Genetics demystified

Format:

Book

Title:

Genetics demystified

Other title(s):

Self-teaching guide

Author:

Willett, Edward, 1959-

ISBN:

9780071459303

Publication Information:

Physical Description:

xi, 210 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Series title(s):

McGraw-Hill "Demystified" series.

Contents:

Mendelism and classical genetics -- The cell-the basic unit of life -- DNA-the chemical basis of heredity -- Chromosomes-organized DNA -- Traits-how genes are expressed -- Genomes-reading the genetic code -- Mutations-misreading the code -- Cancer-genetics gone awry -- Bacteria-a different way of doing things -- Organelles-genetics outside the nucleus -- Viruses-hijacking heredity -- Genetic engineering-sculpting the code -- Evolution-change driven by genetics -- Humans-how genetics affects us.

Summary:

Presents an introduction to genetics, providing information from Mendel's experiments with pea plants, to controversies with cloning, explaining concepts in manageable segments. Includes eighty-question quiz.

Subject(s):

Genetics.

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Salem Main Library	576.5 Willett 2006	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Publisher's Note: Products purchased from Third Party sellers are not guaranteed by the publisher for quality, authenticity, or access to any online entitlements included with the product.

There's no easier, faster, or more practical way to learn the really tough subjects

Genetics Demystified offers an up-to-date, highly readable explanation of the basic principles of genetics, covering key topics such as human genetics, DNA, heredity, mutations, traits, chromosomes, and much more. This self-teaching guide comes complete with key points, background information, quizzes at the end of each chapter, and even a final exam. Simple enough for beginners but challenging enough for advanced students, this is a lively and entertaining brush-up, introductory text, or classroom supplement.

Author Notes

Edward Willet is a science columnist for radio and newspapers and a former news editor. The author of more than 30 books, including nonfiction on topics as diverse as computing, disease, history, and quantum physics, as well as several science fiction and fantasy novels, he is the recipient of awards from the National Science Teachers Association, the Children's Book Council, and VOYA magazine, among others.

Preface	p. xi
Chapter 1 Mendelism and Classical Genetics	p. 1
Heredity Happens, but How?	p. 1
The Scientific Monk	p. 2
Mendel's Experiments	p. 3
Emerging Patterns	p. 5
Extensions to Mendel's Laws	p. 8
Quiz	p. 9
Chapter 2 The Cell-The Basic Unit of Life	p. 11
Cell Theory	p. 11
Animalcules and Nuclei	p. 12
Schleiden and Schwann	p. 12
Parts of the Cell	p. 13
Counting Chromosomes	p. 16
The Cell Cycle	p. 17
Connecting Mendel with Chromosomes	p. 20
Quiz	p. 21
Chapter 3 DNA-The Chemical Basis of Heredity	p. 23
The Race to Decipher DNA	p. 24
The Double Helix	p. 26
Replication of DNA	p. 28
DNA Mutation and Repair	p. 30
Quiz	p. 31
Chapter 4 Chromosomes-Organized DNA	p. 33
The Fly Room	p. 34
The Structure of the Chromosome	p. 36
Linkage, Crossing Over, and Chromosome Mapping	p. 37
Quiz	p. 40
Chapter 5 Traits-How Genes Are Expressed	p. 43
Transcription	p. 45
Translation	p. 46
How Genes Are Regulated	p. 48
From the Micro to the Macro	p. 50
Quiz	p. 51
Chapter 6 Genomes-Reading the Genetic Code	p. 53
Sequencing Other Species	p. 59
Genome Mapping	p. 61
Genome Variation	p. 63
Quiz	p. 64
Chapter 7 Mutations-Misreading the Code	p. 67
Types of Mutations	p. 68
Causes of Mutations	p. 74
Quiz	p. 75
Chapter 8 Cancer-Genetics Gone Awry	p. 77
What Is Cancer?	p. 78
How Oncogenes Cause Cancer	p. 81
Another Mutation That Causes Cancer	p. 82
Carcinogens	p. 84
Quiz	p. 85
Chapter 9 Bacteria-A Different Way of Doing Things	p. 89
Characteristics of Bacteria	p. 89
DNA Replication and Cell Division	p. 90
Bacterial Transcription and Translation	p. 94
Genetic Recombination of Bacteria	p. 96
Regulation of Gene Activity in Bacteria	p. 99
Quiz	p. 101
Chapter 10 Organelles-Genetics Outside the Nucleus	p. 103
Mitochondria	p. 104
Chloroplasts	p. 106
Organelle Inheritance	p. 107
The Past Through Mitochondria	p. 108
Quiz	p. 110
Chapter 11 Viruses-Hijacking Heredity	p. 113
What Is a Virus?	p. 114
Bacteriophages	p. 116
Eukaryotic Viruses	p. 120
Quiz	p. 123
Chapter 12 Genetic Engineering-Sculpting the Code	p. 125
Restriction Enzymes	p. 125
The First Experiments	p. 127
Amplifying DNA	p. 128
Modifying Proteins	p. 134
Genetic Engineering of Animals	p. 135
Genetic Engineering of Plants	p. 138
Gene Therapy	p. 139
Cloning	p. 140
Concerns and Controversy	p. 142
Quiz	p. 143
Chapter 13 Evolution-Change Driven By Genetics	p. 147
What Is Evolution?	p. 147
Population Genetics	p. 148
The Origin of Species	p. 152
Phylogenetic Systematics	p. 153
The Genetics of Human Evolution	p. 158
Quiz	p. 160
Chapter 14 Humans-How Genetics Affects Us	p. 163
The Genetics of Sex	p. 163
Genetic Diseases	p. 167
RFLPs	p. 169
Genetic Screening	p. 172
Quiz	p. 173
Final Exam	p. 175
Answers to Quiz and Final Exam Questions	p. 189
Suggested Additional References	p. 193
Further Reading	p. 193
Web Sites	p. 194
Glossary	p. 195
Index	p. 201

Available:*

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Table of Contents