Genetics Demystified

The comprehemsive Demystified book on genetics, covering DNA, heredity, mutations, disease, evolution, and including discussion on the Human Genome Project and evolution. Genetics Demystified will be an up-to-date and readable explanation of the basic principles of genetics, providing a solid grounding in the topics generally included in introductory genetics classes in universities, colleges, and secondary schools.

Edward Willet is a journalist, reporter and news editor, who has authored more than 40 books ranging in topic from computing and light science to young adult fiction. His writing has brought him several awards and accolades from the National Science Teachers' Association and the Children’s Book Council, among others.

Preface

xi

Mendelism and Classical Genetics

1

(10)

Heredity Happens, but How?

1

(1)

The Scientific Monk

2

(1)

Mendel's Experiments

3

(2)

Emerging Patterns

5

(3)

Extensions to Mendel's Laws

8

(1)

Quiz

9

(2)

The Cell---The Basic Unit of Life

11

(12)

Cell Theory

11

(1)

Animalcules and Nuclei

12

(1)

Schleiden and Schwann

12

(1)

Parts of the Cell

13

(3)

Counting Chromosomes

16

(1)

The Cell Cycle

17

(3)

Connecting Mendel with Chromosomes

20

(1)

Quiz

21

(2)

DNA---The Chemical Basis of Heredity

23

(10)

The Race to Decipher DNA

24

(2)

The Double Helix

26

(2)

Replication of DNA

28

(2)

DNA Mutation and Repair

30

(1)

Quiz

31

(2)

Chromosomes---Organized DNA

33

(10)

The Fly Room

34

(2)

The Structure of the Chromosome

36

(1)

Linkage, Crossing Over, and Chromosome Mapping

37

(3)

Quiz

40

(3)

Traits---How Genes Are Expressed

43

(10)

Transcription

45

(1)

Translation

46

(2)

How Genes Are Regulated

48

(2)

From the Micro to the Macro

50

(1)

Quiz

51

(2)

Genomes---Reading the Genetic Code

53

(14)

Sequencing Other Species

59

(2)

Genome Mapping

61

(2)

Genome Variation

63

(1)

Quiz

64

(3)

Mutations---Misreading the Code

67

(10)

Types of Mutations

68

(6)

Causes of Mutations

74

(1)

Quiz

75

(2)

Cancer---Genetics Gone Awry

77

(12)

What Is Cancer?

78

(3)

How Oncogenes Cause Cancer

81

(1)

Another Mutation That Causes Cancer

82

(2)

Carcinogens

84

(1)

Quiz

85

(4)

Bacteria---A Different Way of Doing Things

89

(14)

Characteristics of Bacteria

89

(1)

DNA Replication and Cell Division

90

(4)

Bacterial Transcription and Translation

94

(2)

Genetic Recombination of Bacteria

96

(3)

Regulation of Gene Activity in Bacteria

99

(2)

Quiz

101

(2)

Organelles---Genetics Outside the Nucleus

103

(10)

Mitochondria

104

(2)

Chloroplasts

106

(1)

Organelle Inheritance

107

(1)

The Past Through Mitochondria

108

(2)

Quiz

110

(3)

Viruses---Hijacking Heredity

113

(12)

What Is a Virus?

114

(2)

Bacteriophages

116

(4)

Eukaryotic Viruses

120

(3)

Quiz

123

(2)

Genetic Engineering---Sculpting the Code

125

(22)

Restriction Enzymes

125

(2)

The First Experiments

127

(1)

Amplifying DNA

128

(6)

Modifying Proteins

134

(1)

Genetic Engineering of Animals

135

(3)

Genetic Engineering of Plants

138

(1)

Gene Therapy

139

(1)

Cloning

140

(2)

Concerns and Controversy

142

(1)

Quiz

143

(4)

Evolution---Change Driven By Genetics

147

(16)

What Is Evolution?

147

(1)

Population Genetics

148

(4)

The Origin of Species

152

(1)

Phylogenetic Systematics

153

(5)

The Genetics of Human Evolution

158

(2)

Quiz

160

(3)

Humans---How Genetics Affects Us

163

(12)

The Genetics of Sex

163

(4)

Genetic Diseases

167

(2)

RFLPs

169

(3)

Genetic Screening

172

(1)

Quiz

173

(2)

Final Exam

175

(14)

Answers to Quiz and Final Exam Questions

189

(4)

Suggested Additional References

193

(2)

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Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials