Genes VIII [Hardcover]

Benjamin Lewin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0131439812 | ISBN-13: 978-0131439818 | Publication Date: December 15, 2003 | Edition: United States ed

For courses in Molecular Biology, Molecular Genetics, and Gene Regulation. Two decades ago Benjamin Lewin's Genes revolutionized the teaching of molecular biology and molecular genetics by introducing a unified approach to bacteria and higher organisms. Genes has remained at the cutting edge of molecular biology, covering gene structure, organization, and expression. Originally the text opened with the genetic code and worked toward genome structure. Genes VIII changed the approach to begin with the sequence of the human and other genomes and starts with complete coverage of recent advances in genomics. The coverage of genomics is then integrated throughout the text. In striving to maintain currency, the new edition has updated coverage on genome organization, DNA replication, gene regulation and many other new topics.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Two decades ago Benjamin Lewin's Genes revolutionized the way we think about and teach molecular biology and molecular genetics. His approach unified the discipline by providing an integrated account of the structure and function of genes in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Setting a standard for currency, Genes continually embraces emerging trends in this field, such as introducing the molecular aspect of the gene before the traditional analysis of formal genetics. Genes VIII continues to innovate; expanding the early discussion of the genome and integrating new information on gene sequencing throughout the text.

New Content

• Human and mouse genome sequence data incorporated throughout
• Integrated coverage of recent advances in genomics and gene organization

Updated Content

• DNA replication, repair, and recombination
• Transcription and translation
• Cancer and signal transduction

Genes VIII includes access to an innovative Website featuring a complete E-book with Flash illustrations. The text will be continuously updated online, providing coverage of the most recent advances in the field. Links to primary research articles are available whenever possible. (www.prenhall.com/lewin)

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

With this eighth edition of GENES, 20 years have passed since the first edition. A novel feature of that first edition was the a presentation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic work in the context of a unified approach. Such an approach has now become commonplace as a result of along string of discoveries showing similarities in solutions to arc'-biological problems that often extend across many or even all species.

This new edition has been extensively revised and reorganized. The two most striking driving forces for change have been the sequencing of many genomes, providing information that permeates many sections of the book, and the availability of crystal structures, which in many cases replaces speculations about mechanism with detailed views.

A major change in presentation is made possible by the advent of the internet. A continuously updated version of GENES is maintained at www.ergito.com. Aside from some obvious differences in presentation, which allow the reader to customize a variety of views, the web version cites references within the text (compared with at the end of each chapter in the print version), and of course the citations are hyperlinked to original source material wherever possible. A concordance allows readers to find the section of the web site that is equivalent to any print section of the book (or vice versa).

A word is in order about the choice of references. With widespread adoption of policies that allow free access to material after a reasonable delay, the advantages to the scientific community for transparency in access have been made abundantly clear. In these circumstances, I do not regard publications in journals that neither adopt this policy nor are widely available (often because they are unreasonably expensive) as legitimate contributions to the scientific literature. I see no point in citing publications to which many readers will not have access. References are cited at the end of each chapter, organized by sections, and are classed into reviews (rev), research articles (ref), and accounts by authors of classic experiments on the ergito web site (exp).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1056 pages
• Publisher: Benjamin Cummings; United States ed edition (December 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131439812
• ISBN-13: 978-0131439818
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #619,970 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best, April 29, 2006

By 

Ahmed Fazly (Winona, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Genes VIII (Hardcover)

This text is a vast improvement on the previous editions. Its improved vastly on both clarity and content. The figures themselves are excellent learning tools. Combined with uptodate material, it is in my opinion peerless. Its rivals would be lodish and alberts but in some areas complements them and often outshines them. The textbook exists online at ergito.com and you could subcribe for the duration of your course. The website gives you access to the complete material in the print text and you also save a ton of money by subscribing for a shorter period, that is if you find cash an issue. However, I wholeheartedly recommend the print edition as a trusted companion for those embarking on graduate studies.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book on biology, December 2, 2004

By 

M. Stein (Brighton, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Genes VIII (Hardcover)

Dr. Lewin's work has helped me understand biology and improve my understanding of the sciences. The design and figures in Genes are wonderfully clear, as is the general body of the text.

Furthermore, his website at ergito.com has some great supplemental material on the important procedures of science and past experiments that have changed sciences.

Between the Genes book and the subscription to Ergito, Dr. Lewin's work is a great opportunity to learn and expand your knowledge. I thought Genes VIII was great, and a good step forward from Genes VII.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Molecular biology can be easy to learn, February 12, 2007

By 

Mikhail Groubman (Moscow, Russia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Genes VIII (Hardcover)

I have been using Genes VIII for a year already in my Molecular Biology studies and I should state that this is one of the best books written in this field.
First of all, the material is structured in a clear manner. Moreover all terms are introduced starting from simple things, which become harder and harder as you proceed. That gives the student the opportunity to form the overall picture of molecular biological processes.
Besides, each chapter starts with the introduction that is very useful when you want to review the things (i.e. before the exam).
In my opinion this book contains a lot of visual material that definitely helps students to understand the material more thoroughly.

To sum up, I would recommend everybody who wants to explore the world of Molecular Biology to buy this book.