Customer Reviews

Microarray Analysis

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Despite the fact that this book has very little about microarray data analysis, it is still a very good book about microarray technology. The author even introduces the reader to the basic organic chemistry and the physics necessary for fully understanding what is a microarray and how it works. The book has many interesting information which I did not see in other similar books and which can help you create the necessary microarray culture you will need. On the other hand, the book does not provide protocols or detailed methods for your experiments (if you are looking for something like this you will need the "DNA MICROARRAYS: A Molecular cloning manual" which is some kind of Maniatis of the microarrays).

In relation to data analysis this book does not provide you with even the basics for analysing your data, which is a fairly complex task. If you need help with that (and you are a biologist) I would suggest "Data analysis tools for DNA Microarrays" by Sorin Draghici, which is a very good intro book to data analysis and is not too hard on the math side (actually it is as simple as possible but without oversimplifying it). If you are a math person than you might prefer Terry Speed's "Statistical Analysis of Gene Expression Microarray Data" or Cabrera's "Exploration and Analysis of DNA Microarray and Protein Array Data".

This book by Schena is not analytical in the rigourous sense. No mathematical methods are discussed other than in passing. Rather it is wide ranging, unfocused and occasionally comical. For example Schena begins the Preface with absurdly off topic quotes from Picasso and Neitzche and name drops throughout. Schena (or his publisher) even claims to be the "Father of Microarray Technology": a bold title that properly is shared between Patrick Brown and Steve Fodor. Schena digresses into such irrelevancies as defining the Internet and the value of Venture Capital. The book is quite uneven, it goes in depth on the specific chemical issues relevent to cDNA arrays and is very shallow on normalization clustering and stat. level analysis. I found the book entertaining, but I doubt that was Authors intent. Also I should note I was given the book as a gift. I can't imagine paying for it.

As an emerging discipline, Microarray analysis is somewhat overwhelming and this book provides an excellent overview and introduction. While it does not give the reader the ability to perform high level data analysis, it certainly provides the criteria which would be necessary to design one. I personally rather enjoyed the casual and light hearted editaorial handling of what could have been a very dry text. I am an engineer, interested in the techniques of Microarray analysis more than the actual execution, but even I found the book extremely valuable. An excellent introductory and intermediate text. Readable by and valuable to almost anyone with a basic background in and understanfding of the life sciences. Extraordinary and a great addition to any library!

The Microarray Analysis book by Dr. Mark Schena does an excellent job of taking the reader thru the multiple technologies and science disciplines required to understand and use the power of the microarray. It's interdisciplinary and broad approach allows complete understanding of the field without wasting time on aspects of the field which are sill evolving. It's elegantly written. Chapter 13, which talks about the use of microarrays in genetic screening, testing and diagnostics, is one of Schena's greatest accomplishments, in a historic and socio-economic sense. This contribution alone, makes the book a must read to prepare for the microarray revolution in medicine, agriculture, ecology and bio-threat detection. Strongly recommended reading for anyone seriously interested in Microarrays, be they students, professors expanding their horizons or CEO's hoping to mine microarrays. Hats off to Dr. Mark Schena!

"...an essential resource for anyone involved in the life sciences...the first textbook treatment of this innovative technique..." (Word Trade)

"...a very personal, encyclopedic, diffuse compendium of everything known about microarrays...fun to read...full of information that a working biologist...might be quite interested to learn." (ASM News, Vol. 69, No. 7, 2003)

"...an excellent text...a valuable reference...If you need to know what microarrays are, how they can be used, how they work, and how you can analyze the data...then this book will provide the insight." (Clinical Chemistry, Vol. 49, No. 6, 2003)

"...the book is highly recommended as an excellent one stop resource on microarray technology" (Proteomics)