Molecular Biology : Made Simple and Fun

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ISBN: 9781889899077 | 1889899070
Cover: Paperback
Copyright: 4/1/2005

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Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale. Text for science students and non-scientists provides information of the fundamentals and tools of molecular biology. Details the rapid evolution of the field and the impact it continues to have on all aspects of science. Includes newly added material and abundant two-tone images and illustrations. Previous edition: c2000. Softcover.

Introduction

(4)

We explain why molecular biology is so important for anyone intending to live in the 21st century.

Bacteria: The Molecular Biologist's Guinea Pigs

(8)

Breakthroughs in molecular biology came largely from studying bacteria.

Basic Genetics

(12)

Describes inheritance and lays the foundation for understanding how genes are expressed.

Required Reading: The Molecular Basis of Heredity

(10)

The structure of DNA, the molecule carrying the cell's genetic information.

Duplicating the DNA: Replication

(12)

How genes made of DNA duplicate themselves as cells multiply is explained.

Getting the Message Out: Transcription of Genes to Produce Messenger RNA

(16)

Information stored in DNA is transferred to RNA which starts on its journey as a message carrying information to the rest of the cell.

Proteins: The Buck Stops Here

(20)

The message brought by RNA is decoded by a special apparatus which makes protein.

Sex Among the Low-Lifes and Its Exploitation by Molecular Biologists: Gene Transfer in Bacteria

(12)

This chapter explains how bacteria replicate their DNA and how molecular biologists exploit bacteria in a laboratory setting.

Messing about with DNA

(18)

The most basic techniques used by molecular biologists in handling DNA are explained.

Products from Biotechnology

113

(18)

Examples are given showing how molecular biology has been used to produce useful products for both profit and fun.

Genetic Organization in Higher Organisms

131

(22)

Bacteria are more primitive than the rest of us and this chapter explains how more advanced creatures accomplish their goals of gene expression and protein synthesis.

Mutations: Things That Go Bump in the Night

153

(20)

Explains how a change in the genetic code affects an organism for better or worse.

Inherited Human Disease

173

(18)

All disease, except trauma, has a genetic basis. Interesting examples are described here.

Cancer and Aging

191

(26)

Cancer and aging are ultimately of genetic origin. The mechanisms of both are illustrated.

Down on the Farm: Transgenic Plants and Animals

217

(20)

Biotechnology has been used to produce useful products for agriculture.

Just Do It! Techniques of Molecular Biology

237

(34)

The molecular biologist has a whole armory of techniques that are described here.

PCR: The Polymerase Chain Reaction and Its Many Uses

271

(16)

This ultrasensitive technique is used to detect and amplify specific regions of DNA.

Whodunit? Forensic Medicine and Molecular Biology

287

(12)

How DNA technology is used to establish identity is described here.

Gene Creatures, Part I: Viruses, Viroids and Plasmids

299

(18)

Don't ignore these creatures. They use their genes to manipulate your genetic machinery.

Gene Creatures, Part II: Jumping Genes and Junk DNA

317

(18)

Some genes can move around and may create large amounts of DNA that has no purpose.

Biological Warfare

335

(26)

Some creatures use their genetic machinery to wage war on other creatures.

The Molecular Defense Initiative: Your Immune System at Work

361

(26)

A few genes can produce an enormous variety of antibodies that are used to fight invaders.

Genomics and DNA Sequencing

387

(14)

We have now been sequenced but do we understand ourselves?

Molecular Evolution: Memories of ``The Way We Were''

401

(30)

Fossils may be impressive but evolution can best be understood by looking at changes in DNA.

RNA: The Final Frontier

431

(8)

New discoveries reveal that RNA can do almost anything.

Classification: Biology for the Neurotic and the Obsessive-Compulsive

439

(12)

Classification of organisms into one group or another has its ultimate basis in DNA similarities.

A Brief History of Molecular Biology

451

(6)

For lovers of history, some of the most famous experiments with genes and DNA are described.

What Was Said--What Was Meant: Understanding a Molecular BiologySeminar

457

(8)

Making a technical seminar simple; this is your final exam.

Fat City: Problems of Success

465

(6)

Obesity is today's major health problem.

Brush Up Your Chemistry

471

(16)

New discoveries reveal that RNA can do almost anything.

Glossary

487

(22)

Index

509

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Molecular Biology : Made Simple and Fun

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Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials