Bioinformatics : an introduction /

Ramsden (Univ. of Buckingham, UK) gives a concise depiction of bioinformatics as it applies to the multidisciplinary analysis of biological data sets in this new edition (2nd ed., 2009; 1st ed., 2004). Unlike many bioinformatics textbooks that focus on tools and applications, this work has a strong theoretical component, especially in the first section. Part 1, "Information," covers segments, informatics, sets and combinatorics, probability and likelihood, networks, and algorithms. Part 2, "Biology," discusses topics such as cell structure, genetics, phylogeny, and molecules. Part 3, "Applications," the most updated part of this edition, is the "Omics" section. It presents brief reviews of metagenomics, microbiomics, proteomics, etc. At 308 pages, the book gives short introductions to many topics, providing an overview of the field and leading readers to pursue specific areas as necessary. It can serve as an excellent supplement to a textbook used in bioinformatics or computational biology courses. The audience is advanced students with backgrounds in fields associated with bioinformatics, such as genetics, biostatistics, and computer science. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and graduate students. --Maura Collins Pavao, Worcester State University