Microbiology: Principles and Explorations [Hardcover]

Jacquelyn G. Black (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470107480 | ISBN-13: 978-0470107485 | Publication Date: January 2, 2008 | Edition: 7

Microbiology: Principles and Explorations has been a best-selling textbook for several editions due to the author's engaging writing style where her passion for the subject shines through the narrative. The text's student-friendly approach provides readers with an excellent introduction to the study of Microbiology. This text is appropriate for non-major and mixed major microbiology courses, allied health, agriculture and food sciences courses too.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

About the Cover...

The image shows two T4 bacteriophage viruses attaching to, and injecting DNA into, a bacterium. Like alien invaders, they are going to consume the contents of the bacterial cell, using the materials to make hundreds of copies of themselves, finally rupturing open the cell wall of the now dead bacterium, liberating the hundreds of offspring to attack more bacteria. Using bacteriophages (bacteriophage therapy) gets around the problems of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. And, since a given bacteriophage will target and kill only one specific strain of bacterium, the normal bacterial flora will not be disturbed, thus preventing side effects such as diarrhea and vaginal yeast infections.

Jackie black is an expert in bacteriophage therapy. For more information on this fascinating topic, view her lecture on the student website (www.wiley.com/college/black).

About the Author

Jacquelyn  Black received her B.A., B.S., M.S. from the University of Chicago and her Ph.D. from Catholic University of America. She has been teaching microbiology to undergraduates since 1970. She is a member of the American Society for Microbiology, and she has received grants for conducting teacher-training programs.

In May 0f 2000, the Washington Academy of Sciences gave Jackie the Leo Schubert Award for Excellence in Teaching of Science in College. This award is given for exceptional teaching and writing in the field of microbiology, with particular emphasis on the teaching o undergraduate students.

In addition to her extensive teaching experience, Dr. Black has engaged in fieldwork and studies throughout the globe. Her travels have taken her from the interior of Iceland to Belgium, Germany, Lappland, China, South America, Portugal, the barrier reef of Belize, and most recently to over a dozen universities in Russia.

Dr. Black describes herself as an "incorrigible snoop," interested in all the various aspects and applications of microbiology. this natural curiosity, coupled with her classroom and laboratory experience, makes her uniquely qualified to author an introductory microbiology textbook. This book conveys her sense of excitement for microbiology and offers the most current information on developments and applications within this field.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 422 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 7 edition (January 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470107480
• ISBN-13: 978-0470107485
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,983 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > Medical Books > Basic Sciences > Microbiology

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Intro Microbio Text on the Market, December 19, 2008

By 

Outstanding "Carl" (California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Microbiology: Principles and Explorations (Hardcover)

This book is the best intro microbiology textbook I've seen. The author writes in a very straigtforward, no nonsense, yet detailed fashion and explains concepts with a perfect blend of precision and simpicity that other books lack. The book has nice photos and illustrations to support the great writing.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A great book for a 200- level course, April 20, 2010

By 

Ariel Parker "dusoda23" (Milwaukee, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microbiology Principles and Explorations 7e (Kindle Edition)

I used this book in the 200-level microbiology course I taught last year and will use it again this year. It has wonderful figures and great instructor resources. There are a few errors in the text, for example the glossary gives the definition of an auxotroph to be that of an autotroph, and the autotroph definition is that of the auxotroph. This confused my students.

It's a great book for a nursing/ non-majors microbiology course. I would stick with Brock's Biology of Microorganisms for a Biology Majors course.


--> Addition to this review (Dec. 2010), it's filled with errors, as is the instructors guides that are online for this text. It makes it difficult to teach something if the book is incorrect. For example, look up autotroph and auxotroph in the glossary. The definitions are backwards. This is just one example of many errors!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Save $$$$, November 28, 2011

By 

Benskull - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Microbiology: Principles and Explorations (Paperback)

This book is a great way to save money!!!! The non-international version that my class required was double the price. This is the international version, which is NO DIFFERENT in text, and it is paperback. The only down side may be selling it when I'm done.. oh well..