Essentials of Genetics

by William S. Klug, Charlotte A. Spencer

Balancing classical and modern genetics, Essentials of Genetics helps readers understand basic genetics concepts, apply those concepts to genetics problems, and recognize the logic behind them. This succinct treatment features coverage of new research that will capture readers’ interests. Mendelian (transmission) genetics, and modern molecular genetics with analytical reasoning woven into discussions, plus references to classical experiments and recent applications. Helps readers connect the science of genetics to the issues of today. Modernizes treatment of timely topics, including genomics, bioinformatics, proteomics (chapter 18), applications and ethics of genetic engineering (chapter 19); updated and extended coverage of gene regulation (chapter 15), cancer genetics (chapter 16). Features beautifully redesigned illustrations throughout, helping readers understand concepts more clearly. A useful reference for anyone interested in learning more about genetics.

Genres: Textbooks, Biology, Science, Nonfiction, Genetics

600 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1993

Reviews

[Molly Lincoln · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me hate life more than my organic chemistry textbook. That should be a clear indication of its clarity.

[Cher Shen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has simple but clear explanation of all the most important and fundamental concepts. Very good as an introduction to the world of genetics.

Some questions are very interesting and mind challenging, and explanations are given to decipher, providing examples of the ways to solve genetics problems.

The new edition has really good editing. Love this book.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could have been a good textbook if it didn't suffer from a poor editing job throughout. Worse, you'd think that a book about genetics could - of all things - get the genetics of its cover animal right; it makes for a bad first impression. The authors write about how they chose to display an albino male green peafowl, Pavo muticus, on the cover as representative of albinism, "an iconic genetic phenotype now known to occur in many different organisms." Except that this bird isn't an albino individual, and it isn't even Pavo muticus - it's a white mutation of the Indian/blue peafowl, Pavo cristatus. The blue eyes - not red or pink - are a dead giveaway that it's not albino (as any geneticist worth their salt should be able to tell you!), and the fact that the authors don't even identify the right species casts doubt on the trustworthiness of any further information this book will try to pass off to you as scientific truth. It could have been a perfect moment (for a genetics textbook - again, of all things!) to talk about the difference between leucism (reduction of pigment, which is what the peafowl on the cover is actually an example of) and albinism (complete lack of pigment), in that not all organisms that look albino truly are albino. But, sadly, this moment gets lost in a pile of misinformation.

[Don O'goodreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third edition is classic. I found Essentials of Genetics (3rd Edition) on my book shelf. This edition was published in 1999 on the eve of the successes of the Human Genome Project (HGP). The HGP project and Celera Corporation have significantly changed our study and understanding of genetics. I imagine the current editions of this textbook are much changed.

While the text is packed with excellent science, one 20th century mythology is also well represented. Before the HGP, it was imagined that homo sapiens sapiens (that is you and I) were somehow special and must therefore had to have many more genes than other living things. The chauvinistic consensus was in the neighborhood of 50,000 to 100,000. The HGP has settled on under 25,000, with the higher numbers belonging to plants like grapes and corn.

As I read through the clever and tedious research required to take us from Mendel to HGP, I wonder where the epic novel of trial and discovery is. A 21st century Michener or Uris should tackle this project.

This edition is out of print, but later editions are available.

For more see: http://bit.ly/QBYmnd

[Rachel C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love this subject, but did not think this was that great of a book. The magazine-style textbooks always bother me because they just try to hard to be more "palatable." Well, for me, it just makes me never want to pick it up. I'm not a magazine kind of girl.... unless it's Nature, Science or a meant-to-be journal. The presentation of the subject material was OK and did provide some interesting tidbits.

[Dzung Le · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boring book!!!

[Cathy Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Principles of Genetics course