From Book News, Inc.
New edition of a text in which six researchers from leading institutions discuss what is known and what is yet to be understood in the field of cell biology. The material on molecular genetics has been revised and expanded so that it can be used as a stand-alone text. A new chapter covers pathogens, infection, and innate immunity. Topics include introduction to the cell, basic genetic mechanisms, methods, internal organization of the cell, and cells in their social context. The book contains color illustrations and charts; and the included CD-ROM contains dozens of video clips, animations, molecular structures, and high-resolution micrographs.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


Book Description
Molecular Biology of the Cell is the classic in-depth text reference in cell biology. By extracting the fundamental concepts from this enormous and ever-growing field, the authors tell the story of cell biology, and create a coherent framework through which non-expert readers may approach the subject. Written in clear and concise language, and beautifully illustrated, the book is enjoyable to read, and it provides a clear sense of the excitement of modern biology. Molecular Biology of the Cell sets forth the current understanding of cell biology (completely updated as of Autumn 2001), and it explores the intriguing implications and possibilities of the great deal that remains unknown.
The hallmark features of previous editions continue in the Fourth Edition. The book is designed with a clean and open, single-column layout. The art program maintains a completely consistent format and style, and includes over 1,600 photographs, electron micrographs, and original drawings by the authors. Clear and concise concept headings introduce each section. Every chapter contains extensive references. Most important, every chapter has been subjected to a rigorous, collaborative revision process where, in addition to incorporating comments from expert reviewers, each co-author reads and reviews the other authors' prose. The result is a truly integrated work with a single authorial voice.


Book Info
Comprehensive text/reference covers what is known and what is unknown about the subject. Sections include an introduction, basic genetic mechanisms, methods, internal organization of the cell, and cells in their social context. Previous edition: c1994. CD contains video clips, animations, molecular structures, and high-resolution micrographs. DNLM: Cells.

ANNOTATION

The book contains both black-and-white and color illustrations.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Molecular Biology of the Cell is the classic in-depth text reference in cell biology. By extracting the fundamental concepts from this enormous and ever-growing field, the authors tell the story of cell biology, and create a coherent framework through which non-expert readers may approach the subject. Written in clear and concise language, and beautifully illustrated, the book is enjoyable to read, and it provides a clear sense of the excitement of modern biology. Molecular Biology of the Cell sets forth the current understanding of cell biology (completely updated as of Autumn 2001), and it explores the intriguing implications and possibilities of the great deal that remains unknown.
The hallmark features of previous editions continue in the Fourth Edition. The book is designed with a clean and open, single-column layout. The art program maintains a completely consistent format and style, and includes over 1,600 photographs, electron micrographs, and original drawings by the authors. Clear and concise concept headings introduce each section. Every chapter contains extensive references. Most important, every chapter has been subjected to a rigorous, collaborative revision process where, in addition to incorporating comments from expert reviewers, each co-author reads and reviews the other authors' prose. The result is a truly integrated work with a single authorial voice.

FROM THE CRITICS

Doody Review Services

Reviewer: Alvin Telser, PhD (Northwestern University Medical School)Description: This is the fourth edition of one of the major textbooks in modern cell and molecular biology. The previous edition was published in 1994. Purpose: The book is intended to be a comprehensive, authoritative source of information about modern plant and animal cell and molecular biology. Given the interest in and importance of these aspects of modern science, this is an important textbook and fully attains the authors' objectives. Audience: The authors state that the book is intended for advanced undergraduates who are taking a cell and molecular biology course as well as established scientists who may want a current source of information about areas outside their own expertise. The authors comment that groups of chapters, or even individual chapters, could be used as standalone resources in a variety of advanced topics courses. The six major authors of the book as well as the many authors of individual chapters are acknowledged authorities in their respective fields. The book was written by dozens of knowledgeable individuals and reviewed by hundreds of others, including many students. Features: The book has chapters on essentially all the important areas of research and interest in cell and molecular biology:the genome, molecular biology, plasma membranes, signal transduction, the cytoskeleton, cell division, development and differentiation, stem cells, cancer, and more. A CD-ROM is included that contains many fascinating examples of cell behavior, e.g., video clips and animations. The book is extremely well written; most chapters begin with thought-provoking general comments about cells and how their behavior and/or activities are relevant to the contents of that particular chapter. The hundreds of schematic/explanatory diagrams and light and electron micrographs and the way they are integrated into the text are superb. Subsections within chapters have headings that clearly indicate the content that follows. Groups of subsections are summarized several times in each chapter to facilitate learning. If there are any shortcomings in this book, it is the effort to be too comprehensive by including sections on cancer, the adaptive immune system, and histology; these are entire disciplines in themselves, and, although what this book includes is good, these chapters are too brief and selective to be as authoritative as most of the rest of the book. Assessment: This is one of the two standard textbooks of cell and molecular biology; the other is Molecular Cell Biology, by Lodish, et al. (W. H. Freeman, 2000). This 4th edition will be warmly welcomed by college and university teachers, researchers and students alike. It maintains and improves upon the quality and excellence of previous editions.

Booknews

**** A big, beautiful (now in color throughout), up-to-date survey of cell biology for the introductory university course. The text is divided into four sections: introduction to the cell; molecular genetics; internal organization of the cell; and cells in their social context. Previous editions were published in 1983 (cited in BCL3) and 1989. The present edition is fully reorganized to reflect major advances in signal transduction, intracellular protein sorting, gene regulation, control of cell division, and developmental biology. It also adds new chapters on recombinant DNA techniques and on proteins as machines. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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