Genetics: Analysis and Principles

For anyone who has taken Genetics, you'll account for the fact that it is not an easy course. Taking it without a professor present is even more challenging. Luckily this text is well written and easy to follow. The author uses a mix of theory and experiment examples to drive important concepts home. The language is not dry like in many Biology texts. Instead, it is easy to read, almost to the point of being enjoyable.

There are a few things I really liked:
1. The illustrations in this book are paramount to learning difficult concepts. When explaining experimental procedures, the text is accompanied by step-by-step instuctions and illustrations as to how the experiment was carried out. This proved helpful in visualizing the procedure.
2. Each chapter is well organized and easy to understand. The author speaks in easy to understand terms (that is if you have had previous Biology courses.) His writing style is dynamic and never boring.
3. Difficult concepts are often explained more than once. Sometimes the book gets a little ahead of itself, but page numbers and chapters are always given so you can read about things you don't understand.
4. The end of each chapter provides the reader with provocative critical thinking questions that solidify important points from the chapter. Best of all, even numbered answers are given in the back so you can check yourself without hunting through the book.

Overall I'd give this book an A and it will remain in my collection of Biology texts.


The Best Undergraduate Textbook I've Seen for Genetics   April 27, 2001
12 out of 12 found this review helpful

I've just completed my first semester teaching Genetics at a small liberal arts college in Indiana. Because I was jumping into the position I was stuck using the text previously designed for the class. Almost a third of the book was classical genetics, which I enjoy, but was certainly overplayed. Molecular Biology areas were a jumble of terms to learn and lists to inscribe into their brains. The problems in the book did not reflect the material in the text, leaving the class pretty much upset with the book. By midterm it was time to find another sources for the class.

I found myself reaching for other texts, and "Genetics, Analysis and Principles" turned out to be the jewel. It is well balanced, very clearly written, and does not spend its time making students read long memory lists of genes or proteins that the class is going to forget less than two weeks after the term. I think this is largely reflected by the way he wrote the book; with input from students.

Reading the intro I was afraid that this text was going to be way over into the experimental design/ data side which I've seen in other texts mean "no content". Not so this text; experimental design has been written into the book to describe genetics and content, not replace it. I think what is truely unique about this book is the use of scientific process as a way to teach concepts. I wish I had more books like this one for other courses. I hope Dr. Brooker's format for Biology (and yes other science courses) is adopted for other courses.

If you are considering a text for your Genetics classes, I think you will be very pleased with this book.


I keep returning to this textbook   July 28, 2007
achiral
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This is the only genetics book I have. However, I have completed a graduate level biochemistry course. In biochemistry, we discussed many of the subjects presented in Brooker's textbook. Despite having an excellent biochemistry text, Brooker's presentation was often superior, providing a clearer explanation.

I have heard the graphics of the text often derided; I believe this is because some of the graphics were not printed well. Often the graphics are somewhat "fuzzy." However, comparing how well the graphics in this text present concepts against how well the graphics in other texts present the same concepts has been illuminating. Another student actually brought Brooker's text to our biochem lab several times to show other students the graphics to help explain some concepts. The graphics may be fuzzy, but they get the point across.

I'm keeping this in my library. I have returned to it several times.

There is a solutions manual to go with the text. I recommend getting the solutions manual. Working the problems at the end of each chapter will provide a good understanding of the material.


nice diagrams, bad information   September 24, 2005
anonymous (CA, USA)
4 out of 11 found this review helpful

I recently used this book in an undergraduate genetics course that was taught by a M.D./Genetics Counselor who, after the first month or so of using the book and the accompaning powerpoint presentation got so frustrated that told us not to bother reading the book anymore. An example would be the improper use of the Chi Square test that the book uses and instructs.

If you are an instructor save yourself the trouble of dealing with a book with so many errors in it.