Genetics: A Conceptual Approach (Hardcover)

by Benjamin Pierce (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Based on the author’s 27 years of teaching experience, Genetics: A Conceptual Approach, Third Edition, builds upon features that have made past editions so successful:  an engaging writing style; relevant applications; an accessible and instructive art program; an emphasis on problem-solving; and, most importantly, a strong focus on concepts and connections.  To bring these key concepts into sharper focus, Ben Pierce has selectively reduced the amount of detail and has streamlined coverage to focus on essential concepts. 

About the Author
BENJAMIN PIERCE Southwestern University, USA.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 832 pages
• Publisher: W. H. Freeman; Third Edition edition (December 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0716779285
• ISBN-13: 978-0716779285
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,301 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Intro Book on Genetics, December 9, 2005

By	A Reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Genetics: A Conceptual Approach (Paperback)

This book provides a wonderful and comprehensive introduction to genetics. I'm not a biology major, but I found that this book is both entertaining and informative. The author describes a wide panoramic view on the genetics, and yet addresses the fundamental concepts in genetics in very clear manner. DNA structure, replication, transcription to RNA, RNA processing, and RNA translation (a.k.a. the central dogma) have been very hard to comprehend and visualize, yet the author explains it very well. Numerous detailed illustrations in the book really helps to clarify the central dogma.

All chapters start with VERY compelling REAL-WORLD cases that tantalizes you on learning the subject presented in the chapter. That makes me wanting to read for more. The writing is concise and clear. The author clearly knows his stuff.

Overall, it is a great intro book. Great for both self-learners and in-class students. Definitely a must buy for those who want to get acquainted in genetics.

For in depth contents: The book seems to be divided into four parts.

1. It starts with principles of classical (Mendelian) genetics with its applications on chapter 1. Then it goes into cell structures, functions, and reproduction with chapter 2-4. Followed by heredity principles of reproduction and how classical genetics fit into the analysis of hereditary traits. The next chapter discusses how classical genetics is not enough -- the author presents compelling cases like lethal alleles, incomplete penetration, and so forth in chapter 5-6. This limitation brings forth extensions and modifications on the basic principles, which is also discussed. The author also discusses other analyses to detect hereditary traits, such as pedigree analysis.

2. The second part is more toward modern genetics: How genes are not independently assorted as the Mendelian principles dictates. The concept of linkage, recombination, and consequently gene mapping are discussed in chapter 7. Followed by Chapter 8 is sort of intermezzo on bacterial and viral genetic systems.

3. The third part is the meat of the book:
Chapter 9 discusses what chromosomes are and how chromosomes abnormalities occur and what type of abnormalities.
Chapter 10 discusses about DNA and RNA structure, followed by chromosome structure in chapter 11.
Chapter 12 discusses DNA replication and recombination with detailed illustrations.
Chapter 13 discusses transcription process, followed by chapter 14 on RNA molecules and processing.
Chapter 15 discusses about genetic code and translation, followed by chapter 16: Gene expression.
Chapter 17 discusses gene mutations and DNA repair.

4. The fourth part is "elective" part:
Chapter 18: Recombinant DNA technolocy
Chapter 19: Genomics (Structural, Functional, and Comparative)
Chapter 20: Organelle DNA
Chapter 21: Various advanced topics
Chapter 22: Quantitative Genetics (very basic single locus regression as an intro)
Chapter 23: Population and Evolutionary Genetics

15 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars the right book, June 1, 2005

By	J. Stallworth (birmingham AL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Genetics: A Conceptual Approach (Second Edition) (Hardcover)

the book that is being shown on amazon is not the newest book. the book is now paper back, check with the buyer and check with your teacher to be sure that you are buying a hardback book, or if they will let u use a paperback book. there is some difference between the two dont get stuck.. if your using this book for a class your gonna need the study guide that goes along with it, it's really helpful explaining hard concepts that most prof. cant get across.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid text, January 14, 2009

By	Heather Evans - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Genetics: A Conceptual Approach (Second Edition) (Hardcover)

I used this with my genetics class over the summer. The information is very clear and well organized. I found it incredibly useful. The inserts on real-world issues in genetics were very interesting as well.

However, sometimes this book is quirky in an odd way. For example, one of the chapter introductions refers to Helicobacter pylori as a 'sexy bacterium.' I'm not kidding. It's good for a laugh, but what were the authors thinking?! Nonetheless it has no effect on the material in the text, and thus I would recommend it for a genetics class.