genetics books

	The Seven Daughters of Eve: The Science That Reveals Our Genetic Ancestry
	By: Bryan Sykes ISBN: 0393020185 Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company Release Date: 09 July, 2001 Bioscience book rank: 75462	Overall, I found the book to be good. The author's descriptions of DNA replication, the role of proteins, the epochs of prehistory (e.g. Paleolithic) were all done well, providing reference material for later inquiry. I enjoyed the author's stories of discovery including the impact of politics, chance and misfortune. As with religion, politics have a big impact on the progress of science. Fortunately for science, the methodology eventually reveals the correct conclusions, regardless of who might dominate the field, unless, of course, the methodology is politically repressed as was done in the Dark Ages. <br /> <br />The author's account of human evolution seemed plausible but with overemphasis on mitochondrial DNA and the maternal line of descent. He strove to build a story that satisfied (as much as possible) his stated objective of finding one woman as the ancestor of all living people. Doing so appeared to warp the story of human descent. He used the term "clan" for all the people who descended from the same woman. I think of "clan" as being a group of related people living together at the same time. Every one of his Eves lived in a tribe including other woman who may have contributed as much DNA to subsequent generations as that Eve, only doing so via nuclear versus mitochondrial DNA. <br /> <br />It seems implausible that all living people came from one Eve at the dawn of humanity. By the author's own construction, that Eve would have lived among many other women. Using very rough figures, drawn from the book, there might have been 2000 people in the "first" human population 150,000 years ago. That population, as the author suggests, came from earlier human-like ancestors. If I accept the figure of 2000 people, about half, or 1000 were women. It seems implausible that only one of these women would be the female ancestor of all living humans. But even if that were true, it would probably have taken many thousands of years for the mitochondrial descendants of the other women to die out. So, it's not like there was a single Eve who, from the beginning, was the ancestor of all subsequent generations. <br /> <br />Otherwise, the author's accounts deduced from mitochondrial DNA seemed essentially valid and enlightening, for example, in the way he settled some arguments. However, I felt he may have overreached in some of his conclusions, based on the available data. But then we all do that. We fill in the blanks as best we can within our own minds in order to construct a whole. (That's how we get religion.) The author indicates that the presence of Polynesian-type genes in South America resulted from a somewhat obscure coastal migration northward along the east coast of Asia and then south along the west coast of the Americas. This may be correct, but Easter Island, which he recognizes as populated by Polynesians via the direct ocean route, is relatively close to South America (and is now a territory of Chile). <br /> <br />The author dismisses the existence of human races, seemingly prompted by political correctness in recent times. Scientists point out that there is more genetic variation within races than between them, thus claiming that the term "race" is meaningless. But the term "race" was used long before anyone ever knew what DNA was. Race does indeed define segments of humanity which have relatively distinct characteristics and geographical origins. Perhaps races evolved as humans spread out over the world and their populations became isolated from one another. Races were probably on their way to becoming separate species when "civilization" and technology arose and brought the races back together while they could still interbreed. <br /> <br />There should have been more charts and some maps to support text. It was difficult to follow some descriptions without such aids. <br /> <br />I did not find the seven fictional chapters on the seven daughters of Eve to be helpful. A scientific discussion of their place in time would have sufficed. <br /> <br />It will be very interesting to see how the story of mankind unfolds as more discoveries are found and the nuclear DNA history is unraveled. I don't believe that the "hobbit" had been discovered when the author wrote his book. I'm referring to fossils of the miniature man found on the Indonesian island of Flores in 2003. This miniature hominid is currently classified as homo floresiensis and may have lived only 18,000 years ago, contemporaneously with modern humans, similar to Neanderthal Man. <br /> The author writes with a wonderful style that explains scientific subjects fully. This book is the first of several on examining the groups found in Europe by DNA patterns. This book is of great interest to descendants of British ancestors. The author's categories of groups of "clan mothers" are both fascinating and informative, especially for those interested in genealogy. The reader can get a real thrill of the complexity of this science especially when you have had your DNA examined and you know which of the seven you belong to. Sykes has written stories based on archaeology showing the kinds of lives these "mothers" may have lived. To know that you have descended from a woman living in a cave and surviving the last Ice Age brings the meaning of survival right home. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in history and genealogy. <br /> This is a book popularizing a scientific fact. In it, the author describes several characters representing branches of a genetic tree, and brings them to life based on theoretical timelines, which could place these individuals in particular times and places. Because the "trait" being followed is passed only through females, the individuals represented in each genetic branch of the tree are female, and called "Eves". <br /> <br />One of many problems is that the author assumes that genetic mutations are introduced at a constant rate. By examining many different current versions of the " trait " - the DNA of a cellular component called mitrochondria - one could theorize how long it would take to go back in time to when there was only one version, or this case seven versions. In fact, genetic variation typically takes place at very different rates over long periods of time. The concept of punctuated equilibrium, for example, shows that a population may be rapidly enriched for a certain variation of a genetic trait, if one should suddenly prove more advantageous. Similarly, isolated populations may lack diversification for exceptionally long periods of time on a geological, or evolutionary scale. This wreaks havoc on placing fictional characters in specific times and locations, and describing their lives, without supporting anthropological data, for example. <br /> <br />Several people that I spoke to who had read the book for a discussion group, all left with the impression that these "Eves" walked out of a forest fully formed, with no mention of the crushing onslaught of other evidence in human evolution, or the examination of the other 30,000 genes thus identified in the human genome. They were also drawn to the convenient coincidence that the author's lab, for a fee, will tell the reader which fictional character they are related to. <br /> <br />While mitochondrial DNA is actually passed only through female lines, the book took far too many liberties in extrapolating that fact into a bin of nonsense. Its lack of references, peer reviewed material, or mention of other relevant scientific, and evolutionary facts, was more than a little frightening to me, especially from the Department Head of a prestigious University, who should know better.
	WHO Classification of Tumours: Pathology and Genetics of Tumours of the Urinary System and Male Genital Organs (World Health Organization Classification of Tumours)
	By: John N. Eble, Guido Sauter, Jonathan I., M.D. Epstein ISBN: 9283224159 Publisher: International Agency for Research on Cancer Release Date: February, 2004 Bioscience book rank: 272713
	Population Genetics: A Concise Guide
	By: John H. Gillespie ISBN: 0801880092 Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press Release Date: 02 July, 2004 Bioscience book rank: 218256	Theodosius Dobzhansky said, "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." <br /> <br />Mike Lynch at Indiana University added, "Nothing in evolution makes sense except in the light of population genetics." (PNAS) <br /> <br />If such is the case, Gillespie's book is an essential guide and workbook through the foundation of biology in terms of mathematics and probability. <br /> <br />1.) The book flows. It begins with the basics of Hardy-Weinberg, and makes the mathematics of population genetics easy by building on the basics slowly through the book's chapters. Important mathematical background is addressed in the appendices. <br /> <br />2.) Each chapter has questions at the end to help crystallize the material. <br /> <br />3.) Examples from the scientific literature are used judiciously. <br /> <br />4.) Lucid explanation of genetic drift, the coalescent, and neutral theory are all provided. <br /> <br />I have nothing but the highest praise for this classic. <br /> <br /> I bought this book because I thought it would be a straightforward introduction to population genetics. The first two reviews were written by people who already seem to understand population genetics fairly well; for someone who was genuinely just starting out, however, I cannot say I found it particularly digestible. <br /> <br />Terms are used in this text without any definitions until much later on. Topics are also divided in such a way that they are introduced in one chapter in an advanced form, and then a basic form revealed later! A friend with ADHD attempted to explain a Monte Carlo simulation to me once, and reading this book kind of reminded of me of that. <br /> <br />Also, the book is littered with complex formulae that students are intended to decypher for themselves, with random notes in the back of the book that may or may not assist with this - often, no verbal/written attempt is made to explain what they are for. Students require clear descriptions of what a formula does, and how it can be applied, and in what sort of circumstances long, long before they give a damn about the proofs. <br /> <br />This was written by somebody very fond of navel gazing and showing off their 9th grade algebra and less about providing any instruction about population genetics. This needs to be a lot clearer and more concise in the future. More descriptions of when/where to use formulae, and what they are for. Use examples from actual organisms to make it interesting, and maybe somebody will actually read it. This is a wonderfully clear and concise introduction to population genetics. The emphasis is on fundamental insights gleaned from relatively simple models. If you want to learn something about this approach to studying evolution, start here.
	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: 101449	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.
	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: 206795	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.
	Medical Genetics Updated Edition for 2006 - 2007: With Student Consult Online Access (Medical Genetics)
	By: Lynn B. Jorde, John C. Carey, Michael J. Bamshad, Raymond L. White ISBN: 0323040357 Publisher: Mosby Release Date: 12 December, 2005 Bioscience book rank: 426921	I have been teaching medical genetics to medical students and graduate students for more than twenty years, and I have been using the Jorde text for teaching medical students since it was first published. <br /> <br />This text is the most succinct text available to my knowledge on the topic of medical genetics. This is perfect for medical students who have relatively little time in their schedules for genetics (16 lecture hours versus 48 hours for graduate students). The text is very clear, has great examples, ties in medical applications with the scientific explanations of principles, and has a wide array of online resources readily available. With very little exception, every page is worth the reading for medical students, and is helpful for them in learning what they need to know to become fully conversant in medical genetics and well acquainted with the general principles and emerging technologies. [I wish the cytogenetics chapter were illustrated better, but this is a minor weakness relative to the other strengths in the text.] <br /> <br />This is not the best text available for graduate students in clinical or medical genetics if the text is to be used alone (i.e. not supplemented with articles to add deeper levels of details). For students with a full 3-credit graduate course in medical genetics, it does not have quite sufficient depth, in my opinion. I don't have any significant experience teaching undergraduates, and will leave that area to others. <br /> <br />All in all, these authors have put together the clearest and most concise resource on medical genetics, and I highly recommend it for any audience whose needs are for efficient and palatable material on the principles of medical genetics. <br /> <br /> I did not select this book, it was required for a class I was taking, but it is a well written book. This book offers a good review of medical genetics at a moderate level. It features "case study" areas about some individual genetic diseases (i.e. hemophilia) and is user friendly. This book was intended to prepare medical students to understand the basic science principles that form the foundation of clinical genetics. It is not intended to be a clinical handbook. It does an excellent job showing how the clinical genetic diseases illustrate the scientific principles of genetics. I think that it is very well written, and forms a foundation to pursue more clinical studies.
	Introduction to Quantitative Genetics (4th Edition)
	By: Douglas S. Falconer, Trudy F.C. Mackay ISBN: 0582243025 Publisher: Benjamin Cummings Release Date: 16 February, 1996 Bioscience book rank: 340920	Its almost useless to write a review for this book. If you're in genetics, then you know this book's reputation to be of the very highest order. It is THE introduction into quantitative genetics. I have it on my desk and use it as a reference constantly when trying to figure out evolutionary genetics and/or quantitative genetics papers. This is an excellent book, that content the basic of the quantitative genetic and provide a comprehensive interpretation of the genetic action and interaction. Its price give the possibility the student having his own copy to introduce to a simple and deep view of the quantitative genetic. this is a very valuable book of its kind,good for graduate&postgraduate students as well as researchers
	Statistical Genetics: Gene Mapping Through Linkage and Association
	By: Benjamin M. Neale, Manuel A.R. Ferreira, Sarah E. Medland, Danielle Posthuma ISBN: 0415410401 Publisher: Taylor & Francis Release Date: 01 December, 2007 Bioscience book rank: 401775
	The Theory and Science of Thoroughbred Genetics
	By: Tony Morris, Matthew Binns ISBN: 0851319351 Publisher: J. A. Allen Release Date: 01 March, 2008 Bioscience book rank: 136986
	Conservation and the Genetics of Populations
	By: Fred W. Allendorf, Gordon Luikart ISBN: 1405121459 Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Release Date: 11 July, 2006 Bioscience book rank: 214512	This book gives a detailed and advanced approach to population genetics in a conservation context, with the essencial mathematical formulation and explanations. The examples are clear, and well chosen. For me it was a great buy. This is a good book for class preparation!!