraduates. I am using it as the backup since my instructor assigned Harwell et al's book, which is not nearly as well written. This book has excellent graphics, the whole book is well organized and well written. This book covers genetics quite well its concise. It covers all the topics pretty well and also has plenty of genetic problems to make sure you know your stuff. I'd recommend getting the solutions book as well My class didn't use this text much as part of the course but when i read it i found it helpful - the reviews were well done and outlines helped cover the material.
	From Chance to Choice: Genetics and Justice
	By: Allen Buchanan, Dan W. Brock, Norman Daniels, Daniel Wikler ISBN: 0521669774 Publisher: Cambridge University Press Release Date: 12 November, 2001 Bioscience book rank: 278915	Every person born is a highly probabilistic creature, having been randomly put together by a chance selection from twenty-three chromosomes from each parent. The combinatorial variation is remarkable even in extremely homogeneous populations, and even more so in multicultural populations where there are great disparities in the average abilities of different groups. Blacks excel in sports of speed leading to their total dominance in professional sports. Jews excel in verbal intelligence leading to their remarkable dominance in law, academics, politics, and the media. And other groups fall in between these group-based genetic differences. However, it is evident throughout this book that these issues will not be dealt with honestly and directly. They will be tip-toed around, especially intelligence.<p>This book ignores the more communitarian morality of Asian countries and/or western particularistic moral theories. They do take it up in Appendix II, "Methodology." There they state simply that a communitarian moral theory only exists as a condemnation of liberalism -- it does not attempt to put forth its own communitarian moral theory as rigorously as has been put forth by liberalism or a Rawlsian theory. Notice the irony here, that the same charge can be made against those (Gould, Lewontin, Rose, Kamin, et al.) who claim that there is no difference in the average intelligence of races or that genes do not matter. They also, like the communitarian moralists, have only attacked empiricists who have developed sociobiology and intelligence as genetically based. So now we have the kettle calling the stove black.<p>These authors are concerned that society will become more stratified with regards to genetic capital by various groups. That is, the well-to-do will be able to use genetic engineering to eliminate unwanted genes as well as enhance their children's potential by inserting new "improved" genes into their genetic code -- including altering the germ line genes that will be carried on to successive generations. Is this a fair criticism? Not really, because this is how evolution progresses and it has already occurred as I stated above. Groups, because of breeding are not the same. Again, using the example of Ashkenazi Jews or east Asians who dominate the economies of south Asian countries, multiculturalist societies are already made up of groups who are not equal. Ashkenazi Jews have and average IQ of 117 and live among populations with an average IQ of 100. Malaysians have an average IQ of 90 with a troublesome east Asian minority, that will not assimilate, and has an average IQ of about 106 that dominates the economy. Australians have a troublesome minority of aborigines with a low IQ. These and many other examples show that there is nothing new about some groups eugenically rising above other groups, in terms of intelligence at least. But now that we have new tools at our disposal, those of us who would like to acquire the high intelligence of Ashkenazi Jews for example are told that it is somehow unjust! This book addresses all of the neccessary details of the social ramafications involved with our knowledge of the human genome. In this book, the heart wrenching accounts of America's eugenic movement are powerful enough to move anyone to become actively involved in the issues at hand. A real eye opener, one which makes it painstakingly clear that we are not prepared to deal with the information that we have aquired about ourselves and eachother. I would like to suggest that this book is a landmark in the intellectual history of the human race on a par with Rousseau's Social Contract and Darwin's Origin of the Species. This book is a great achievement for the authors (a "dream team" of practicing bioethicists). I had just enough training in ethics (B.A. Michigan 1982) to understand the book and I enjoyed it immensely.<p> I wonder, however, whether this book would probably be inaccessible to many readers who should read it. I expect we will need a really thorough set of "Cliff Notes" (or "Genomic Ethics for Dummies"), since this book seems designed to be read by the modern ethical philosopher, moreso than the educated members of the public. Perhaps the reviewers on Amazon.com could provide such a service for the world. I was fortunate to have an advance peek at the book through a conference held in San Diego in January, so I have had some time to reflect on the book's implications.<p> This book made me intrigued about the prospect for some people using the genome to have better babies (see the book on Designer Babies by Dr. Gosden for the "how to" on in vitro fertilization). Under secular ethical principles, as outlined in this book, do parents have an ethical obligation to use genomic information to have a "healthier" child? If so, what are the ethical boundaries of that obligation? NPR had a report some time ago about some achondroplastic dwarf parents who wanted to choose a child with their genetic "defect" --- is that sometime ethically prohibited by the principles in this book? The parental choice issues raised by this book strike me as the issue ripe for controversy. These are the fundamental questions that this book raises for every member of the human race who plans to procreate (or already has procreated). <p>My kids will be entering the first generation where prospects for improving admission to the aristocracy (e.g. to an Ivy League school) arguably could begin at the moment of conception (if in vitro, aided by genomic data to screen embryoes). I find that interesting and a little bit alarming.<p>Chance to Choice also addresses myriad ethical issues (those relating to "distributive justice" in the mode of John Rawls' Theory of Justice) that will spin off from the genome project. They suggest that genetic discrimination (the "genetic ghetto") may arise if we are not careful about how this information is used.<p> For anyone planning to make a living from the genome, some understanding of this book is essential to their success in business (I am an attorney involved in biotech issues and I think that this book point to (but does not map out) the boundaries of what companies can do with the genome). <p>My EMail is tredick@chapinlaw.com if anyone interested in discussing this book's implications further. I think that people will be talking about this one until the talking, bipedal genetically enhanced, vegetarian activist cows come home sometime in the next hundred years (just kidding... ;).<p>I plan to buy some extra copies on Amazon.com to give away or mark up with highlighters (those parts I need to read many times to really understand). It really is a great and timely book.<p>Tom