Microbiology: An Introduction (Benjamin/Cummings series in the life sciences) (Hardcover)

by Gerard J. Tortora (Author), etc. (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This #1 selling non-majors microbiology book is praised for its straightforward presentation of complex topics, careful balance of concepts and applications, and proven art that teaches. In its Tenth Edition, Tortora/Funke/Case responds to the #1 challenge of the microbiology course: teaching a wide range of reader levels, while still addressing reader under-preparedness. The Tenth Edition meets readers at their respective skill levels.

 

First, the book signals core microbiology content to readers with the new and highly visual Foundation Figures that readers need to understand before moving forward in a chapter. Second, the book gives readers frequent opportunities for self-assessment with the new Check Your Understanding questions that correspond by number to the chapter Learning Objectives. Then, a new “visual learning” orientation includes: an increased number of the popular Diseases in Focus boxes, newly illustrated end-of-chapter Study Outlines that provide students with visual cues to remind them of chapter content, and new end-of-chapter Draw It questions. The all-new art program is contemporary without compromising Tortora/Funke/Case’s hallmark reputation for precision and clarity. Content revisions include substantially revised immunity chapters and an increased emphasis on antimicrobial resistance, bioterrorism, and biofilms. The new Get Ready for Microbiology  workbook and online practice and assessment materials help readers prepare for the course.

The Microbial World and You, Chemical Principles, Observing Microorganisms Through a Microscope, Functional Anatomy of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells, Microbial Metabolism, Microbial Growth, The Control of Microbial Growth, Microbial Genetics, Biotechnology and Recombinant DNA, Classification of Microorganisms, The Prokaryotes: Domains Bacteria and Archaea, The Eukaryotes: Fungi, Algae, Protozoa, and Helminths, Viruses, Viroids, and Prions, Principles of Disease and Epidemiology, Microbial Mechanisms of Pathogenicity, Innate Immunity: Nonspecific Defenses of the Host, Adaptive Immunity: Specific Defenses of the Host, Practical Applications of Immunology, Disorders Associated with the Immune System, Antimicrobial Drugs, Microbial Diseases of the Skin and Eyes, Microbial Diseases of the Nervous System, Microbial Diseases of the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems, Microbial Diseases of the Respiratory System, Microbial Diseases of the Digestive System, Microbial Diseases of the Urinary and Reproductive Systems, Environmental Microbiology,  Applied and Industrial Microbiology . Intended for those interested in learning the basics of microbiology.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From the Back Cover

 

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 837 pages
• Publisher: Benjamin-Cummings Publishing Co.,Subs. of Addison Wesley Longman,US; 3rd edition (June 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805301410
• ISBN-13: 978-0805301410
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,624,712 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars not much help, August 11, 2005

By	Mandy (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microbiology: An Introduction, Eighth Edition (Hardcover)

As another reviewer stated, subjects were scattered all over book. Constant referrals to other chapters and sections. If you choose to do the review questions in back of book, you won't find the answers unless you go on-line, very annoying as I don't like to study in front of a computer. Lastly in other science textbooks there are often mid-chapter review questions to help you learn - this had none of that. Book was useless, learned more from instructor's outlines.

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars NOT a keeper, April 29, 2004

By	hana jacobs "nursing-usa" (NH, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Microbiology: An Introduction, Eighth Edition (Hardcover)

We used this book in our Microbiology class (community college-pre nursing). Everyone, including me, disliked this book. We usually keep all our books for future use, but concensus was to get rid of this one. We have found the topics to be scattered all over the book and not organized well. DNA replication information was not clearly explained...In fact I found most of the topics to be better explained in "Biology" by Cambell-Reece-Mitchell. I usually read all my books. This class, I used the web for DNA replication and bacteria caused diseases, and biology book for the rest. One good thing came out of this. It forced me to use the web, and it is a great resource for Micro.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A lot of information....disorganized, April 3, 2006

By	mdelbruck123 "max" (MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microbiology: An Introduction, Eighth Edition (Hardcover)

I taught a basic undergraduate microbiology class using this text book. The students were mostly pre-nursing so we had a clinical focus. My main problem with the text is it is trying to be all things to all people. It tries to present too much information that is scattered all over the text. Frequently, within chapters, students have to jump back and forth to material presented in other chapters and it simply becomes information overload. In addition, some of the study question, especially the clinically oriented ones, ask the students about areas that haven't been adequately covered in the text or assume knowledge that they don't have as yet. Finally, beware the Powerpoint slide presentations. These are also full of errors and need pretty extensive editing.