The Book of Genes and Genomes

The Book of Genes & Genomes presents a concise overview of the advances in genetics and genomics and provides the unfamiliar reader with a succinct description of many of the applications and implications of this field. Given the substantial investment in genetics and genomics over the past several decades and the many recent discoveries and developments, this book will help the reader begin to understand the importance of genetics and genomics to us all. This exciting new title includes information on how genetics and genomics has advanced our understanding of health and medicine, evolution, and biology, as well as how they are pushing the boundaries of ethics and social values.

• Assumes no prior knowledge on the part of the reader;
• Easy to understand writing style, enabling novices to read and speak the "language" of genes and genomes;
• Inclusion of case-studies that depict how genes and genomics have advanced understanding of health, medicine, evolution and biology, but juxtaposed to ethics and social values;
• Recommended reading offered to facilitate self study;
• Clear, up to date and affordable.

Forward -- A Brave New World. , Chapter 1. From Genes to Genomes: What s It All About? ([Author s Note: Introduction; include short genetics history]. , Chapter 2. My Family s Medical History (and why it s important for me to know). , Chapter 3. A Savior Sibling [Author s Note: Preimplantation genetic diagnosis/Selection]. , Chapter 4. Too Few, Too Many [Author s Note: Aneuploidy/Copy Number Variation]. , Chapter 5. You ve Probably Already Had a Genetic Test (But no one told you): Newborn Screening. , Chapter 6. Sweet Blood (Genetics and Diabetes). , Chapter 7. Will this Drug Work for You? [Author s Note: Pharmacogenetics/Creating a Drug Just for You]. , Chapter 8. No Two Cancers Are the Same [Author s Note: Microarrays and Disease sub-classification]. , Chapter 9. Can We Fix our Faulty Genes? [Author s Note: Gene Therapy/Genome Editing-CRISPR]. , Chapter 10. Hunting the Invisible Bugs through DNA (Author s Note: Infectious disease/MRSA story). , Chapter 11. Can Genes Explain Behavior? (Note: Behavioral Genetics/Gene x Environment). , Chapter 12. The Not So Golden Age of Golden Rice {alternative title: Tastier (and Healthier) Foods through Genetic Technology}. , Chapter 13. Cleaning up the Environment: New Ways to Detect Land Mines and Digest Oil. , Chapter 14. Genetics and the Crime Scene: Just like TV? . , Chapter 15. Are We Related to Cavemen? [Alternative Title: Ancient Ancestors] [Author s Note: Neanderthal/woolly mammoth/Population history/Redefining Race]. , Chapter 16. Creating New Life [Alternative Title: Bringing back Extinct Species]. , Chapter 17. Genetic Testing Without A Physician A Brave New World