Molecular Biology

by David P. Clark

Overview

Molecular Biology: Academic Cell Update provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of molecular biology and its applications. It deliberately covers a broad range of topics to show that molecular biology is applicable to human medicine and health, as well as veterinary medicine, evolution, agriculture, and other areas. The present Update includes journal specific images and test bank. It also offers vocabulary flashcards.

The book begins by defining some basic concepts in genetics such as biochemical pathways, phenotypes and genotypes, chromosomes, and alleles. It explains the characteristics of cells and organisms, DNA, RNA, and proteins. It also describes genetic processes such as transcription, recombination and repair, regulation, and mutations. The chapters on viruses and bacteria discuss their life cycle, diversity, reproduction, and gene transfer. Later chapters cover topics such as molecular evolution; the isolation, purification, detection, and hybridization of DNA; basic molecular cloning techniques; proteomics; and processes such as the polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing, and gene expression screening.

• Up to date description of genetic engineering, genomics, and related areas
• Basic concepts followed by more detailed, specific applications
• Hundreds of color illustrations enhance key topics and concepts
• Covers medical, agricultural, and social aspects of molecular biology
• Organized pedagogy includes running glossaries and keynotes (mini-summaries) to hasten comprehension

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780123785909
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	10/21/2009
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	784
File size:	24 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

David P. Clark did his graduate work on bacterial antibiotic resistance to earn his Ph.D. from Bristol University, England. He later crossed the Atlantic to work as a postdoctoral researcher at Yale University and then the University of Illinois. Dr Clark recently retired from teaching Molecular Biology and Bacterial Physiology at Southern Illinois University which he joined in 1981. His research into the Regulation of Alcohol Fermentation in E. coli was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, from 1982 till 2007. In 1991 he received a Royal Society Guest Research Fellowship to work at Sheffield University, England while on sabbatical leave.

Table of Contents

1. Basic Genetics 2. Cells and Organisms 3. DNA, RNA and Protein 4. Genes, Genomes and DNA 5. Cell Division and DNA Replication 6. Transcription of Genes 7. Protein Structure and Function 8. Protein Synthesis 9. Regulation of Transcription in Prokaryotes 10. Regulation of Transcription in Eukaryotes 11. Regulation at the RNA Level 12. Processing of RNA 13. Mutations 14. Recombination and Repair15. Mobile DNA 16. Plasmids 17. Viruses 18. Bacterial Genetics 19. Diversity of Lower Eukaryotes 20. Molecular Evolution 21. Nucleic Acids: Isolation, Purification, Detection, and Hybridization 22. Recombinant DNA Technology 23. The Polymerase Chain Reaction 24. Genomics and DNA Sequencing 25. Analysis of Gene Expression 26. Proteomics: The Global Analysis of Proteins Glossary Index

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Examines the basic concepts of molecular biology and its applications in today’s research

Editorial Reviews

"This second edition of the text is accompanied by an online study guide, which contains useful material including review questions, and references to relevant articles. I would highly recommend this informative, well-presented book to students and researchers seeking sound and practical updated knowledge in molecular biology."—Science Progress, vol 95, issue 2, 2012"This molecular biology textbook from Clark and Pazdernik is geared toward upper-level undergraduate and beginning graduate students. The book is written with a preference for breadth over depth, beginning with several chapters to cover the basics for students with a non-molecular background in biology and continuing on in survey fashion to the topics of genomics research, RNA and protein function, gene expression, subcellular life-forms, and DNA alteration."—Reference & Research Book News, October 2013"This book reflects the massive surge in our understanding of the molecular foundations of genetics. In order to understand where these technological advances are heading, there needs to be a basic understanding of how living organisms function at a molecular level. Molecular Biology, 2e, effectively introduces basic concepts followed by more specific applications as the text evolves."—ANTICANCER RESEARCH 33: 745-746 (2013), February 2013"This comprehensive text gives students and researchers a sound and practical knowledge of molecular biology. Consisting of 28 lucidly written chapters, this book presents basic concepts, recent updates, methodological principles and applications in this central biology discipline. The authors have adopted an interesting pedagogic approach to ensure smooth delivery of the presented information. This involved the use of nicely-designed meaningful illustrations, highlighting key concepts in each chapter, and raising review and conceptual questions. There is also a novel feature of ‘Focus on Relevant Research’ sections relating pertinent research articles to key concepts in the text. These sections illustrate how the development of frontier research in molecular biology is based upon the proper understanding of its prime concepts. This second edition of the text is accompanied by an online study guide, which contains useful material including review questions, and references to relevant articles. I would highly recommend this informative, well-presented book to students and researchers seeking sound and practical updated knowledge in molecular biology."—Science Progress

From the Publisher

Reviewer: Ruben Mestril, PhD (Loyola University Medical Center)
Description: This is an excellent survey of the main topics in modern day molecular biology as well as the new and updated topics such as proteomics and molecular evolution, among others. The presentation is clear and straightforward and the accompanying illustrations, also updated, enhance student understanding. A nice feature is the tie-in to relevant Cell Press articles that introduce students to the process of analytical thinking. Each chapter is followed by a section of key concepts, review questions, and conceptual questions, helpful for review.
Purpose: The main purpose is to present a survey of current topics in molecular biology. The interesting chapters on genomics and systems biology (chap. 9), proteomics (chap. 15), and molecular evolution (chap. 26), provide an excellent roadmap to how molecular biology has impacted our understanding of life on earth and possible future applications.
Audience: The book is written primarily for upper-division students interested in the study of molecular biology and genomics. It provides a good primer for first year graduate students, but it also is a good starting point for biological investigators not familiar with the different aspects of modern day molecular biology as well as those who are interested in biotechnology, since this is the required precursor to a second book in this series, Biotechnology, by the same authors.
Features: The book's six units cover general areas of molecular biology: basic chemical and biological principles, the genome, the central dogma of molecular biology, regulating gene expression, subcellular life forms, and changing the DNA blueprint. Each unit has three to six chapters covering topics related to each of these areas of study. Since each unit can be read or studied independently of the other units, this permits instructors as well as students to concentrate on their area of interest. Some of the convenient features include, for example, the accompanying online animations, which help to illustrate important points, and the sections called "Focus on Relevant Research," which are helpful in integrating some of the original literature from Cell Press. In addition, the key concepts, review questions, and conceptual questions are an excellent aid for students to review the material.
Assessment: Overall, this is an excellent textbook for students interested in molecular biology and its potential applications. This second edition is a significant update, with new chapters that address recent advances in molecular biology. The "Focus on Relevant Research" is a welcome new feature that connects the various topics with recent original scientific journal publications. The accompanying online resources are also excellent tools for both students and instructors.

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