Customer Reviews

High-Yield Cell and Molecular Biology

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

High yield cell and molecular biology is exactly what it says, and from the outset doesn't pretend to be anything else. "Lean efficient text" says the blurb, "Study guides with the barest essentials". These words certainly comforted me after reading the somewhat ominous title! The text is compact, with clear and helpful diagrams illustrating and clarifying the most difficult concepts in the book. The style is in fact very much the same as I might choose to write own revision notes, with chapters divided into sub-titles, and those into bullet points. Key words are emboldened, so it is possible to absorb a page by only scanning the bold type; useful if you are caught short when preparing for an exam and need the facts quickly! There is a smattering of clinical examples throughout, and descriptions of procedures such as PCR, which both help anchor your thoughts of the sometimes abstract nature of the subject. Being a molecular biology book it is biased toward genetics, and as this is a confusing area for many students (including me), this will help if your genetics lectures tend to sail several meters over your head. On the downside, the economic nature of the text and the no-frills nature of the diagrams mean that it is not a particularly colourful or engaging read in it's own right. This is also positive, meaning that it is easier to extract information quickly than would be possible from a more bulky text. It is clearly meant to be dipped into, rather than read cover-to-cover. Realistically though, who would read a textbook cover-to-cover? People who will benefit from this book will be pre-clinical medical students, those intercalating a BSc in clinical science or genetics, doctors requiring an up-to-date review, or other students of biomedical science. This should not be your only textbook on cellular biology and genetics, but will serve as the perfect revision tool when exams sidle up too close for comfort.

This book is much more concise than the new edition and is perfect review for USMLE.

To get the quick and fast H.Y. facts for the boards this is the one! Its shorter and to the point in comparison to BRS. Note this is not a good book for class only for the Boards

This book is ok if you are struggling in this area, but it really isn't necessary. It isn't even a highly tested subject. DONT buy it here for $50 or more. It is not worth it. If you think you need it, try first getting it from another student. I sent an email to my school's listserve and somebody sold it to me for $25. Give it a try....

I bought this book to study for the USMLE Step 1 exam because of recommendations that I read on [...]. The book is currently out of print, and many people will try to buy this book for exorbitantly high prices in some cases. It is not worth any more than cover price in my opinion. I admittedly have a solid background in Genetics from undergrad and research but I probably have the same background in Molecular Biology as every other US med student and I don't think I really learned anything from this book that I didn't already know, or at least anything I wouldn't have learned from UWorld and First Aid. If you struggle with these subjects, this book presents the concepts very clearly and concisely, but if you are not particularly weak in this area, I don't think this book is worth the extra money that it sometimes costs.

It's been almost 40 days since I placed an order for this book but haven't received it yet. Poor service.Am so disappointed!!!!