Understanding Biotechnology [Paperback]

Aluizio Borem (Author), Fabricio R. Santos (Author), David E. Bowen (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0131010115 | ISBN-13: 978-0131010116 | Publication Date: January 27, 2003

Understanding Biotechnology offers an introduction to biotechnology that is balanced, accurate, current, thorough, and accessible to non-specialists and professionals alike. It begins with the field's history and key principles, then reviews every area of research, including cloning, gene therapy, pharmacogenomics, molecular markers, forensic DNA, bioremediation, and biodiversity. It presents detailed coverage of biosafety and ethics, plus a full chapter on bioterrorism.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

An objective, thorough, and accessible introduction to biotechnology.

Biotechnology will have an increasingly profound impact on human health, agriculture, the environment, and society itself. Understanding Biotechnology offers an introduction to biotechnology that is balanced, accurate, current, thorough, and accessible to both non-specialists and professionals.

The authors begin with a brief history of biotechnology and an introduction to the underlying principles of genetic engineering. Next, they review every key area of biotechnology research, thoroughly addressing both technical practice and implications—including biosafety and ethical issues.

Understanding Biotechnology presents careful and complete introductions to cloning, gene therapy, pharmacogenomics, molecular markers, forensic DNA, bioremediation, and biodiversity, as well as a full chapter on the risks of bioterrorism. It also includes an extensive glossary and detailed references for further study.

About the Author

Aluízio Borém is an agronomist, faculty member at the Federal University of Vicosa in Brazil, and a member of the Brazilian Biosafety Committee.

Fabrício R. Santos, biologist and faculty member at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (Brazil), currently researches the molecular evolution of humans.

David E. Bowen is pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Idaho, where he is researching nutritional improvements in wheat.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall (January 27, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131010115
• ISBN-13: 978-0131010116
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #392,320 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars An Objective, Thorough Misfire on an Important Science, January 30, 2005

By 

S. Schepel (Flemington, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding Biotechnology (Paperback)

I just finished reading this book for an independent novel project for my Biology 104 course. Throughout the reading of this grammatical-error-strewn book, I realized something. This book had no real-world implications. It was written for the common person to understand biotechnology in their daily lives. However, the book flowed at such an esoteric level, explaining only a quarter of the bio-heavy terms it used, that it was impossible to understand unless you were a bio major. Then I realized: if you're a bio major, you've already understood these concepts. Again, no real world applications.

To make matters at hand worse, the book was incredibly dull. Most of the topics it covered were explained so dully, with such drab examples, that I continually fell asleep. I won't mention that I was reclining in a, well, recliner. But it was pretty mundane. The diagrams and pictures in this book are a joke. One is Pacman eating a blob, which corresponds with "some bacteria eat toxins and eliminate pollution."

I found the bioterrorism section, a fascinating subject, to be also mundane, and extremely uninformative. Some pathogens, such as cholera, were given a sentence description which simply said "this is used in bioterrorism". Thanks. I'm REALLY understanding biotechnology.

Don't read this book. I'm sure there are much better ones that will help you understand these important biological concepts.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Informative But Hard On The Layman, July 13, 2006

By 

Chan Joon Yee "Dr Chan" (Singapore) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Understanding Biotechnology (Paperback)

Covering topics like genetic engineering, cloning, gene therapy, forensics and bioremediation, this is a highly informative book that not only deals with the science but the laws, social and economic implications of biotechnology.

For those interested in knowing more about these topics before they invest in biotechnology, this book is packed with plenty of useful information. However, the information is presented in a technical, not very reader-friendly way.

I suggest keeping it as as reference book and zooming in on specific topics when you need information on them.

5.0 out of 5 stars Quick book delivery, August 7, 2009

By 

C. Butts (Gainesville, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Understanding Biotechnology (Paperback)

Good read, covers the basics. The delivery was very fast. Think it was ordered on a Tuesday afternoon and delivered by Thursday with expedited shipping.