Journal of Heredity 2003:94(5)
© 2003 The American Genetic Association 94:432-433
Book Review |
Genomes, 2nd edition
T. A. Brown, Editor. BIOS Scientific Publishers, Oxford, U.K. 2002. 572 pp.An emerging challenge in the current era of whole genome projects is to integrate these complex data sets with existing knowledge in biological disciplines ranging from medical genetics to evolutionary biology. The second edition of Genomes is a bold attempt to convey the impact these genome projects have had and will continue to have on biological research. It bridges the gap between basic textbooks and emerging data in the scientific literature and distills this information in a way that is readily accessible to students and educators alike.
The major strengths of Genomes lies in its unique organization. It is divided into four parts that proceed through a logical and intuitive progression of discussions concerning transcriptosomes and proteomes, genomic technologies and analytical techniques, genome function, and how genomes replicate and evolve. All chapters are well organized and provide supplementary material that is important for those wishing to explore the subject matter in greater depth. The "Learning Outcomes," "Study Aids," and "Questions" sections that accompany each chapter assist the students and instructors to set appropriate goals upon which to focus their efforts. The "Further Reading" section is especially valuable in highlighting recent reviews on subject matter that may warrant further attention.
Brown does an admirable job of describing newly emerging technologies that have helped shape genomic biology. Nevertheless, several minor errors in the text were present in discussions regarding DNA microarray technology. For example, it would be more correct to state that phosphoramidite-based chemistry, instead of modified dNTPs, is commonly used in the chemical synthesis of high-density oligonucleotide microarrays. Likewise, the design and application of DNA microarrays that can survey the expression of many thousands of genes was not sufficiently emphasized. Future editions may also benefit from discussing use of DNA microarray technology to classify different diseases, such as various kinds of cancer.
Genomes is enhanced by beautiful color figures that help convey complex information and enhance the natural flow of the well-written text. The structures of nucleic acid binding proteins such as histones, transcription factors, and RNA polymerases were especially important in adding intellectual rigor while bringing the text to life. At times, some of the more simple diagrammatic figures may have been over-used and distracting to the reader. However, in general, they provide a useful resource for students to clarify what is stated in the text.
Overall, Genomes is successful in keeping up with the rapidly changing and dynamic world of genomic biology. Contrary to what is stated in the Appendix, it is not written on a level roughly equivalent to review articles appearing in professional journals such as Trends in Genetics and Nature. However, it is well suited to be a textbook in beginning and mid-level undergraduate courses in molecular or genomic biology or a supplement for more advanced undergraduate courses. It provides the basic information necessary to take the next step towards having an in depth understanding the professional literature. Due to the current state of genomic biology, it is likely that the content of certain chapters will need to be modified in the near future. Therefore, we eagerly look forward to future editions of this wonderful textbook.
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Keck School of Medicine
University of Southern California
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