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Customer Reviews (5)

Brilliant review and mini-text
I used this book to review for the USMLE step 1 a couple of years ago.At that time, there was no single good medical genetics review book that could be read in a short time, and I encountered this at the bookstore.Not only did this book help me review the genetics portion in a brief amount of time, it was also surprisingly well written and an absorbing read.It has since become a part of my library.I think this book will be best used by medical students who are in a short genetics course and are in a time crunch, students reviewing for the USMLE Step 1, or a clinician who wants a brief review of medical genetics.Of course, a layperson with an interest in the field should also find this book interesting.I hope Dr Westman will continue to write newer editions of this little gem of a book.

Good concise review of medical genetics
I dont think this book is supposed to be a full-fledged textbooks. It reads like a very concise textbook, yet is the size of your average High-Yield or BRS book.In fact, this a great reference to brush up or learn, with moderate depth every major part of medical genetics.I really enjoyed reading this. Its quite up to date... I wish this author would write a bigger version!

very basic
doesn't contain very much depth.i recommend consulting a more detailed genetics book.

Medical Genetics
Medical Genetics For the Modern Clinician by Judith Westman is a small concise summary of Genetics.It's 200 pgs are packed with information including plenty of clinical cases.Definitely for someone already with a basic knowledge of Genetics.End of chapter multiple choice questions help to study for the boards.For a introduction to Genetics or detail on certain conditions another Genetics book should be consulted.

Medical Genetics
I have found that this text encompasses a large volume of genetic material and presents the essentials for use by medical professionals and students. Although this is not a text to recommend for genetics courses, it is a valuable resource to gain information of the current trends in genetic medicine, with very useful USMLE-style questions. The one criticism that this book lacks is that a few more pages could be added for summarys of chapter material, and for more comparisons. Overall a great book for medical students who do not want to become geneticists. ... Read more

Product Description

If Gilda Radner, one of the original cast of Saturday Night Live, had known of her family's medical pedigree and her ethnic heritage, she possibly could have prevented her death from ovarian cancer, the silent killer that tragically took her life at the age of 42. Cancer, mental illness, diabetes, and heart disease all have a hereditary component. Unlocking Your Genetic History explains how to integrate a family health history into your genealogy, how to get the appropriate medical information and analyze it, and how to design a medical pedigree in order to detect the genetic influence on your family's health. Early awareness, identification, and treatment can mean the difference between life and death.

The second part of the book discusses the exciting new field of using genetic testing to link you to your ancestors and verify your genealogy. Genetic testing was used to show that Thomas Jefferson fathered children with his slave Sally Hemings and has direct male descendents living today.  It has shown that Jews retained their genetic identity despite the Jewish Diasporsa.  DNA testing can help identify Native American ancestry, determine who settled Polynesia, and track the march of Genghis Khan as he swept out of Mongolia. Today DNA testing is being used in court and to identify human remains.

Unlocking Your Genetic History will help readers understand their family's medical and genetic history and help them understand the genetic revolution.

Customer Reviews (2)

great seller
Book that I ordered was just as I expected.I would buy from this seller again and would recommend him/her to others.

Easily the best book (so far) on a difficult subject
This is the fifth in a new series of instructional volumes sponsored by the National Genealogical Society, and when I read and reviewed the first four in September 2004, I was very impressed. The authors all were well known and trustworthy and their treatment of old subjects (such as basic research principles) and not so old (setting up a genealogy web site) was generally quite well done. But this one is somewhat different. The subject of "genetic genealogy" is still very much unknown territory to almost all genealogists, even the professionals. It's not even a "social science," so one has to acquire a certain amount of new background knowledge even before delving into it. This author is also less likely to be known to most genealogists outside his own specialty: He's a medical doctor, a Section Chief at the National Institutes of Health -- although he has also been president of the Prince George's County Genealogical Society and chairs the NGS committee on Family Health and Heredity, so he certainly can't be called a beginner. Personally, I've been "doing genealogy" for more than three decades, but my background is in history, library science, and archival management, with no training and very little experience in the life sciences. Over the past few years, I've read dozens of articles in all sorts of journals on the subject of applying recent breakthroughs in DNA mapping to family lineages, but even though I've been intrigued by the possibilities, the result has generally been to confuse myself even further. I'm pleased to say that Shawker has supplied an antidote to my ignorance.
The first section lays out the reasons you need to know about your family's health history, because "ignorance is not bliss." This is especially true among Acadian families, as in other geographically or culturally isolated populations (Ashkenazic Jews, Amish, Afrikaners, Pacific Islanders) which suffer from a predisposition to assorted diseases and conditions. He follows this with a primer on the nature and process of genetics that is very well written and easy to understand (even for me), with a full explanation of dominant and recessive traits. He includes plenty of case studies, too, from King George III and the Romanovs to Gilda Radner. Then comes a section on compiling a health history, drawing up a medical pedigree, interpreting the results, and being aware of the warning signs for various important and common genetic diseases.
The part of the book I read most closely is that which explains in great detail, with many examples and illustrations, how the Y-chromosome is passed on, unchanged, from father to son to grandson, and so on, through the male line, and how the mitochondrial DNA is likewise passed without change from mother to daughter to granddaughter. The famous Thomas Jefferson-Sally Hemmings case provides a good example of how all this works, and how one can use deduction to track lineages that are a mix of males and females. Numerous charts and diagrams also increase one's understanding. Shawker also lays out a strategy for developing a family association DNA project to determine the relationships between groups with identical surnames, and he repeatedly makes the point that no testing program can prove anything: It can only serve as another research tool in conjunction with more traditional genealogical methods.
Finally, the author addresses the ethical and legal issues inherent in genetic testing, whether for family research or to identify an inherited tendency to contract a disease, and includes a lengthy guide to other resources on the Internet - especially important in a fast-developing area like this. There's an excellent bibliography, too. Shawker is that rare scientist who can write coherently for the layman and I can recommend this excellent work to any individual or library with an interest in genealogical methodology. ... Read more

Product Description
Genetic Data Analysis, first published in 1990, became the standard reference for ways to interpret discrete population genetic data. Genetic Data Analysis II retains the strengths of the original book and, based upon the suggestions of users, includes many new features, notably the revision of Chapter 10 (Phylogeny Reconstruction) to incorporate newer methods, and new chapters on Linkage and Individual Identification.

Genetic Data Analysis II features an expanded set of Exercises, with solutions, and an expanded list of references. In addition, a suite of Windows-based programs written by Paul O. Lewis and Dmitri Zaykin is available without charge from the Web site maintained by the program in Statistical Genetics at North Carolina State University. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Essential Text
This is a good book for someone with a sound grasp of Mendelian genetics, familiarity with molecular genetics, and some experience with population genetics who wants to step up their understanding two or three levels. The math is at the level of a graduate course in genetics, but not too theoretical, and Weir points out where some of the modelling gets lost in the weeds.

Parts of the book are a tough slog, not because of any flaw in the book, but because it compares allelic, gametic, and population frequencies with recessive and multiallelic traits. Which makes for some painful reading, but the reader will be left with an appreciation of how often genetics papers ignore common scenarios that would make their results ambiguous. And if someone wants to do higher order statistical analysis, this is where they need to go to see how variables are calculated. This is crucial, because many of these variables are fairly similar, but havedifferent sets of assumptions.

Reading this book requires constant flipping of pages back and forth because nothing is repeated. By the time I was finished, the pages were falling out. This book could be four times as large, and if it were in a larger format, it would benefit from extensive footnotes and cross references. Although it would be bulkier and a more reptitive, it would be possible to read it in a linear fashion.

... Read more

Product Description
Evolutionary genetics is concerned with nature of the variability used in evolution, and the causes of evolutionary change. The methods of evolutionary genetics are critically important for the analysis and interpretation of the massive datasets on DNA sequence variation and evolution that are becoming available, as well for our understanding of evolution in general. This book shows readers how models of the genetic processes involved in evolution are made (including natural selection, migration, mutation, and genetic drift in finite populations), and how the models are used to interpret classical and molecular genetic data. The material is intended for advanced level undergraduate courses in genetics and evolutionary biology, graduate students in evolutionary biology and human genetics, and researchers in related fields who wish to learn evolutionary genetics. The topics covered include genetic variation, DNA sequence variability and its measurement, the different types of natural selection and their effects (e.g. the maintenance of variation, directional selection, and adaptation), the interactions between selection and mutation or migration, the description and analysis of variation at multiple sites in the genome, genetic drift, and the effects of spatial structure. The final two chapters demonstrate how the theory illuminates our understanding of the evolution of breeding systems, sex ratios and life histories, and some aspects of genome evolution. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the second edition of the successful textbook written by the prize-winning scientist Andreas Ziegler, former President of the German Region of the International Biometric Society, and Inke R. König, who has been teaching the subject over many years.

The book gives a comprehensive introduction into the relevant statistical methods in genetic epidemiology. The second edition is thoroughly revised, partly rewritten and includes new chapters on traditional family studies and state-of-the-art genome-wide association studies. The book is ideally suited for advanced students in epidemiology, genetics, statistics, bioinformatics and biomathematics. Like in the first edition, the book contains many problems and solutions. 

E-learning Platform Edition:
The paperback version of this book exclusively comes with an e-learning course created by Friedrich Pahlke. This e-learning course has been developed to complement the book and both provide a unique support tool for teaching the subject. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Stats
Condition of the book excellent.Really like the colored graphics in this edition from the previous which I also own.The online apps are great.Thanks. ... Read more

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A clear introduction to the complex and fast moving field of Human Molecular Genetics; recommended forstudents studying the subject as part of a general biology, genetics or medical degree.

Product Description
This skillfully researched book focuses on how a small socio-political American elite seeks to establish its control over the very basis of human survival, the provision of our daily bread. Control the food and you control the people. This is no ordinary book about the perils of GMO. Engdahl takes the reader inside the corridors of power, into the backrooms of the science labs, behind closed doors in the corporate boardrooms. The author reveals a World of profit-driven political intrigue, government corruption and coercion, where genetic manipulation and the patenting of life forms are used to gain worldwide control over food production. The book is an eye-opener, a must-read for all those committed to the causes of social justice and World peace. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Probably a ploy to get you to buy more jeans you soil while reading this
Anybody ever heard of Normon Borlaug? He single-handedly saved over one billion people... yes, that's billion with a big-ass B, using GM crops. And until we find a way to get Iowans to travel to China to make irrigation ditches, till the soil and plant corn, or get Nebraskans to monitor the pH and moisture in the ground in India where they're growing the potatoes to save the lives of starving third-world inhabitants, I'll enjoy my golden rice.

These books are very important.
I've been so busy reading everything I can get my hands on about this GMO topic.From authors who are all for it like Jennifer Thomson in her "Seeds for the Future",to Jeffrey M. Smith in his "Seeds of Deception".If I was into burning books Jennifer's would be the one to go up in flames.What a bunch of hogwash.That these so called Scientist think it is a lark to let us all be fed this GMO swill as their little test cases makes me very angry.That the FDA let them do it makes me very angry.Breathe.Find inner calm.Okay.Thank you to authors like F. William Engdahl, who think we are smart enough to take the truth and hopefully strong enough to do something with it when it is brought to our attention.Shame on anyone who sits on this information.

A Must Read
This book lays out the facts, backed up by the relevant documents, behind the current effort to control the food supply of the planet by the agribusiness giants, working hand in hand with the governments of North America and others. That the plan to control the populations and genetics of the human population was financed by the same foundations that financed Hitler's eugenics program is just one small detail. But it is a decisive one in establishing the roots and goals of this effort at world domination using control over food and genes, instead of atomic bombs, which, says one source, are much more expensive.

If everyone read this book, we would all be on the streets, heading for the seats of power to overthrow them, if we still had any courage that is.However, the same powers that have launched this "genetic armageddon" have also arranged to make our lives so soft and easy that we have all lost our courage, self confidence, and the ability to organize and act.

It will be interesting to see what happens next.

What you should know about the world food supply.
I believe that everyone who eats should read this book to learn about what is going on with the world's food supply. I thought the writing style was a little less than perfect but the content was worth it. The author has done a good job of documenting his sources and it falls in line with a lot of other information I have read about what is going on politically with our food. Incredible as it seems - under the guise of helping people - the large multinational corporations are really narrowing our food choices down to the products they sell (these crops also happen to need their petrochemicals). Pretty remarkable and disturbing...find out what is being done to the seeds themselves and consider the motives behind it. The big 'M' has purchased over 50 seed companies around the world in the last decade. We are not just talking corn and soybeans. We all need to rethink our priorities in terms of what we eat and where it comes from. If you want the motivation to do that - give this book a read.

Shake your chains to earth like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you -
Ye are many - they are few.'
~Percy Bysshe Shelley

seeds of destruction.
A very sobering and revealing book that reveals to me how little we know of what the mega companys and governments are getting up to.
Money buys nearly everything and the quest for it knows no boundaries. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (10)

Rationale for researching one's genome.
Referred to me by a geneticist.I am interested in obtaining and knowing about my genome.

A Very Interesting Book
I had previously read Jacob's Legacy and recommended it to our book group for reading and review. The copy was prchased because our local library system only has eleven copies and we have more than that in the group.This copy will be loaned to several.

The topic,that of DNA research, is interesting in itself. The subjects researched, the Jews, argueably the oldest identified people group in the world, really brings the topic of what we now know of DNA alive.

Interesting project
David Goldstein gives us an interesting peek at his pet project - a genetic analysis of the Jewish people.Dr Goldstein shares the stories told by the Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA; stories about the background of an African tribe claiming Jewish heritage, potential origins of Ashkenazi Jews, inheritance of a priestly caste, and more.

Dr Goldstein doesn't overwhelm the reader with technical jargon; rather, explains his approach and how the story can be read in the genetic code in understandable language.At a little under 200 pages, "Jacob's Legacy" is a relatively quick, enjoyable read.

Jewish genetic history
Goldstein presents what is known about Jewish genetic history, much of it based on his own research.Unfortunately, conclusions tend to be tentative at best, not only because of the limitations of genetic analysis, but because of the limitations of the DNA samples available.As Goldstein says, most DNA collection is motivated by a desire to understand disease, not human history.Goldstein has competent writing skills, but when he tries to involve the reader in the development of his own ideas, rather than in his final understanding, he is more confusing than he needs to be.Goldstein, as a good scientist, is careful and objective.

===================================Summary===============================

The Y chromosomes (unique to males) of Jews in Europe are more typical of semitic populations than of their European neighbors.

More than half of Jewish Cohanim share a "CohenModal Haplotype",and 64% share a cluster of related Y chromosome types, which are found in only 14% of Jewish Israelites (Jews not Cohan or Levites).Comparable results are found inboth Ashkenazy and Sephardic communities which separated several hundred years ago . This strongly suggests that the Cohan designation does in fact pass from father to son and that the Cohan designation is derived from ancestors living many years ago. Additional genetic analysis suggests the common ancestor could have lived in the time of Moses and Aaron.Interestingly, there are some other small groups of people with high incidence of the Cohan type Y chromosomes, particularly a clan of the Lemba tribe in Africa whose rituals and oral history suggest a possible Jewish ancestry.Presumably, black pigment could have derived from females and evolution."Jewishness", according to Jews, derives from the female, not the male, but this tradition dates only to the Roman period.

There was a 7th century kingdom in the Caucasians,Khazaria, whose aristocrats converted to Judaism for political reasons.Genetic analysis of Y chromosomes shows a link between a group of Russian believed to be descended from the Khazars(the Chuvash), and Ashkenazy Jews - but only to the Levite subset group of Askhenazy Jews. The Levite designation,like the Cohan, is traditionally passed from father to son.

Examining Jewish female genetic history, there are9 geographically distinct subpopulations across the globe whose mitochondrial DNA was analyzed.In 8 of the 9, there was much less variation than expected, suggesting a genetic bottleneck, i.e. each of these sub-populations were descended from a different group of relatively few women.In 7 of the 9 populations, the DNA was very different from their neighbors.The lack of genetic variation is not true in the Y chromosomes of the males of these subpopulations,suggestingmale traders moving and settling, but relatively few females travelling with them.

There is some evidence of above average intelligence among Askenazi Jews, and there are evolutionary speculations to rationalize this.These same Jews share a higher than average incidence of a family of diseases characterized by a problem in the use of lysosomes to destroy cellular waste products, so there is speculationthat the putative higher intelligence and susceptibility to disease are linked, just as sickle cell anemia and resistance to malaria are linked. Goldman suggests that if there is linkage, it may be due to proximity on a chromosome of genes involved in the disease and in intelligence, rather than a direct linkage.

The Jews in History & the History in Jews ..a remarkable synthesis
In Jacob's Legacy, David Goldstein, ("I am a geneticist. But I am also a Jew.") demonstrates the remarkable synergy from combining genetic and historical research.The historical record suggests the possibility that the Jewish high priests might today be distinguished genetically from those of the Jews who were not high priests.Indeed, Goldstein and his colleagues were able to identify significant genetic similarities, and further to suggest that the ancestral generation (Generation 1) goes back roughly 3,000 year, or within the approximate time of Solomon, which is what the historical record would suggest. Similarly, the historical record points to the possibility that a Bantu speaking tribe in Africa (the Bantu people themselves displaying a impressive record of migration and settlement) might be of Jewish descent.Here again, Goldstein and his colleagues were able to show that one in ten of the Y chromosomes were revealed to be within the Cohan Modal Haplotype identified earlier in the study of high priests.The most surprising result in the book is the possibility, which Goldstein could not falsify, that Ashkenazi Jews may trace their origins, not so much to the ancient Israelites, as to the Khazari sources.

The historical events covered in Jacob's Legacy demonstrate a well-balanced combination of historical sources and modern genetic analytical techniques.Further, Goldstein's summaries of the historical record and his digressions on the larger meaning of the Jews in history are exceedingly concise and work to place Jacob's Legacy in the larger context of global history.If Goldstein set out to convince his readers that genetic and historical analysis can be combined to enrich their understanding of the past, he has succeeded admirably.This slender volume delivers a solid punch. ... Read more

Product Description

This one-of-a-kind test prep guide helps you to test your knowledge of essential biochemistry and genetics concepts for the USMLE Step 1; practice with 500 USMLE Step 1-style questions with referenced answers; review explanations for right and wrong answers; and build confidence, skills, and knowledge.

Customer Reviews (3)

Disappointing at the outset
I've just opened this book to study for an important test. In only the first few minutes I've wasted time working through the overly long, labored explanations that can't get to the point. On page 64 I found a major error that had no easy-to-find errata online: the authors reused an image from a question on page 59. The answer they gave didn't relate to the image or the explanation wasting more of my time trying to figure out where their mistake was.

If this is typical of the shoddy editing and writing in this book I would be better off using Wikipedia to study.

Good as a sectional review
As with other books in the pretest series, if each section is read as a whole unit, with greater focus on the answers to the questions rather than the questions themselves, it provides a solid foundation for the biochemistry shelf.In fact, the arrangement of the topics allows for better comprehension of bulky topics like biochem for which the bullet-point style of BRS is not suited.

Very Very Good For Genetics but has some errors
Very very good book to prepare for test questions in your class for Genetics. Excellent questions for Genetics!!! Does contain some errors.

Is it worth buying? Yes! I know that I learn best by doing questions. Worthy investment for me. ... Read more

Product Description
It is no longer possible to practice as a nurse or be a nursing student without encountering some basic genetics.Genetic factors can cause disease or affect an individual’s susceptibility and resistance to disease and even to treatment.To provide the best nursing care it is therefore essential that practitioners and students have a basic knowledge of the science of genetics and how it affects the major areas of nursing expertise.Felissa Lashley has created this guide specifically for nurses, both those who did not have the benefit of a genetic education and students currently encountering genetics in their learning.In a quick, succinct introduction, it covers the basics of the science, from molecular concepts in biology to types of genetic disorders and the prevention, testing, and treatment of genetic disease.From there Dr. Lashley takes a look at the major nursing tracks: pharmacology, histories and physical assessments, obstetrics, pediatrics, surgical nursing, psychiatry, and public health.Each chapter examines how genetics informs treatment, management, and practice and each is intended to further the development of a nurses’ "genetic eye" in their critical, daily care of patients. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Essentials of Clinical Genetics in Nursing Practice
Excellent text. Thorough, but easy to read. Presents the information in an informative, interesting manner. ... Read more

Product Description

This one-of-a-kind test prep guide helps you to test your knowledge of essential biochemistry and genetics concepts for the USMLE Step 1; practice with 500 USMLE Step 1-style questions with referenced answers; review explanations for right and wrong answers; and build confidence, skills, and knowledge.

Customer Reviews (3)

Disappointing at the outset
I've just opened this book to study for an important test. In only the first few minutes I've wasted time working through the overly long, labored explanations that can't get to the point. On page 64 I found a major error that had no easy-to-find errata online: the authors reused an image from a question on page 59. The answer they gave didn't relate to the image or the explanation wasting more of my time trying to figure out where their mistake was.

If this is typical of the shoddy editing and writing in this book I would be better off using Wikipedia to study.

Good as a sectional review
As with other books in the pretest series, if each section is read as a whole unit, with greater focus on the answers to the questions rather than the questions themselves, it provides a solid foundation for the biochemistry shelf.In fact, the arrangement of the topics allows for better comprehension of bulky topics like biochem for which the bullet-point style of BRS is not suited.

Very Very Good For Genetics but has some errors
Very very good book to prepare for test questions in your class for Genetics. Excellent questions for Genetics!!! Does contain some errors.

Is it worth buying? Yes! I know that I learn best by doing questions. Worthy investment for me. ... Read more

Product Description
It is no longer possible to practice as a nurse or be a nursing student without encountering some basic genetics.Genetic factors can cause disease or affect an individual’s susceptibility and resistance to disease and even to treatment.To provide the best nursing care it is therefore essential that practitioners and students have a basic knowledge of the science of genetics and how it affects the major areas of nursing expertise.Felissa Lashley has created this guide specifically for nurses, both those who did not have the benefit of a genetic education and students currently encountering genetics in their learning.In a quick, succinct introduction, it covers the basics of the science, from molecular concepts in biology to types of genetic disorders and the prevention, testing, and treatment of genetic disease.From there Dr. Lashley takes a look at the major nursing tracks: pharmacology, histories and physical assessments, obstetrics, pediatrics, surgical nursing, psychiatry, and public health.Each chapter examines how genetics informs treatment, management, and practice and each is intended to further the development of a nurses’ "genetic eye" in their critical, daily care of patients. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Essentials of Clinical Genetics in Nursing Practice
Excellent text. Thorough, but easy to read. Presents the information in an informative, interesting manner. ... Read more

Product Description
Genetics: From Genes to Genomes is a cutting-edge, introductory genetics text authored by an unparalleled author team, including Nobel Prize winner, Leland Hartwell. The forth edition continues to build upon the integration of mendelian and molecular principles, providing students with the links between early genetics understanding and the new molecular discoveries that have changed the way the field of genetics is viewed. ... Read more

Product Description
From the best-selling author of TheSeven Daughters ofEve, an illuminating guide to the genetic history of the BritishIsles.One of the world's leading geneticists, BryanSykes has helped thousands findtheir ancestry in the BritishIsles. Saxons, Vikings, andCelts, which resulted from a systematic ten-yearDNA survey of more than10,000 volunteers, tracesthetrue genetic makeup of the British Isles andits descendants, taking readers from the Pontnewydd cave inNorth Wales to the restingplace of "The Red Lady" of Paviland and the tomb of King Arthur. Genealogy hasbecome a popular pastime ofAmericans interestedin theirheritage, and this is the perfect work for anyone interested in finding theirheritagein England, Scotland,or Ireland. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (68)

Good book, BAD NARRATOR

I was hoping to -listen- to this book and skipped over the hardback and softcover and opted for the audiobook CD-set...

Boy, was that a bad bet.

As far as I can tell Mr.Sykes book may have been well written and entertaining but the experience of trying to follow it when narrated by Dick Hill is a huge disappointment and downright painful.

Our narrator sounds like an aged 1950's newsman with a continuously halting, irregular style of inflection that puts one in mind of Paul Harvey riding a bicycle down a never-ending flight of stairs.

DONT BUY THE AUDIOBOOK, but do make time to read the book in print.

PS: click the hyperlink on DICK HILL on the Amazon description for a warning of other audiobooks he has "narrated"... CAVEAT EMPTOR !

Can I have my two hours back?
On page 92 the author has not yet begun speaking about the subject of his book.

Cutting my losses and tossing it in the "take to Half Priced Books" pile.

read Spencer Wells instead
The book covers an interesting topic but the first 90 pages or so are all history of science (or historical summaries), not molecular genetics/evolution!The book is pretty basic--it doesn't seem to be written for an educated audience and I found Sykes's condescending tone rather irritating (and I am NOT a geneticist).Sykes doesn't write nearly as well as does Spencer Wells on very similar topics in human ancestry/molecular evolution.His conclusion is that most of the British Isles are inhabited by people with a very similar genetic or "ethnic" background, whether they think of themselves as "celtic" or not.The history of the idea of "celtic" identity was probably the most interesting part of the book for me.If you have any knowledge of human genomics at all, read something else, or check this book out from a library before purchasing it.

Good History
This book attempts to find the historic origins of those living in the British Isles through DNA testing.The author and geneticist describes how his team gathered data and his interpretation of that data.He also highlights some of the historic immigration, e.g. Romans, Vikings, Saxons, etc...and what impact they had on the genetics of the Isles.It is an interesting and entertaining read, answering some but also opening new questions.I recommend it.

Genealogy Gets a Boost from Genetics
Though an Oxford scholar/scientist/professor, Sykes has provided even the casual reader with access to DNA research and its connection to our European roots.The reader will quickly imagine him/herself sitting before Sykes in a classroom and understanding the material!Well-written, documented, and accessible, this book is a must-read for amateur and professional genealogists alike. ... Read more

Product Description
Praise from the reviews:

"Without reservation, I endorse this text as the best resource I've encountered that neatly introduces and summarizes many points I've learned through years of experience.  The gems of truth found in this book will serve well those who wish to apply bioinformatics in their daily work, as well as help them advise others in this capacity." CIRCGENETICS

"This book may really help to get geneticists and bioinformaticians on 'speaking-terms'... contains some essential reading for almost any person working in the field of molecular genetics." EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS 

"... an excellent resource... this book should ensure that any researcher's skill base is maintained." GENETICAL RESEARCH

“… one of the best available and most accessible texts on bioinformatics and genetics in the postgenome age… The writing is clear, with succinct subsections within each chapter….Without reservation, I endorse this text as the best resource I’ve encountered that neatly introduces and summarizes many points I’ve learned through years of experience. The gems of truth found in this book will serve well those who wish to apply bioinformatics in their daily work, as well as help them advise others in this capacity.”  CIRCULATION: CARDIOVASCULAR GENETICS

A fully revised version of the successful First Edition, this one-stop reference book enables all geneticists to improve the efficiency of their research.

The study of human genetics is moving into a challenging new era. New technologies and data resources such as the HapMap are enabling genome-wide studies, which could potentially identify most common genetic determinants of human health, disease and drug response. With these tremendous new data resources at hand, more than ever care is required in their use. Faced with the sheer volume of genetics and genomic data, bioinformatics is essential to avoid drowning true signal in noise. Considering these challenges, Bioinformatics for Geneticists, Second Edition works at multiple levels: firstly, for the occasional user who simply wants to extract or analyse specific data; secondly, at the level of the advanced user providing explanations of how and why a tool works and how it can be used to greatest effect. Finally experts from fields allied to genetics give insight into the best genomics tools and data to enhance a genetic experiment.

Hallmark Features of the Second Edition:

• Illustrates the value of bioinformatics as a constantly evolving avenue into novel approaches to study genetics
• The only book specifically addressing the bioinformatics needs of geneticists
• More than 50% of chapters are completely new contributions
• Dramatically revised content in core areas of gene and genomic characterisation, pathway analysis, SNP functional analysis and statistical genetics
• Focused on freely available tools and web-based approaches to bioinformatics analysis, suitable for novices and experienced researchers alike

Bioinformatics for Geneticists, Second Edition describes the key bioinformatics and genetic analysis processes that are needed to identify human genetic determinants. The book is based upon the combined practical experience of domain experts from academic and industrial research environments and is of interest to a broad audience, including students, researchers and clinicians working in the human genetics domain. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Timely Primer for Researchers about the Analysis of Genetic Data
This book is a welcomed addition to the literature of bioinformatics. It helps one become familiar with how to find and use genetic data. This is a dauting task for most investigators who must navigate through the sea of genetic data now being produced. Analyzing genetic data is not an easy task but this book helps one identify resources and map a course. ... Read more

Product Description
The far-ranging Human Genome Project is producing a breathtaking revolution in health, raising the prospect of averting hereditary "destined" diseases by modifying the expression of genetic traits. Researchers have identified many genes implicated in specific diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and arthritis and have realized that unfavorable genetic messages can be improved by changes in lifestyle, diet, and environment. Genetic Nutrioneering uses detailed questionnaires to show how to "read" genetic characteristics and how specific foods and nutrients can be used to improve gene expression to slow biological aging and reduce the risk of age-related diseases. It covers the use of gene expression for preventing heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and hormone-related problems, and improving immune and nervous system function. A comprehensive nutritional program presents specific foods, supplements, and diet plans that apply these concepts to an individual's needs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A leader in the field!
This is simply the best book writen on this subject.Many books make bold claims, but DR Bland takes complicated subjects and makes them easily undestandable.This book makes sense andis backed with links to appropriate studies. He doesn't expect yo to leap blindly. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the latest in healthcare technology.

Marketing materials?
Large portions of the text are repetitive. The term 'Genetic Nutritioneering' is repeated a few time on every page. The material on genetics is highly simplified, and really has no impact on the nutritional advice.

Bland suggests we take control of our genes, which isn't a bad idea.In Bland's terms, we need to learn to 'express' the genes for health.The genes that worked hard in youth can be encouraged to express themselves, again.While this is a nice slogan, its meaning is very vague.What isn't going to 'express' some gene?What is key step in a gene's expression?What causes a bad gene to be expressed?How does one deal with a race between two genes seeking expression?

The pragmatist wants some process for quickly assessing what a specific food or supplement will do for their metabolism.Everyone has a somewhat different metabolism and somewhat different set of foods which are easy to digest.Most of the people reading 'nutrition' books are interested primarily because they see their digestive system as unique and special.Thus, it seems logical to look for advice that goes past 'population wide' recommendations.Towards these ends, Bland is vague. For example, at one point Bland advises the reader to stop eating tomatoes for a few days.This test will determine if tomatoes cause an unpleasant gene to be expressed, one that causes gastro-intestinal distress.Most people would have run this simple test long before they knew anything about genetics.At other times, Bland simply quotes the standard 'population wide' recommendation.

In my view, the suggestions don't really rise above 'eat the right fruits and vegetables and you will feel better.'

the best book on the subject!
this book is simply the best on the subject, and it shows how proper nutrition with suplements can control genetic diseases.in the past ,the world of medicine was sure that there is nothing to do withgenetic-diseases,but no more!.this book explains these mecanisms in a realywonderful way.you will have a better understanding on genetics wether youare an unhealthy person or a therapist of any kind(especialynatural-healer).we are not changing our genes,we are only give them abetter nutrition in order to make them express themselves in the besthealthy way.this book is highly recommanded!.

A book that helped
Too often health books fail to deliver anything other than conjecture and unsubstantiated claims. This is one book on my health that made sense and gave me the tools to make rationale decisions about my health future. Iliked the way the book took complicated scientific issues and made themaccessible to me years before my doctor would understand them. I recommendthis book for anyone wanting the latest in health research that can beapplied to their own lives.

21st Century Medicine and Nutrition
The focus on this book is to bring the latest research on how to create from a person's genetic template the best health outcomes as they age using personalized nutrition and lifestyle tailoring. The book is science-basedfrom both the clinical research experiences of the author in the FunctionalMedicine Research Center and from the hundreds of scientific studies fromother researchers cited in the extensive bibliography. This is a "howto" book as much as a description of when, why and where medicine willbe changing to become "personalized medicine" in the 21stcentury. ... Read more

Product Description
Every parent hopes for a healthy, "normal" baby, but not all babies fall into that category. On a daily basis, genetic counselors help clients, at whatever stage of intended or actual pregnancy, navigate both the purely clincial manifestations of a complicated birth and the short and long term emotional impact. This manual helps students learn how to guide clients through this complex and difficult process. Designed to help students learn these basic counseling skills, FACILITATING THE GENETIC COUNSELING PROCESS takes a "how to" approach to these complex and emotionally charged client interactions. ... Read more

Product Description
The counselling of those at risk from inherited disorders forms an integral and expanding part of medicine, and advances are continually being made in this area of practice. Increasingly, common disorders are known to have a genetic component, and this book provides invaluable up-to-date guidance through the profusion of new information, and the associated psychosocial and ethical considerations and concerns. Changes for the sixth edition include full coverage of the implications of the human genome project for clinical genetic practice, the expanding societal implications of human genetics, and increased coverage of genetics and common diseases, including cancer genetics. The layout of the book has been much improved and modernized, with line illustrations redrawn throughout. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A "bedside" manual for genetic counselors.
An updated, easy to use handbook which deals with the most common genetic disorders, their risk to be transmitted and their mode of inheritance. The book is easy to use and the tabels are simple and clear. However someadditional information regarding cancer genetics could be helpful. ... Read more

Product Description

Thorough coverage is given to cell mechanics, chromosomes, Mend elian genetics, sex determination, mutations and alleles, bacterial and viral genetics, biochemistry, immunogenetics, genetic engineering, probability, and statistics.

Customer Reviews (2)

Lots of mistakes
The book looks great at first but after you start solving the problems you see there are many mistakes and miss errors. Needs to be seriously revised.

A MUST-BUY REVIEW
One of the best Genetics Review Textbook I have ever read before.A highly recommended guide to study and solve problems of Genetics which is the most difficult field among the Biological Sciences.It explains very concisely complex problems related to Population Genetics,Mapping,Probabilities,and Genetic Engineering.There are lot of short answer questions for review.Excellent for undergraduate courses as well as for professional admissions tests. ... Read more

Product Description
What makes us react or feel the way we do? If you have ever asked yourself this question, then let gifted writer John Medina take you on a fascinating tour of the questions involved in the quest to understand the biological basis of human behavior. By describing the gap that exists between a human behavior and a human gene, this captivating book both clarifies and debunks ideas about the genetic roots of behavior, from the genes of divorce to the tendency to eat chocolate. Using Dante's The Divine Comedy as an organizing framework, The Genetic Inferno explains each of the "seven deadly sins"--lust, gluttony, avarice, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride--in terms of twentieth century genes and brains. Written by a practicing research scientist, this book is not only for biologists, but for literature majors, business people, and parents--indeed anyone interested in how our genes work to make us behave the way we do. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Peculiar point of view, worth reading.
I gave this book four stars since sometimes it was a little tedious to read. However, the conception of the book is original, and the author anecdotes are well placed and very famlilar. He makes you feel as if you are really getting to know him. I liked his style and his original view, although personally I don't like Dante that much. This is a very good book for the layman, and might not be that interesting for someone with fair background in neurosciences.

Darwin bows to Dante in Medina's clear and helpful "Inferno"
John Medina is a molecular biologist, bioengineer, and award winning teacher with a talent for metaphor and an unusual flair for explaining extremely technical ideas in understandable terms without losing the meaning in the details. His writing is clear and precise, his organization and diagrams are inspired.

"The Genetic Inferno: Inside The Seven Deadly Sins" is a new release from Medina for November, describing using the metaphors of Dante's books what is known about the molecular machinery underlying the human experience. While it becomes awkward in parts, it works magnificentlythrough most of the book, transporting the reader back and forth between purgatory and the mundane vices and virtues of everyday life, all tied together by those tiny invisible molecular processes most of us never eventhink twice about.

The Genetic Inferno compares to Matt Ridley's "Genome" in that they are both about the genetics of human nature, but they approach it in very different ways. "Inferno" spends much more time elaborating clearly what is knownabout mechanisms lying between gene and behavior, while "Genome" samples particular genes and often speculates on their relevance to human life. Medina has a minimum of the kind of interesting digressions that make Genome so fascinating, but makes complex biochemistry and behavioral genetics highly accessible and puts them into good perspective.

One of the most interesting things about this book is that in spite of its heavy emphasis on the biological basis of human life, it mostly avoids reliance on evolutionary theory in order to emphasize the molecular mechanisms themselves and their relationship to behavior and experience. Yet it isn't an "anti-evolution" book, so much as it is one that explains human genes and behavior in a way that avoids evolution in favor of its strong metaphor and clear explanations for genes and behavior.

With great artistry, Medina accomplishes the difficult feat of at once making clear the gap between genes and behavior and making us aware that we are physical, chemical entities rather than puffs of spirit residing in a physical shell. At the same time, he makes the reader aware of the of how complex and wondrous the whole process is and howlittle we can claim to understand with certainty about its underlying higher order principles. He ends the book with:

"When one encounters a mysterious masterpiece filled with unknown but thrilling complexities, one is not left with the answer, one is simply left with a point of view." ... Read more