THE HUMAN GENOME, A User's Guide

As genetic issues play a growing role in health practice and public policy, new knowledge in this field will continue to have significant implications for individuals and society.

Written to communicate sound and modern science in an accessible way for professionals and students with various levels of scientific background, this thoroughly revised edition of The Human Genome contributes to creating a genetically literate research and clinical population. With case studies and introductory vignettes which illustrate a wide range of perspectives on complex topics in genetics and updated material on the latest research on disease-specific topics, this book serves as a valuable resource for students and working professionals alike.

Table of Contents

Section I: HOW GENES SPECIFY A TRAIT
1 The Basics of Heredity: How Traits Are Passed Along in Families
2 The Double Helix: How Cells Preserve Genetic Information
Section II: HOW GENES FUNCTION
3 The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology: How Cells Orchestrate the Use of Genetic Information
4 We Are All Mutants: How Mutation Alters Function
SECTION III HOW CHROMOSOMES MOVE
5 Mitosis and Meiosis: How Cells Move Your Genes Around
6 The Odd Couple: How the X and Y Chromosomes Break the Rules
SECTION IV. HOW GENES CONTRIBUTE TO COMPLEX TRAITS
7 Sex Determination: How Genes Determine a Developmental Choice
8 Complexity: How Traits Can Result from Combinations of Factors
9 Genes Are Not Destiny: How Environment Modulates Genotype
10 The Multiple-Hit Hypothesis: How Genes Play a Role in Cancer
SECTION V: HOW GENES ARE FOUND
11 The Gene Hunt: How We Map the Locations of Genes
12 The Gene Hunt: How We Find Genes We Have Mapped
SECTION VI: HOW GENES PLAY A ROLE IN TESTING AND TREATMENT
13 Genetic Testing and Screening: How We Apply Mutation Screening to Human Families and Individuals
14 Magic Bullets: How Gene Therapy Personalizes Medicine
15 Fears, Faith, and Fantasies: How the Past and the Present Shape the Future of Genomic Medicine