New York, 2012. - 554 p.ISBN 978-0-8153-6509-9There are so many genetics texts available in the bookshops that the author of an entirely new one has a duty to explain why his own contribution should be necessary. In my case the decision to write a genetics text was prompted by my strong feeling that genetics is today inexorably centered on DNA, and that the teaching of genetics should reflect this fact. The theme of this book is therefore the progression from molecules (DNA and genes) to processes (gene expression and DNA replication) to systems (cells, organisms, and populations). This progression reflects both the basic logic of life and the way in which modern biological research is structured. My experience in teaching (and of once being taught) an introductory course in genetics has led me to believe that this molecular approach enables students who might otherwise be daunted by the intricacies of genetics to gradually build up their confidence in the subject. The molecular approach is particularly suitable for the large number of students for whom genetics is a part of a broader degree course in, for example, biology, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, or biotechnology.
The difficulty in attempting to write an introductory textbook, in any subject, lies in presenting the material in an understandable fashion without falling into the trap of over-simplification. To be of value the book should ensure that the basic facts and concepts are grasped by the reader, and yet should provide a sufficient depth of knowledge to stimulate the student’s interest and to engender the desire to progress on to more advanced aspects of the subject. With an introductory text in genetics these objectives are perhaps relatively easy to attain, as even the most fundamental facts are fascinating and, in my experience at least, most undergraduates arrive already primed with a curiosity about genes. I hope that this book will help to turn that curiosity into a lifelong pursuit.Contents
The Scope of Modern Genetics
Genes as Units of Biological Information
DNA
Genes
Transcription of DNA to RNA
Types of RNA Molecule: Messenger RNA
Types of RNA Molecule: Noncoding RNA
The Genetic Code
Protein Synthesis
Control of Gene Expression
Genes as Units of Inheritance
DNA Replication
Inheritance of Genes During Eukaryotic Cell Division
Inheritance of Genes in Bacteria
Inheritance of Genes During Virus Infection Cycles
Inheritance of DNA Molecules During Eukaryotic Sexual Reproduction
Inheritance of Genes During Eukaryotic Sexual Reproduction
Mutation and DNA Repair
Inheritance of Genes in Populations
Genetics in Our Modern World
Genes in Differentiation and Development
The Human Genome
Genes and Medicine
DNA in Forensics and Studies of Human History
Genes in Industry and Agriculture
The Ethical Issues Raised by Modern Genetics
