Book Review

Exploring Genetic Mechanisms

N Engl J Med 1997; 337:1399-1400November 6, 1997

Article

Exploring Genetic Mechanisms
Edited by Maxine Singer and Paul Berg. 674 pp., illustrated. Sausalito, Calif., University Science Books, 1997. $86.50. ISBN: 0-935702-70-9

Within the past two decades an explosion of scientific information has besieged both the established researcher and the student. One field that has grown disproportionately over this period is genetics, which has evolved into a biochemical and molecular dissection of the manner in which genes control all aspects of development and homeostasis. One of the challenges in modern genetics is the integration of information gained from various subspecialties, so that the field as a whole continues to move rapidly forward. To this end the textbook Exploring Genetic Mechanisms provides an excellent account of the hallmarks of modern genetic analysis. This textbook is not a discourse on classic genetics and mendelian inheritance, but rather a detailed discussion of genetic systems and how they relate to cellular and organismal functioning. The book takes an unusual approach by focusing on a number of well-characterized genetic systems and the lessons they teach. Each chapter is presented as an independent unit that summarizes a historical perspective, followed by a characterization of the main tenets and concepts and a detailed description of the most recent thinking within the field. Because of its organization, the book lacks the dryness of most genetics textbooks. Furthermore, this textbook contains standardized illustrations for many common molecules, a feature that enables the reader to integrate pictorial information quickly.

Arguably, the foundation of modern molecular genetics was laid through the study of viruses. To this end, the first three chapters deal with eukaryotic viruses and the fundamental information that emerged from their study. Through an analysis of DNA and RNA viruses, basic genetic concepts such as splicing, DNA recombination, and mammalian DNA replication became defined. These chapters exquisitely cover the fields of DNA- and RNA-virus research and the contributions they have made to our understanding of modern molecular genetics.

The book also contains chapters on more recent topics in genetics, such as mapping of the human genome and the genes involved in human cancer. The sequencing of the human genetic code will undoubtedly lead to the discovery of new genes associated with human disease. The chapter dealing with the human genome and gene mapping contains essential information for today's geneticist. Another hallmark of Exploring Genetic Mechanisms is an analysis in depth of a few well-characterized gene families that gives the reader both a global and a detailed perspective. The genetics of the hemoglobin genes and immunoglobulin genes are well-presented examples of transcriptional regulation to site-specific DNA rearrangement.

To round out the theme, this book provides detailed descriptions of a number of other genetic systems, such as drosophila genetics and the genetic manipulation of mammals and of plants. These chapters describe the tools of the trade of the modern molecular geneticist and give specific examples of genetic relations that were established with the use of these techniques. The discussion of these complex genetic systems complements the intent of this textbook.

Exploring Genetic Mechanisms is a modern genetics textbook that takes its readers through a detailed account of many fundamental principles of molecular genetics. It provides specific examples of well-characterized genetic mechanisms that operate within a gene family as well as examples of more complex genetic relations that operate within an entire organism. This book represents the next generation of modern genetics textbooks and will be invaluable for genetics researchers and students.

Jeffery D. Molkentin, Ph.D.
Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229