Product Description

Human Molecular Genetics is an established and class-proven textbook for upper-level undergraduates and graduate students which provides an authoritative and integrated approach to the molecular aspects of human genetics. While maintaining the hallmark features of previous editions, the Fourth Edition has been completely updated. It includes new Key Concepts at the beginning of each chapter and annotated further reading at the conclusion of each chapter, to help readers navigate the wealth of information in this subject.

The text has been restructured so genomic technologies are integrated throughout, and next generation sequencing is included. Genetic testing, screening, approaches to therapy, personalized medicine, and disease models have been brought together in one section. Coverage of cell biology including stem cells and cell therapy, studying gene function and structure, comparative genomics, model organisms, noncoding RNAs and their functions, and epigenetics have all been expanded.

Customer Reviews (19)

human molecular genetics book
I already knew this book since my human genetics exam at the University. I used to study on the 2nd edition. I did not like it very much because it was a bit confusing with a lot of info spread in the various chapters of the book. You could not study on it without an help of the teacher..
This edition is much better!! Clearer and better organized !!!
I am studying now on it and I found it really pleasant..

Really a good deal and worth it for the price.

Human molecular genetics
Excellent product. Great book for students in the field of human biology and asociated areas.Not an introductory book, but still good..

excellent for a broad review
HMG3 is a great book for those looking to review the large and growing field of human molecular genetics. It lacks the molecular biological detail that dedicated textbooks such as MBOC contain, but has a large amount of useful information regarding experimental approaches in human molecular genetics, and clinical ramifications of basic science research. I have found it an ideal core reference for graduate work in human genetics.

I did not get it at all yet!
I have ordered this product and after one month we didnot get and it seems gone astray in the mail. So am now still wait for replacament which will take another 2 weeks to arrive hopefuly. It is really disappinting experience hwne things goes wrong!

Nice illustrations
This book is a pretty good read for thoes with advanced genetics knowledge. It reviews some of the more basic processes in the beginning before diving into the human stuff. As a warning though, it doesnt really hide anything like a beginning bio book so know what your getting yoruself into. ... Read more

Product Description
"This is an absolutely superb book!I have been recommending it enthusiastically to professional colleagues, graduate students, and even the occasional highly motivated undergraduate student ever since it was published last year, and the response to the book has been overwhelmingly positive.Not only is the book unique in terms of topical coverage, but it is also extremely well executed.In fact, it is one of the best textbooks on any subject that I have read.It belongs on the shelves of everyone interested in the genetic aspects of human evolution.There is also much of value in it for paleoanthropologists, historical linguists, archaeologists, and human biologists (biological anthropologists), as well as for geneticists with various complementary specialties and interests.

… The text is clearly written, and the illustrations are excellent.The boxed supplementary text is especially informative, whether just explanatory information or an opinion piece by an outside expert.There is a real richness to the mtDNA and Y-chromosome data presented in a phyolgenetic/phylogeographic framework in the three chapters on prehistoric range expansion and global colonization.Students have found chapters 3-6 (about genome diversity) quite helpful and have deemed the text’s brief excursions into the realm of mathematics to be effectively presented and not overly technical.Appropriate Web sites are mentioned throughout the book, to foster independent research.I must confess that I learned something new (and important) from every chapter in the book!

… This new compendium emphasizes the enormous explosion in knowledge derived from human haploid systems and molecular genetic markers, and, as such, it is a most worthy successor.It should quickly become the book to consult for genetic information pertinent to the evolution of our species.To the authors, I offer both a sincere thank you and a hearty congratulations for a job well done!"

American Journal of Human Genetics, 76:0, 2005 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great book
You dont need to know technical Biology terms to enjoy it. Its a great book to enjoy, so I wont spoil the content.

for Kindle Ed.
This is my 1st Kindle product and I am using the PC client and not the hardware. Actually this is a textbook for my next U. quarter.

I am happy to get this book so quickly and not having to wait for a hard copy to be shipped. The discounted price from the $100 list price is OK too!

However, limitations of the format is not being able to cut and past, and not being able to print pages etc.

Evolutionary Genetics
I found this book a little difficult to read and somewhat abstract in it's order and presentation.

good so far
Not quite finished with it yet, but it's good so far. For bio majors taking an upper level Anthropology class, a lot of it is just a refresher. I think the authors are British too, some of the english is a bit different.

A great book all around
I ordered this book when I first began my research using DNA markers. I found it very easy to read and highly informative, even beyond my own interests.It's a great reference to have around and a must read for anyone working in the field of human genetics, both from a clinical or academic perspective. Its organization lends it suitable for a good textbook in an advanced evolutionary genetics course as well. ... Read more

Product Description

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
Extremely student-friendly and completely relevant, HUMAN GENETICS AND SOCIETY, First Edition, makes the basic concepts and processes of genetics real by addressing issues that relate directly to your life, enabling you to make informed decisions. Fully integrating science and social issues, the text presents the basics of human genetics in the context of the issues that result from the flood of products, services, and techniques developed from genetic knowledge. It challenges you to think critically in your personal and professional decisions with regard to genetics. Written for the nonscience major, the text presumes no prior biology instruction. Clear and accessible, it doesn?t get bogged down in complicated scientific and quantitative details but does provide a wide array of examples, case studies, and applications to personal and social concerns. Its emphasis on relevant issues equips you with the tools and knowledge to make informed decisions related to your health as well as public policy. You also learn how to recognize genetic disorders and become familiar with their causes and patterns of inheritance. Less rigorous than texts designed for science majors, HUMAN GENETICS AND SOCIETY, First Edition, is conceptually driven and provides case studies and readings that focus on issues. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

genetics explained
This book explains human genetics that anyone can understand.It has real life cases that mirror what people actually go through when they are faced with genetic problems.

Human Genetics and Society
The textbook is in great condition, as good as a brand new book but cost so much less! Great seller, thank you so much for the honesty! I will definitely purchase my other textbooks from Amazon.com in the future. ... Read more

Product Description
Sometime in the next few years, scientists may reprogramme a human egg or sperm cell, make a change in the genetic instructions carried by that cell, a change that will be passed on down into eternity. The scientific expertise exists to do this, as does the motivation: to erase the chance of inheriting a disease, to improve the intelligence or the stamina or the beauty of a child. On the brink of an era that may be defined by genetic engineering, McKibben asks: should this happen? He argues that genetic engineering and the technologies that lie beyond it will launch us free of our past, of our humanity, of meaning. We are sleepwalking towards a future that will take us far away from all we have known: Enough is our wake-up call. ... Read more

Product Description
Human Genetics and Genomics, 3rd edition, the new rendition of the classic textbook Human Genetics: A Problem-Based Approach, merges basic genetic principles with clinical applications of genetics in medical practice. By presenting the core concepts of human genetics while maintaining an emphasis on a problem-based learning and clinical approach, the third edition of Human Genetics and Genomics acts both as a textbook for genetics courses, and a bridge into the clinical environment.

Features include enhanced emphasis on microbiology content, a chapter devoted to laboratory techniques, and a vast array of new pedagogy, such as:

Recommended readings for each chapter "Clinical snapshots" covering major genetic disorders and integrating a clinical approach Ethics boxes covering ethical implications in genetics Key points at the beginning of each chapter for a quick summary and Q&As at the end of each chapter for self-testing "Hot topics" sections at the ends of chapters covering new and emerging areas in genetics ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Human Genetics Text
This is the text my instructor uses for our class. It doesn't contain enough practice problems with solutions. I need to get another book that has more practice problems like we get tested on.

Korf (2007). Human Genetics and Genomics.
The book that I received was in very good condition initially.As I started reading the book the pages started falling out because of poor binding quality.I immediately notifed Sandra V. and she quickly responded and asked me to return to her for a full refund.She even let me keep the book until I finished my midterm since I had to order a new book.I am giving her 5 stars because of her phenomenal customer service.Sandra originally e-mailed me asking if I was satisfied and immediately responded to my binding issue.I have nothing but excellent comments about her customer service and responsiveness to my book problems.I highly recommend her to other customers.

Book is an easy read but I found several mistakes.
Book is an easy read but I found several mistakes, so be aware of that.

Great clinically-based format.
Clear and compelling, each topic presented in a clincal setting

Good for medical doctor or students
When I read this book, I was very excited the plot of it. Start with patient case, end with resonable explaination of genetic base of disease. I think it is highly recommandable to the doctors andmedical students whowant to connect basic and clinical aspect of medical genetics. ... Read more

Product Description

Human Genetics: Concepts and Applications, ninth edition, is a non-science major’s human genetics text that clearly explains what genes are, how they function, how they interact with the environment, and how our understanding of genetics has changed since completion of the human genome project. Meticulously updated, focused on concepts, and rich with personal stories from people whose lives are dramatically affected by the principles being discussed, Human Genetics is a textbook that will prepare the next generation of citizens for the decisions that lie ahead.

Customer Reviews (14)

b
Book arrived at my house promptly and was in terrific condition, I could barely tell it was used.

great
ya this is my biology book the reason why i bought it its because it was cheaper. But ya its a good text book

human genetics review
The book was in great condition; the only problem was that it had a funny smell to it along with a fingernail in between two pages. Other than that, it's still readable material with all the pages attached!

Same material as US edition?
I have never used an international edition before. Can anyone reassure me that this version has the same material and organization/paging as the US edition? I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks,

Reached me on the first day of class
The book reached me on the first day of class and was basically as describe. It was more than usable for class. ... Read more

Product Description
A manifesto for and an example of a new kind of history, a biological history, and not just of the prehistoric era Scientists have long believed that the 'great leap forward' that occurred some 40,000 to 50,000 years ago in Europe marked the end of significant biological evolution in humans. In this stunning account of our evolutionary history, top scholars Gregory Cochran and Henry Harpending reject this conventional wisdom and reveal that the human species has undergone a storm of genetic change much more recently. Human evolution in fact accelerated after civilisation arose, they contend, and these ongoing changes have played a pivotal role in human history. They argue that biology explains the expansion of the Indo-Europeans, the European conquest of the Americas, and European Jews' rise to intellectual prominence. In each of these cases, the key was recent genetic change: adult milk tolerance in the early Indo-Europeans that allowed for a new way of life, increased disease resistance among the Europeans settling America, and new versions of neurological genes among European Jews.Ranging across subjects as diverse as human domestication, Neanderthal hybridization, and IQ tests, Cochran and Harpending's analysis demonstrates convincingly that human genetics have changed and can continue to change much more rapidly than scientists have previously believed. A provocative and fascinating look at human evolution, "The 10,000 Year Explosion" reveals the ongoing interplay between culture and biology in the making of the human race. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

Evolving as we speak
The ideas exposed in Gregory Cochran and Henry Harpering's book "The 10,000 year explosion How civilization accelerated human evolution," seem 'way out' at first. but I suspect in little time most will be considered conventional wisdom. It is clear that the science of genetic anthropology will leap forward in the 21st century. As the human genome is delved deeply into (along with the genome of prehistoric man, animals and extinct hominids) a new paradigm will form to explain our origins.
In chapter 2 "The Neanderthal Within" they suggest that Neanderthal and modern humans mated. Even if this was occasional advantageous alleles from this union may have entered the gene pool by the hybridization of the species and increased with time. "In just this way, a tiny bit of Neanderthal ancestry thrown into the mix tens of thousands of years ago could have resulted in many people today, possibly even all modern humans, carrying the advantageous Neanderthal version of some genes." (page 44) They go on to hypothesize that some of these advantageous genes may have led to a creative explosion or leap forward in innovation. This possibly helped modern man 40,000 years ago to populate Europe eventually resulting in the extinction of Neanderthals.
This sure seemed 'out there' against all conventional wisdom at the time the book was published in 2009.
However in the May 6, 2010 edition of ScienceGreen, et al reported that they had sequenced almost all of the Neanderthal genome using bones from three Neanderthals living in Europe 40,000 years ago. They compared this to DNA from five people from France,China, West and South Africa and Papua New Guinea. They found that up to 4% of the DNA of modern man from all regions other than Africa were Neanderthal DNA. Presumably this hybridization happened in the Mid East 60,000 years ago after homo sapiens moved out of africa, but before they dispersed throughout the world.
Whether this was the spark that led to modern man's competitive advantage over Neanderthals remains to be seen. You never know what may be published in the next few years.
Other chapters describe evolutionary changes brought on by agriculture, mutations allowing tolerance of milk/lactose in adults, loss of pigment in northern climates to prevent Vitamin D deficiency, disease resistance aiding the European conquest of the new world and how the Ashkenazi Jews got their smarts.
Many of their contentions are controversial. It will be interesting to see how many withstand the test of time.

It has come to my attention that the authors have in the past promoted the view that genetics play a significant role in determining intelligence, human nature and personality. I do not agree with any theory linking race with intelligence. I find this much to simple a solution to a very complex process.
I can no longer recommend this book.

Great book
I would recommend the book to anyone interested in anthropology.This book is very well written.The writing is very clear in what is being conveyed as new ideas versus what are already established theories/facts.The book is also easy to read and understand, even without any pre-existing knowledge of the subject matter.

Get in Touch WithYour Inner Neanderthal
This book makes the astounding claim that our evolution has sped up 100 times faster in the past 10,000 years than the previous six million years.Even people 4,000 years ago were genetically and culturally different from us.

How do we know this? One way is from looking at both human and chimpanzee DNA.We know we split off from chimps about 6 million years ago, so we can compare the genetic differences and thus the long-term rate of genetic change.The rate of change the past few thousand years is 100 times greater than the long-term rate over the past few million years.If we'd always evolved at such a fast rate, the difference between chimp and human DNA would be much greater than it is.

If evolution this fast seems impossible, then consider how different dogs are from wolves.It took less than 15,000 years to go from wolf to a Chihuahua. There's no other mammal on earth with more varied forms and sizes than dogs.Dogs also vary widely in behavior.For example, some can learn much quicker than others.Border collies just need 5 repetitions of a new command to learn it and follow the command correctly 95% of the time, but a basset hound will need 80 to 100 repetitions and only obey correctly 25% of the time.

And it isn't just a dogs appearance, dogs are much better at understanding our commands and gestures than wolves are.

Russian scientist Dmitri Belyaev created a domestic fox in just 40 years by selecting the most tame foxes in each generation.

As far as humans go, it's pretty obvious evolution has taken place the past 50,000 years - just look at all the varieties of skin, eye, and hair color. Such skin-deep appearances were all we could see until recently, but with genetic testing we can see more than superficial differences - we also vary in bones, liver and brain function, disease resistance, etc from each other quite a bit.All of us can speak and have evolved better hearing as well to understand complex language and perhaps to better eavesdrop.

For a long time scientists have been baffled about why humans made a very sudden shift about 50,000 years ago - suddenly advanced, complex art, culture, tools, and weapons came on the scene. For several decades now scientists have been trying to understand what happened.

This is different from the overall "prime mover" - of why we are the way we are.Recent evidence supports the thermal hypothesis, other proposals include Man the Hunter, tool making, speech, social intelligence, taming fire, a constantly changing climate, etc and most likely of all, a synergy of these and many factors not listed as Peter Corning explains so well in "Nature's Magic".

Once our amazing culture evolved, we were no longer bound by natural selection - we didn't need to evolve fur when we moved into colder climates, because we could make warm clothes, and we didn't need to evolve strong muscles to hunt large animals - we could build better weapons.

And once we had better weapons, such as the long distance spear throwing atlatl, humans didn't have to be muscular heavy hulks risking their lives every time they hunted.We became smaller, needed less food, and perhaps that's why we out-competed Neanderthals.

But how could we have evolved so rapidly 50,000 years ago?Here's the bombshell theory - we interbred with Neanderthals!

This book came out before the recent discovery we have one to four percent Neanderthal DNA.But none of the articles about this discussed the implications - that this is why we underwent such an explosive cultural change roughly 50,000 years ago and became fully modern humans.

The authors explain that a common misconception is that people think that Neanderthals were closer to apes than people, but that is not at all true. They also had large brains, speech, and cooperated highly with each other when they hunted together.

We had too small a population to have enough mutations to evolve quickly, the only way it makes sense for this sudden change to have happened is for us to have acquired useful genes from Neanderthals.All it would have take is for a few dozen half human - half-Neanderthal babies over thousands of years for us to gain their best genetic strengths.

What would be interesting to know is whether it was mainly male humans and female Neanderthals or the reverse.Such analyses were done on the ancestry of Mexicans, and their maternal ancestry is mainly Amerindian, but their paternal ancestry is Spanish.

Ultimately, the most important result of our recent evolution was our ability to innovate.Every new innovation led to new selective pressures, which caused us to evolve in new ways.The most important innovation, and the one that caused the most evolution the past 10,000 years, was the invention of agriculture.

Once we had agriculture, the human population grew enormously, which meant a much larger pool of potentially beneficial mutations happening - 100 times more than in the Pleistocene.

Agriculture also created diets early farmers weren't adapted to.They ate way more carbohydrates and less protein, didn't get all the vitamins they needed, and lived much shorter and unhealthier lives.

But mutations arose that changed that.Here's just one example (that you may know): About 8,000 years ago the ability to drink milk as an adult arose in Europe, and now about 95% of people in Denmark and Sweden have no problems with digesting dairy products, and 80% of the rest of Europeans, on average.A different mutation that did the same thing arose in East Africa, and now 90% of the Tutsi are lactose tolerant.Densely populated areas evolved disease resistance, the ability to drink alcohol, and many other non-skin-deep abilities that we can now "see" with genetic studies.

At times in the Old World, when war wasn't the main source of deaths, famine and malnutrition limited populations that reached carrying capacity.The poorest were so short on food that they didn't reproduce themselves, while the elite had more than the two children required to replace themselves and had twice the number of surviving offspring as the poor.The least successful rich children became the new farmers, with the result that after a thousand years or so, everyone was descended from the wealthy classes.

Once the ruling elites existed, they didn't have a hard time controlling farmers, who couldn't leave their land in protest, or they'd die, which stuck them with paying whatever taxes, being conscripted into wars and in general endure whatever the elites dished out.

The authors suggest that in the end, people were ultimately domesticated by elite rulers, who weeded out aggressive fighting peasants, just as farmers weed out their most aggressive animals.The elites selected for a population that submitted to authority. Attention deficit disorder doesn't exist in China - the elites completely bred that behavior out of the population.I found the whole idea fascinating and scary, the full discussion is on pages 110-113.Maybe that explains why Americans have allowed the greatest disparity in wealth between rich and poor in our nation's history to exist, haven't marched with torches and pitchforks on Wall Street, and so on.

A chapter of the book is devoted to why Ashkenazi Jews are so much brighter than other populations.Although they comprise less than one in 600 people, they've won one in four of all Nobel science and too many other achievements to list here. Basically the hypothesis is that because they were forced to hold difficult white collar jobs for centuries in finance and related areas, and couldn't marry outside their group, evolution selected for intelligence.Unfortunately, this selection comes with genetic disorders of Tay Sachs and other diseases.

Well of course the problem with book reviews is that they're too short and have no peer-reviewed scientific references, unlike the book, nor can the logic and details be explained, so if you think any or all of the above is crazy, read the book.And if you're at all interested in the mystery of how we evolved, this fills in a few of the puzzle pieces that I haven't seen explained elsewhere

More Required Reading
Another book I think everyone should read because it both expands our understanding and peaks our curiosity about human genetics.The premise of "The 10,000 Year Explosion" is the rate of human evolution is accelerating.With modern techniques for dissecting the human genome science is now able to better approximate the dates of the major changes in human evolution.While factors such as migration, mutation, etc were discussed (as in other books) the authors believe that the significant changes in evolution have occurred much more recently than previously believed.

Unlike more technical books on this subject, "The 10,000 Year Explosion" is compact and easy to read (and understand) despite the span of time it covers. What I liked best is that this book made me think about what I was taught in school and made me want to read more on the subject.Any book that makes me want to read more is a book worth reading.Highly, highly recommended.

Ill never look at history or anthropology the same way again.
The authors have done an incredible job of covering what might otherwise be a difficult subject matter.To paraphrase Einstein: they made it as simple as possible, but no simpler.The writing style is always engaging and at times surprisingly funny!The book is a very quick read, but you will find yourself digesting the ideas it contains long after you finish reading.

As to the main points of the book, some are startling when you first read them, but as the authors effortlessly back them up you realize that nothing they are saying is in any way controversial.They aren't peddling some far fetched theory;they are merely stating the known facts organized in a way which at times pierces current PC orthodoxy.

If you feel passionately that all children must be taught that people come from monkeys but otherwise are entirely uninterested in evolution, this isn't the book for you.Otherwise pick up a copy of this fascinating and easy to read book ASAP and you won't be disappointed. ... Read more

Product Description
Comprehensive, advanced treatment of the nature and source of inherited characteristics, and mathematical techniques of population genetics. Mendelian populations, mutations, polymorphisms, genetic demography and natural selection, inbreeding, sexual dimorphism and human evolution, eugenics, euphenics, more. Emphasis on interpretation of data in relation to theoretical models. Minimal math background required.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

THE classic of human population genetics
This Dover reprint of the classic human population genetics 1970's text, originally published by Freeman, will be welcome. Though factually dated by the ensuing 30 years of molecular genetic data, this remains a superb introduction to basic mathematical theory. I've used it in a grad course, and students really enjoyed it. ... Read more

Product Description
Around 60,000 years ago, a man—genetically identical to us—lived in Africa. Every person alive today is descended from him. How did this real-life Adam wind up as the father of us all? What happened to the descendants of other men who lived at the same time? And why, if modern humans share a single prehistoric ancestor, do we come in so many sizes, shapes, and races?

Examining the hidden secrets of human evolution in our genetic code, Spencer Wells reveals how developments in the revolutionary science of population genetics have made it possible to create a family tree for the whole of humanity. Replete with marvelous anecdotes and remarkable information, from the truth about the real Adam and Eve to the way differing racial types emerged, The Journey of Man is an enthralling, epic tour through the history and development of early humankind.Amazon.com Review
Spencer Wells traces human evolution back to our very first ancestor in The Journey of Man. Along the way, he sums up the explosive effect of new techniques in genetics on the field of evolutionary biology and all available evidence from the fossil record. Wells's seemingly sexist title is purposeful: he argues that the Y chromosome gives us a unique opportunity to follow our migratory heritage back to a sort of Adam, just as earlier work in mitochondrial DNA allowed the identification of Eve, mother of all Homo sapiens. While hisdescriptions of the advances made by such luminary scientists as Richard Lewontin and Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza can be dry, Wells comes through with sparkling metaphors when it counts, as when he compares genetic drift to a bouillabaisse recipe handed down through a village's generations. Though finding our primal male is an exciting prospect, the real revolution Wells describes is racial. Or rather, nonracial, as he reiterates the scientific truth that our notions of what makes us different from each other are purely cultural, not based in biology. The case for an "out of Africa" scenario of human migration is solid in this book, though Wells makes it clear when he is hypothesizing anything controversial. Readers interested in a fairly technical, but not overwhelming, summary of the remarkable conclusions of 21st-century human evolutionary biology will find The Journey of Man a perfect primer. --Therese Littleton ... Read more

Customer Reviews (70)

Journey of Humans
Geneticist Spencer Wells traces the expansion of the human population around the globe by following genetic markers in the DNA of various populations.He presents credible arguments in a very readable way.I look forward to reading his current book, "Pandora's Seed".

The Journey of Man by Spencer Wells
This was one of the most wonderful books my husband and I have ever read.I would rate it 10 on
a rating scale of 1 to 10.It is so informative on genetics and very easy to read and understand.Dr. Spencer Wells is a marvelous author and fabulous scientist of the Journey of man from beginning to here in 2010. I highly recommend it.

First thing, locate the roadmaps near the end of the book
The Journey of Man is a reasonably well-written book with a fascinating story.But you will find it MUCH easier to follow the story if the first thing you do is find the diagram and migration map that in my paperback copy are on pages 181 and 182-3:

Figure 9Genealogical tree showing the relationship among the Y-chromosome markers discussed in the text
Figure 10The spread of Y-chromosome lineages around the world

If you have easy access to a photocopy machine, copy these pages, study how they relate to each other, and keep them handy while you are reading.

The paperback book lacks the photos in the more expensive hardcover edition, but provides a URL to access them on the web.While pleasant in a National Geographic sort of way, they are not at all critical to understanding or appreciating the story the book tells.

Very interesting, but not very easy reading
Using genetic data, the book describes how homo sapiens populated the world.
As apparently reliable genetic data go back "only" about 30,000....50,000 years, the book does NOT describe the development of man, but starts with the fully developped homo sapiens - our own species.

It is fascinating, what can be read out of genetic data, and the conclusions are often startling!

My only critisism with this book:
Relying as it does on "genetic markers", both on mDNA (?) and on the Y - chromosome (?), it would have been helpful to devote a chapter, or at least an appendix on what are genes, chromosomes, why do markers not get distorted by natural selection, etc...

The interested layman cannot be expected to know this, and so the book used a lot of undefined (undefined for the layman!) terms.

With such an appendix, I would have given full marks to this book!

A riveting read
I found this book difficult to put down.It is a great insight into the work being done into human genetics by someone involved in the field.The book takes the reader through a description of the techniques used in a way suitable for laypeople, discusses our common ancestry and the theories around that, describes the genetic evidence for migration out of Africa and then devotes roughly a chapter to each major continent.

The author communicates in a clear style, acknowledging the many contributions by others and without blowing his own trumpet.My main criticism of the book is the lack of graphics.At one point the author actually describes a graph, rather than putting it in.Seriously.The lack of maps illustrating the points being made in the text is also very annoying. While some maps are included, they serve largely just as a reminder of geography, rather than illustrating the data. There are also a small number of apparent contradictions and some over-stretching of analogies.

While I enjoyed the book thoroughly I was extremely frustrated by the lack of visual information, especially in a book intended for laypeople, and I have deducted 1 point for this.
... Read more

Product Description
A groundbreaking work, Redesigning Humans tackles the controversial subject of engineering the human germline -- the process of permanently altering the genetic code of an individual so that the changes are passed on to the offspring. Gregory Stock, an expert on the implications of recent advances in reproductive biology, has glimpsed the inevitable future of biomedical engineering. Within decades, Stock asserts, technological advances will bring meaningful changes to our offspring; this scientific revolution promises to fundamentally alter the human species. With recent findings presented in a new afterword, Stock's provocative assessment cuts through the debate to envision an age of radical biotechnological advancement and unprecedented human choice.Amazon.com Review
Will the genetic research that gave us the Flavr Savr tomato also give us the power to customize our children? Medical thinker Gregory Stock believes that this is precisely what's happening and that we'd better get used to it fast. Redesigning Humans: Our Inevitable Genetic Future explores gender selection, gene therapy, germinal choice, and many more options available now or in the near future, but lays aside the hysteria common to such discussions.

Stock sees the cloning controversy as a distraction from issues of real importance, such as balancing offspring trait selection against eugenics. Writing with the clarity and precision of a philosopher, Stock engages his readers with thought exercises and real-life examples. While not a brainless cheerleader for big science, he believes that we can, and certainly will, use any means necessary to give our children an edge, even if it means profound changes for our species. Redesigning Humans offers the hope that these changes need not be catastrophic if we pay attention now. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Gregory Stock Proclaims "THE SUPERMAN" !
At long last, real hope for the future, and an INEVITABLE "Final Solution", to the "Human Problem".
Bring it on !

necessary writing regarding important ideas
This book elucidates many if not all of the issues surrounding germline modification, such as public reaction, future effects on the human species, ethical dilemmas, and regulation. It presented many ideas I had not thought of and further described some I had. It is a bit slow at first and also does cover some of the origins of genetics, but the latter half of the book is completely worth reading to consider many of the results of germline engineering.

Good topic, poor book
This book could have been written in 1/3 the pages.It continously poses the same argument for the same reasons over and over.Yes, that is good for emphasis, but unfortunately it does so in a few places ineffectively.There are numerous logical errors throughout the book (3 in the first 15 pages) and a couple of poor editing points making this book painful to read at points.I give this book its second star only for the great topic it attempts to talk about.

Like It Or No, a Solid Overview of the Field
The author, putting aside the social debate on the subject, does an excellent job of presenting what is happening and what will happen in the genetic engineering field in the coming years. The impulse towards eugenics comes hand-in-hand with a culture obsessed with the material. Equally so, the impulse to protect one's child from cancer and heart disease will play a role. Regardless of the source of new genetic practices, the practices themselves will change our society.

If you'd like to understand just what that society might look like, take a look at this excellent work.

finally, objective coverage of this subject without preaching
ive read several books on this topic, and this is the best of them.the author faces the reality that humans will take advantage of emerging genetic technologies as they become available, safe, and affordable.it really is an "inevitable genetic future", but most authors are lost on that fact as they yammer endlessly about this and that precaution.people are comfortable with the status quo and try to preserve it.pioneers see that it wont last and look beyond.make no mistake, this author too addresses precautions but doesnt overdo it like other commentators.the authors stance on redesigning humans is not so much unqualified support for it as it is acceptance of its inevitability.the author does support it but in a dignified manner i thought, not in a cheerleading fashion.

this book is a look at what will come to be.its not a question of if, but when.that said, you should know whats in store for mankind.i find it very exciting.this isnt time travel, its something more immediate.america and the west may resist now, but the East shows no such disinclination.once they leapfrog us, as they are poised to do, we will see the folly of our overprotective ways.but i would be interested to discuss this in the forum.

a thought provoking and concise book (about 220 pgs without extras at the end), also recent.highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
The clinical picture of diseases, caused by trinucleotide repeats, such as fragile X syndrome, myotonic dystrophy, Huntington's disease and forms of spinocerebella ataxia, provide the starting point for this authoritative review volume.
The book proceeds to integrate the current understanding of the molecular pathologies of these diseases, their genotype-phenotype relationships, the mutational processes involved and the laboratory and clinical issues relating to genetic testing for these disorders.
Clinicians and researchers in genetics, neuroscience, pediatrics and psychiatry will all benefit from the comprehensive overviews contributed by recognized world experts. ... Read more

Product Description
Human Genetics 2e begins by describing basic human genetics, introduces the variety of techniques available for disease diagnosis and details how these are used in the lab, before concluding with information on prenatal diagnosis, genetic counselling and ethical considerations. As such, the book is the ideal handbook for biomedical science students and for anyone working in a diagnostic genetics lab. This new edition has been comprehensively rewritten to take into account the major changes in recent years, particularly with regard to human molecular genetics: * greater coverage of recently identified genes and their role in disease * updated to include an expanded section on breast cancer * expanded description of epigenetics including methylation and acetylation * updated to include all the latest diagnostic tools: QF-PCR, MLPA, RT-PCR, microarrays, etc.* more on the impact of genetics on society; ethics and dilemmas * full colour photographs have been included to allow readers to see real laboratory results If you need to know the difference between SNPs and CNVs, when to use QF PCR or microarrays, or wondered which screening method to use for mutation detection, then you need to read this book. ... Read more

Product Description

Human genetics has blossomed from an obscure branch of biological science and occasional explanation for exceedingly rare disorders to a field all of its own that affects everyone. Human Genetics: The Basics introduces the key questions and issues in this emerging field, including:

• The common ancestry of all humanity
• The role of genes in sickness and health
• Debates over the use of genetic technology

Written in an engaging, narrative manner, this concise introduction is an ideal starting point for anyone who wants to know more about genes, DNA, and the genetic ties that bind us all.

Product Description
An Introduction to Human Molecular Genetics
Second Edition
Jack J. Pasternak
The Second Edition of this internationally acclaimed text expands its coverage of the molecular genetics of inherited human diseases with the latest research findings and discoveries. Using a unique, systems-based approach, the text offers readers a thorough explanation of the gene discovery process and how defective genes are linked to inherited disease states in major organ and tissue systems. All the latest developments in functional genomics, proteomics, and microarray technology have been thoroughly incorporated into the text.
The first part of the text introduces readers to the fundamentals of cytogenetics and Mendelian genetics. Next, techniques and strategies for gene manipulation, mapping, and isolation are examined. Readers will particularly appreciate the text's exceptionally thorough and clear explanation of genetic mapping. The final part features unique coverage of the molecular genetics of distinct biological systems, covering muscle, neurological, eye, cancer, and mitochondrial disorders. Throughout the text, helpful figures and diagrams illustrate and clarify complex material.
Readers familiar with the first edition will recognize the text's same lucid and engaging style, and will find a wealth of new and expanded material that brings them fully up to date with a current understanding of the field, including:
* New chapters on complex genetic disorders, genomic imprinting, and human population genetics
* Expanded and fully revised section on clinical genetics, covering diagnostic testing, molecular screening, and various treatments
This text is targeted at upper-level undergraduate students, graduate students, and medical students. It is also an excellent reference for researchers and physicians who need a clinically relevant reference for the molecular genetics of inherited human diseases. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

molecular genetics book
I received this book just shortly after I purchased it; great condition and all. Thank you so much! ... Read more

Product Description
Reveals what leading experts have recently discovered about cancers caused by DNA alterations!

The second edition of THE GENETICS OF CANCER, newly titled THE GENETIC BASIS OF HUMAN CANCERS, updates and informs on the most recent progress in genetic cancer research and its impact on patient care.With contributions by the foremost authorities in the field, this fascinating new edition reports on how to understand and predict tumor development - information that can enhance decision-making and advance genetic research.

2ND Edition Highlights

NEW CHAPTERS:
* Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
* Juvenile polyposis syndrome
* Tumor genome instability
* Gene expression profiling in cancer
* Pilomatricoma and pilomatrix carcinoma
* Hereditary paragangliomas of the head and neck
* Cylindromatosis
* Familial cardiac myxomas and carney complex
* Cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx
* Genetic abnormalities in lymphoid malignancies

THOROUGHLY REVISED:
* Every chapter has been meticulously reviewed and revised to incorporate the most recent research and clinical findings
* Includes a valuable introduction by renowned editors Vogelstein & Kinser
* Features 150 MORE illustrations than the previous edition ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Thumbs up.
Great text for any graduate student to get an understanding of the genetics of cancer. This book has something in it for everybody and is divided into the following areas: Basic concepts, cell cycle control, familial cancer syndromes and cancers by site.

It is a great text for a graduate student interested in cancer and does proved a very extensive introduction for an advanced student. It is an excellent source of reviews for a graduate student. It's of course not recommended for any lay audience. I use it often as great reference. The drawback is that it is not a good introductory text but one that would help you build upon your previous understanding and looks at the subject area quite in-depth.

Decent job trying to review all of cancer
First of all I was dissapointed there were no color illustrations.The book is broken up into first, a few chapters on basic concepts in cancer.Next, chapters which deal with Familial cancers (like bloom's syndrome orAtaxia-telaniectasia, or breast cnacer) and then chapters on cancers bygeneral location(stomach, lung).It is definitely a book for a moreprofessional audience.The chapter's do a decent job reviewing theclinical aspects each cancer type. The molecular biology is at times too indepth and at other times already showing its age.We used some chaptersfrom this book as reviews for a course I was taking in grad. school. Overall I thought it was pretty interesting. ... Read more

Product Description

The fourth, completely revised edition of this classic reference and textbook presents a cohesive and up-to-date exposition of the concepts, results, and problems underlying theory and practice in human and medical genetics. In the 10 years since the appearance of the third edition, many new data and insights have emerged for understanding the genetic and genomic basis of development and function in human health and disease. Human genetics, with its emphasis on molecular concepts and techniques, has become a key discipline in medicine and the biomedical sciences. While the chapters of this edition are written by multiple experts, the general spirit of this book highlighting problems, approaches, and history continues.

The fourth edition has been extensively expanded by new chapters on timely topics such as epigenetics, pharmacogenetics, gene therapy, cloning, and genetic epidemiology, and databases for basic and clinical genetics. In addition, a multi-chapter section giving an overview on comparative genetics and the main model organisms useful for human genetics (mouse, dog, worm, fly, fish) has been introduced.

This book is of interest to all human and medical geneticists, scientists in all biomedical sciences, physicians and epidemiologists, as well as to graduate and postgraduate students who desire to learn the fundamentals of this exciting and fascinating field.

Product Description
Authoritative yet accessible, Human Biological Variation, Second Edition, opens with an engaging introduction to basic genetics and the evolutionary forces that set the stage for understanding human diversity. It goes on to offer a clear and detailed discussion of molecular genetics, including its uses and its relationship to anthropological and evolutionary models. The text features up-to-date discussions of classic genetic markers (blood groups, enzymes, and proteins) along with extensive background on DNA analysis and coverage of satellite DNA, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and Alu inserts. It covers such current issues as the meaning and significance of "race," quantitative genetics and the "nature versus nurture" debates, biocultural interactions, population structure, and cultural and historical influences on patterns of human variation. Discussing the use of probability and statistics in studying human variation and adaptation in a lucid and approachable way, the book provides clearly explained math that is kept to the level of basic algebra.

Integrating real-world examples on interesting topics--including genetic testing, lactose intolerance, dyslexia, IQ, and homosexuality--the second edition of Human Biological Variation provides the most thorough and contemporary view of our biological diversity.

New to This Edition

* Explorations in Diversity boxes highlight in-the-news examples, including the use of parasites to study human biological variation, determining skin and hair color of Neandertals, and how biology influences mate choice
* Includes a new chapter on milk, taste, and cerumen (Chapter 8)
* Offers more extensive examples of adaptation and physiological variation
* Discusses the latest research on traditional markers (blood groups, enzymes, and proteins) and their uses in anthropological studies of diversity
* Provides updated references, web links, and suggestions for further reading ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Human Variation
This book is a good guide to the study of human variation.Based on the fact that all humans are genetically the same, it helps begin the study of how humans vary according to environmental influences, such as sunlight, temperature, food available, and other influences in these areas.It is a good starter book for the study of the human race. ... Read more