Genetics in Minutes is your compact and accessible guide to the central concepts of the science of genetics, revealing how our genes shape our bodies and our lives, and how in turn we are beginning to shape them. Covering the basics of DNA, inheritance and evolution in animals, plants and humans alike - from the origins and development of life to the Human Genome and designer babies - this is the fastest, fullest path to understanding genetics. Contents include Genes, DNA, Natural selection, Darwinism, Stem cell and gene therapies, Evo-devo, Epigenetics, Cloning, Genetic engineering and Artificial life, as well as biology basics such as the Processes of life, Cells, Sex, Classification and Ecology.
Get the low-down on genetics with easy-to-understand terms and clear explanations. From interpreting dominant and recessive genes to learning about mutations, this book shows the different factors that can determine a person's DNA.
Award-winning geneticist John C. Avise guides this delightful voyage around the planet in search of answers to nature's mysteries. He demonstrates how scientists directly examine DNA to address long-standing questions about wild animals, plants, and microbes. Through dozens of stories that span the world, nature emerges as a realm where truth can be far stranger than fiction. From a 100-ton mushroom to egg-swapping birds, extinct ground sloths to microbes inside our bodies, Avise examines a cornucopia of natural-history topics and explains how today's modern genetic techniques offer novel insights. Do armadillo litters really contain clones? When is a fig tree not just a single tree? Where have migratory whales traveled? Who are the mothers of the embryos carried by pregnant male seahorses? What insect was the world's earliest farmer? How closely related are Neanderthals to modern humans? Answers to these and many more questions are presented here in a straightforwad manner that reveals Avise's enthusiasm for uncovering nature's hidden ways. Each entry is accompanied by a beautiful illustration from Trudy Nicholson, widely recognized as one of today's leading nature artists.
This whistlestop guide teaches you everything you need to know about the fascinating science of genetics! Genetics is the study of heredity, and reveals how the characteristics of living organisms are determined by the genes passed down the generations. In humans, it can determine how we think,who we are, and how long we live. The human genome was mapped in 2003, and this enhanced ability to study our genes is transforming medicine, from CRISPR, the gene editing technology that allows us to alter the course of hereditary disease, to using genetics to identify the types of bacteria that populate our bodies. Stripping the subject to its bare necessities,30-Second Genetics charts the most extraordinary discoveries, from the fundamentals of cell biology to the almost unbelievable advances in DNA sequencing and stem cell technology. Each subject, concept or term is explored in a mere 30 seconds, 300 words, and one image, making this the perfect book to understand the field of genetics at lightening speed! Authors (and identical twin brothers) Jonathan and Matthew Weitzman are both expert professors in the field, and they write with clarity, exploring these complicated terms in easy to understand language. From advances in stem cell therapy to animal cloning, genetically modified crops and genetically tailored treatments, the Weitzman brothers demystify this essential science which is shaping our future, today!
This is one of the few medical genetics texts on a 2-year revision cycle. It provides up-to-date information that can be read, retained, and applied with ease! The 3rd Edition covers pharmacogenomics, the societal implications of technologies, the Human Genome Project, cloning, genetic enhancement, and embryonic stem cell research, new tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes, and more. Mini-summaries, study questions, suggested readings, and a detailed glossary facilitate review of the material. Clinical relevance is demonstrated in over 230 photographs, illustrations, and tables as well as boxes containing patient/family vignettes. Its coverage includes ethical, legal, and social issues and clinical commentary on important genetic diseases. A companion web site offers continuing updates and a wealth of additional features. The smart way to study! Elsevier titles with STUDENT CONSULT will help you master difficult concepts and study more efficiently in print and online! Perform rapid searches. Integrate bonus content from other disciplines. Download text to your handheld device. And a lot more. Each STUDENT CONSULT title comes with full text online, a unique image library, case studies, USMLE style questions, and online note-taking to enhance your learning experience. Your purchase of this book entitles you to access www.studentconsult.com at no extra charge. This innovative web site offers you... Access to the complete text and illustrations of this book. Integration links to bonus content in other STUDENT CONSULT titles. Content clipping for your handheld. An interactive community center with a wealth of additional resources. The more STUDENT CONSULT titles you buy, the more resources you can access online! Look for the STUDENT CONSULT logo on your favorite Elsevier textbooks! Features mini-summaries that appear in bold throughout each chapter. Supplies study questions and suggested readings at the end of each chapter. Contains a detailed glossary at the end of the book. Offers Clinical Commentary boxes that present detailed coverage of the most important genetic diseases and provide examples of modern clinical management. Demonstrates clinical relevance with boxed patient/family vignettes and coverage of ethical, legal, and social issues. Provides visual reinforcement and easy access to key information with over 230 photographs, illustrations, and tables. Includes a companion website with continuing content updates, additional clinical images, and more!
A Primer of Human Genetics is an introductory textbook designed to give students the foundation they need to understand and appreciate the extraordinary shifts in human genetics that have accompanied the arrival of genomics. The book lays out the key concepts of human evolution, quantitative genetics, and personalized medicine before describing the tools that are missing from most contemporary textbooks: genome-wide association studies, whole-genome resequencing, gene expression and epigenome profiling, and integrative genomics. The final section provides an up-to-date survey of specific findings in six major domains of human disease: immunological, metabolic, cardiovascular, cancer, neuropsychological, and aging disorders. After reading this textbook, not only will students be better equipped to read current literature, they will gain a sense of the impact that the revolution in genomics has had for our understanding of the human condition, as well as of the major trends in human genetics research. Students are assumed to have a core understanding of genetics such as would be obtained in a general genetics class. Each chapter is approximately 20 pages long, and organized under up to ten sub-headings, most of which incorporate an illustrative figure. Chapter summary points recap the key messages, and references point students to key reviews and contemporary highlights. Several of the chapters contain a single box, which provides extra material on topics such as 'Consent and Responsible Conduct of Research' and 'Methylation Analysis in Biology.'
In 2001, scientists were finally able to determine the full human genome sequence, and with the discovery began a genomic voyage back in time. Since then, we have sequenced the full genomes of a number of mankind's primate relatives at a remarkable rate. The genomes of the common chimpanzee (2005) and bonobo (2012), orangutan (2011), gorilla (2012), and macaque monkey (2007) have already been identified, and the determination of other primate genomes is well underway. Researchers are beginning to unravel our full genomic history, comparing it with closely related species to answer age-old questions about how and when we evolved. For the first time, we are finding our own ancestors in our genome and are thereby gleaning new information about our evolutionary past. In Ancestors in Our Genome, molecular anthropologist Eugene E. Harris presents us with a complete and up-to-date account of the evolution of the human genome and our species. Written from the perspective of population genetics, and in simple terms, the book traces human origins back to their source among our earliest human ancestors, and explains many of the most intriguing questions that genome scientists are currently working to answer. For example, what does the high level of discordance among the gene trees of humans and the African great apes tell us about our respective separations from our common ancestor? Was our separation from the apes fast or slow, and when and why did it occur? Where, when, and how did our modern species evolve? How do we search across genomes to find the genomic underpinnings of our large and complex brains and language abilities? How can we find the genomic bases for life at high altitudes, for lactose tolerance, resistance to disease, and for our different skin pigmentations? How and when did we interbreed with Neandertals and the recently discovered ancient Denisovans of Asia? Harris draws upon extensive experience researching primate evolution in order to deliver a lively and thorough history of human evolution. Ancestors in Our Genome is the most complete discussion of our current understanding of the human genome available.
G is for Genes shows how a dialogue between geneticists and educationalists can have beneficial results for the education of all children—and can also benefit schools, teachers, and society at large. Draws on behavioral genetic research from around the world, including the UK-based Twins’ Early Development Study (TEDS), one of the largest twin studies in the world Offers a unique viewpoint by bringing together genetics and education, disciplines with a historically difficult relationship Shows that genetic influence is not the same as genetic determinism and that the environment matters at least as much as genes Designed to spark a public debate about what naturally-occurring individual differences mean for education and equality
Discover the mystery of science with Future Geniuses! Little Doctor Valentina is back with a brand new adventure! This time, join Valentina as she explains the concept of genetics, using her adorable puppy, Mendel, as her model. With her handy microscope, Valentina examines Mendel’s cells and teaches us all about cell parts—organelles, membranes, cytoplasm, and finally, the powerhouse of the cell, the nucleus. Within the nucleus, Valentina points out the DNA and the genes that explain everything about us—like why Mendel is yellow and his siblings are brown! Dive deep into the world of genetics and learn all about nitrogen bases, RNA, chromosomes, mitosis, and more. Uncover what makes you, well, you! Future Geniuses is a collection that will help families spend a lot of time reading and learning together. Through simple text and fun illustrations, author and scientist Carlos Pazos makes the subject of genetics approachable and easy to understand for even the smallest scientists.
An Introduction to Human Molecular Genetics Second Edition Jack J. Pasternak The Second Edition of this internationally acclaimed text expandsits coverage of the molecular genetics of inherited human diseaseswith the latest research findings and discoveries. Using a unique,systems-based approach, the text offers readers a thoroughexplanation of the gene discovery process and how defective genesare linked to inherited disease states in major organ and tissuesystems. All the latest developments in functional genomics,proteomics, and microarray technology have been thoroughlyincorporated into the text. The first part of the text introduces readers to the fundamentalsof cytogenetics and Mendelian genetics. Next, techniques andstrategies for gene manipulation, mapping, and isolation areexamined. Readers will particularly appreciate the text'sexceptionally thorough and clear explanation of genetic mapping.The final part features unique coverage of the molecular geneticsof distinct biological systems, covering muscle, neurological, eye,cancer, and mitochondrial disorders. Throughout the text, helpfulfigures and diagrams illustrate and clarify complex material. Readers familiar with the first edition will recognize the text'ssame lucid and engaging style, and will find a wealth of new andexpanded material that brings them fully up to date with a currentunderstanding of the field, including: * New chapters on complex genetic disorders, genomic imprinting,and human population genetics * Expanded and fully revised section on clinical genetics, coveringdiagnostic testing, molecular screening, and varioustreatments This text is targeted at upper-level undergraduate students,graduate students, and medical students. It is also an excellentreference for researchers and physicians who need a clinicallyrelevant reference for the molecular genetics of inherited humandiseases.
