Encyclopedia of Genetics, Vol. 2 Book

Substantially revised to reflect the changes in this rapidly developing field, this edition (the first edition came out in 1999) features 64 new essays, heavy revision of 131, and omission of 26, and new or updated bibliographies for all entries. Two new appendices have been added , on web sites and Nobel prizes. Among the topics included are altruism, ancient DNA, antibodies, bioethics, biological determinism, cancer, cell culture of plants and animals, diabetes, epistasis, eugenics, genetically modified foods, and pseudogenes. Several entries are devoted to case studies of model organisms, and there are multiple entries on aspects of DNA, gene regulation, gene therapy, genetic code, genetic engineering, and chromosomes. The contributors are academics, researchers, and independent scholars in the US. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Library Journal

Originally published in 1999 and now heavily revised, this is an excellent resource for general readers seeking information on the basic principles of genetics, the science behind genetic technologies, and the social and ethical issues associated with such technologies. The updated articles, appendixes, and glossary reflect rapid changes in the field. Each essay, averaging 2000 words, contains a brief statement explaining the topic and its significance, definitions of key terms, cross references to related articles, and an annotated bibliography. About half also provide authoritative, carefully selected web sites. The appendixes include a biographical dictionary of geneticists, a time line, and a list of web sites. More accessible to the nonscientist than Eric Reeve's scholarly Encyclopedia of Genetics, on specific organisms, this covers a broad range of topics such as DNA structure and function, hereditary diseases, and the applications and risks of genetic engineering. Bottom Line An excellent starting point for basic information about genetics, particularly those aspects commonly reported in the news, this is recommended for all libraries.-Teresa U. Berry, Univ. of Tennessee Libs. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.