22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Manga Delivers Molecular Biology, September 17, 2009
This review is from: The Manga Guide to Molecular Biology (Paperback)
This manga is an excellent introduction to the subject. In contrast to some other manga guides that deal with subjects that are more difficult to explore graphically (e.g. calculus, statistics), molecular biology lends itself well to visual treatment.
Manga usually uses human subjects in a story to try to maintain interest. The story in this book is contrived, but that doesn't detract from the value of the biology presentation.
The book starts with some basic definitions, and proceeds to explain the workings of the cell. Sections include:
What is a Cell?
Proteins and DNA: Deciphering the Genetic Code
DNA Replication and Cell Division
How is a Protein Made?
Genetic Technology and Research.
The diagrams, pictures, and accompanying text do an excellent job of explaining the complicated process by which genes are expressed, RNA templates are produced, and via the ribosome, protein is made, amino acid by amino acid. Many texts don't do justice to the subject in double the pages.
Some of the controversial aspects of biotechnology are also addressed, including embryonic stem cell research and cloning.
As an introduction to the subject, as an accessory guide to accompany a more complete text, or just as a refresher for those of us who took biology classes before many of these subjects were well understood, this is an excellent book.
Highly recommended
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Entertaining Teaching of An Important & Highly Visual Subject, December 8, 2009
This review is from: The Manga Guide to Molecular Biology (Paperback)
All of the Manga Guides from No Starch Press provide excellent teaching of Complex University-Level Subjects in an entertaining visual form. This Molecular Biology text is particularly outstanding, even in this innovative instructional series. Because the subject matter being covered is primarily visual in nature, as opposed to other guides which cover Relational Databases, Calculus and Electricity the talented author and illustrators are able to explain what one would see under the microscope, what processes are being enacted by the genetic and molecular components, and thus superbly explain what this vital field covers, even to one ignorant of college-level biology such as myself.
This is a fascinating and illustrative guide to a field which has implications to all of us biologists and laymen alike.
--Ira Laefsky
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another great Manga guide making learning fun, November 27, 2009
This review is from: The Manga Guide to Molecular Biology (Paperback)
This book follows the same great approach as the other Manga Guides: Break a complex idea down in to small pieces, clearly explain it with practical examples, and use the fun Manga comic style to wrap the entire concept in a great story.
I never took molecular biology in high school or college, yet I was able to get through the Guide and come out at the end with a pretty fair understanding of it. Moreover, I actually enjoyed the learning journey!
My nine year-old daughter loves these books and always reads through them after I'm done. She's not coming away from the books with great knowledge of the concepts, but she's finding them interesting, fun, and is less intimidated with the subjects. I think that's a big win because these guides are laying some good ground work for her to come back to later.
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