Fundamentals of bioinformatics and computational biology : methods and exercises in MATLAB /

Bioinformatics has experienced significant growth in the last 20 years, matched by an explosion of books and reviews in the last 10. This work, a recent addition to the introductory textbook arena, differentiates itself by utilizing MATLAB for sequence analysis and experimentation. In the first part of the book, Singh (Oakland Univ.) introduces basic biological concepts, databases, and sequence processing with MATLAB. The second part is devoted to sequence comparison, while the third and fourth parts delve into motif and gene finding, phylogenetics, and microarray analysis. Except for sequence comparison and phylogeny, most topics are covered in limited depth. The content and teaching approach seem oriented primarily toward computational scientists, and particularly engineering students, for which MATLAB is often a tool of choice. Several other introductory bioinformatics textbooks cover a wider variety of topics, some in greater detail, and often discuss other important topics such as next-generation sequencing, and RNA and protein folding. Overall the book offers one more good choice for introductory bioinformatics courses and can be especially valuable to students who are already familiar with MATLAB. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and graduate students. --Dimitris Papamichail, The College of New Jersey