School Library Journal Review
Gr 6-9-These books give excellent explanations of complex processes and terms through text, diagrams, and photographs. The attractive page design with judicious use of white space, colors, and highlighted sidebars makes the information accessible. In the first title, Snedden describes the cell cycle, reproduction, development, genes, DNA, and patterns of inheritance. The full-page genetic code table includes an explanation of how it works. The second title introduces the controversy surrounding genetic engineering. Readers learn about gene control, the benefits of bacteria, plasmids, phages, plant regeneration, gene therapy, clones, the Human Genome Project, genetically engineered plants, pharmacogenomics, and transgenic animals. The captions, highlighted in blue, offer more explanations of complex terms. More than 80 words are highlighted in bold and defined in the glossaries. Photographs taken through microscopes are amazingly clear. Richard Beatty's Genetics (RSVP, 2001) offers more biographical information on scientists, but isn't quite up to the level of these books on graphics. Students will find both of these well-written volumes useful for reports, completing homework assignments, and reviewing for tests. Teachers may want to use the DNA book as a discussion starter on the ethics of cloning.-Michael McCullough, Byron-Bergen Middle School, Bergen, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
In an organized fashion and using standard textbook language, these series books offer accurate introductions to topics ranging from genetics to human organs to evolution. The books cover a lot of ground (some of it inevitably overlapping) but in a fairly cursory way. Most of the books conclude with a chart, such as an evolutionary diagram, that pulls together the information that precedes it. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Cells and Life titles: [cf2]Animals, Cell Division and Genetics, The Diversity of Life, DNA and Genetic Engineering[cf1], and [cf2]The World of the Cell[cf1].] (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
