Synopses & Reviews
Your hands-on study guide to the inner world of the cell
Need to get a handle on molecular and cell biology? This easy-to-understand guide explains the structure and function of the cell and how recombinant DNA technology is changing the face of science and medicine. You discover how fundamental principles and concepts relate to everyday life. Plus, you get plenty of study tips to improve your grades and score higher on exams!
- Explore the world of the cell take a tour inside the structure and function of cells and see how viruses attack and destroy them
Understand the stuff of life (molecules) get up to speed on the structure of atoms, types of bonds, carbohydrates, proteins, DNA, RNA, and lipids
Watch as cells function and reproduce see how cells communicate, obtain matter and energy, and copy themselves for growth, repair, and reproduction
Make sense of genetics learn how parental cells organize their DNA during sexual reproduction and how scientists can predict inheritance patterns
Decode a cell's underlying programming examine how DNA is read by cells, how it determines the traits of organisms, and how it's regulated by the cell
Harness the power of DNA discover how scientists use molecular biology to explore genomes and solve current world problems
Open the book and find:
- Easy-to-follow explanations of key topics
The life of a cell what it needs to survive and reproduce
Why molecules are so vital to cells
Rules that govern cell behavior
Laws of thermodynamics and cellular work
The principles of Mendelian genetics
Useful Web sites
Important events in the development of DNA technology
Ten great ways to improve your biology grade
Synopsis
Molecular & Cellular Biology For Dummiesbrings this complex field of study to the masses by decoding the jargon and theories that can tax even the most devoted student of molecular biology. This title is an indispensible resource for readers looking for both a reference to the field as well as a course supplement.
Synopsis
A complete reference to the field and an indispensable course supplement
Molecular &Cell Biology For Dummies makes this complex topic accessible to everyone, decoding jargon, demystifying theories, and helping students get the most from their coursework. This plain-English guide examines the evolution of the cell and how specialized cells have led to the rise of everything from amoebas to humans. It also examines the current research trends in this exciting field. Invaluable as a molecular or cellular biology course supplement, it helps students review core concepts, prepare for exams, and improve their grades.
Rene Fester Kratz, PhD (Everett, WA), is a Biology Instructor at Everett Community College and holds a doctorate in botany from the University of Washington. As a member of the North Cascades and Olympic Science Partnership, she is working to develop science curricula that are in alignment with research on human learning.
Synopsis
The cell is the basic building block of life. In its 3.5 billion years on the planet, it has proven to be a powerhouse, spreading life first throughout the seas, then across land, developing the rich and complex diversity of life that populates the planet today. and#160;
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With The Cell: A Visual Tour of the Building Block of Life, Jack Challoner treats readers to a visually stunning tour of these remarkable molecular machines. Most of the living things weandrsquo;re familiar withandmdash;the plants in our gardens, the animals we eatandmdash;are composed of billions or trillions of cells. Most multicellular organisms consist of many different types of cells, each highly specialized to play a particular roleandmdash;from building bones or producing the pigment in flower petals to fighting disease or sensing environmental cues. But the great majority of living things on our planet exist as single cell. These cellular singletons are every bit as successful and diverse as multicellular organisms, and our very existence relies on them.
The book is an authoritative yet accessible account of what goes on inside every living cellandmdash;from building proteins and producing energy to making identical copies of themselvesandmdash;and the importance of these chemical reactions both on the familiar everyday scale and on the global scale. Along the way, Challoner sheds light on many of the most intriguing questions guiding current scientific research: What special properties make stem cells so promising in the treatment of injury and disease? How and when did single-celled organisms first come together to form multicellular ones? And how might scientists soon be prepared to build on the basic principles of cell biology to build similar living cells from scratch.
About the Author
René Fester Kratz, PhD, teaches cellular biology and microbiology. She is a member of the North Cascades and Olympic Science Partnership, where she helped create inquiry-based science courses for future teachers. Kratz is also the author of Microbiology The Easy Way.
Table of Contents
Introduction.Part I: The World of the Cell.
Chapter 1: Exploring the World of the Cell.
Chapter 2: Take a Tour Inside the Cell.
Chapter 3: Dead or Alive: Viruses.
Part II: Molecules: The Stuff of Life.
Chapter 4: Better Living through Chemistry.
Chapter 5: Carbohydrates: How Sweet They Are.
Chapter 6: Proteins: Workers in the Cellular Factory.
Chapter 7: DNA and RNA: Instructions for Life.
Chapter 8: Lipids: Waterproof and Energy Rich.
Part III: The Working Cell.
Chapter 9: Hello, Neighbor: How Cells Communicate.
Chapter 10: Metabolism: Transferring Energy and Matter.
Chapter 11: Cellular Respiration: Every Breath You Take.
Chapter 12: Photosynthesis: Makin’ Food in the Kitchen of Life.
Chapter 13: Splitsville: The Cell Cycle and Cell Division.
Part IV: Genetics: From One Generation to the Next.
Chapter 14: Meiosis: Getting Ready for Baby.
Chapter 15: Mendelian Genetics: Talkin’ ’Bout the Generations.
Chapter 16: Expect the Unexpected: Non-Mendelian Patterns of Inheritance.
Part V: Molecular Genetics: Reading the Book of Life.
Chapter 17: DNA Synthesis: Doubling Your Genetic Stuff.
Chapter 18: Transcription and Translation: What’s in a Gene?
Chapter 19: Control of Gene Expression: It’s How You Play Your Cards That Counts.
Part VI: Tools of Molecular Biology: Harnessing the Power of DNA.
Chapter 20: Recombinant DNA Technology: Power Tools at the Cellular Level.
Chapter 21: Genomics: The Big Picture.
Part VII: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 22: Ten Important Rules for Cells to Live By.
Chapter 23: Ten Ways to Improve Your Grade.
Index.