Dealing with genes : the language of heredity /

Two distinguished scientists have written an exceptionally lucid account of the language of heredity. Eschewing distracting romantic accounts of how cells, genes, DNA, and RNA were discovered, Berg and Singer explain structure and function of genetic material in a concisely written and superbly illustrated book. The general reader can follow the straightforward development of modern molecular genetics into its current applications in cancer and AIDS research without getting lost in the biochemistry or the cellular organelles. The book is quite comprehensive, covering such topics as genetic drive, oncogenes, genetic regulation, and such techniques as DNA fingerprinting, polymerase chain reactions, and gene therapy. The glossary and suggested readings section are important aids for those with little or no scientific background. The best feature of this exceptional treatment of genetics is that it does not moralize or speculate about a human eugenic future in a genetically engineered environment. By concentrating on the actual science, it presents the reader with an accurate picture of the potential of molecular genetics for contributing to the understanding of heredity and disease. General; undergraduate; pre-professional. M. J. Goodman; University of Hawaii at Manoa