Microbiology: A Systems Approach

by Marjorie Kelly Cowan, Heidi Smith (Contributor)

Cowan’s, A Systems Approach is the perfect book for all students. Whether your students have prerequisite knowledge of biology or chemistry, this textbook will help them learn the fascinating world of microbiology. Students interested in allied health or nursing, will love this book for its balanced coverage of the basics and clinical applications. The sixth edition art program will help students understand the key concepts of microbiology. Connect Microbiology features interactive questions, animations, laboratory simulations and state-of-the art technology tailored to the ASM curriculum guidelines

Genres: Science, Textbooks, Biology, Reference, Nursing, Nonfiction

864 pages, Unknown Binding

First published June 1, 2000

About the author

Professor Emerita of Micro­biology

Reviews

[Rui]

There are so many typos and contradictory information in this book I can’t believe it’s an actual textbook.
In 1.1 it says “there are several major groups of microorganisms that we’ll be studying. They are bacteria…, helminths”. Helminths aren’t microorganisms and the book even emphasized that on pg.8.
On pg. 4 “ubiquitous” was misspelled even though it was in bold and has a hyperlink to it in the ebook.
The story in 1.6 about how Leeuwenhoek’s interest in microscopy first started in fabrics was also not true according to an article by Brian J. Ford.
In the beginning of chapter 4 it stated that bacteria do not wind their DNA around proteins like eukaryotes and archaea, and yet in 4.4 it contradicted itself again by saying the bacterial chromosome is “tightly coiled around special basic protein molecules”. Like I understand many bacteria have plasmids as well which don’t coil around proteins but still? Maybe don’t say that bacteria don’t wind DNA around proteins.
I have so many complaints about the quality of this textbook.

[Ângela Maresch]

I deeply adore this book. I didn't even like Microbiology very much, but this book makes everything so simple and attractive! You get a good grasp on bacteria and their metabolism, then learn a bit about antimicrobials (I'll admit it, this is not a strong in this book), get acquainted with the inborn and specific immunological mechanisms, and then... a chapter on each system - because this was why we came here in the first place! I love how the author selected the main bacteria, but also virus, parasites and fungi! They are individually explained in some detail, and then, at the end of each chapter, you have a few questions and a short version of the information given. Did I mention the clinical insights and fabulous illustrations? If you want to know more about clinical microbiology, no matter your backgroung, get this book already.

[Paulia BSN-RN]

Comes with an interactive connex software that makes this subject matter easy to absorb and understand. Microbiology by far is a favorite one; what dirty creatures we all are in the world of mircroorganisms.

[Yates Buckley]

Quite a useful introductory text also because microbiology is so poorly covered by other texts.

[Ayla]

good book for learning about microbiology. I learned some very interesting facts and was blown away on how bacteria and viruses have evolved mechanisms for survival. great book if you are interested in the medical field and biotechnology.

[Leah]

So many typos and instances of terrible grammar! I can't believe this is a college textbook!

[Carrie]

Very good textbook with excellent illustrations.