Molecular Biology of the Cell, Molecular Biology of the Cell: The Problems Book

Abstract

Despite its retro look, the information contained in the fifth edition of Molecular Biology of the Cell is anything but outdated. This book is a classic cell biology textbook appropriate for undergraduate level introductory cell biology courses and also can serve as a useful review and reference text for graduate students. Alberts et al. have updated this edition to include several hot topics such as epigenetic genome regulation, small non-coding RNAs, comparative genomics approaches, and new cancer treatments. To keep pace with the advancing technological age, all the figures and tables within the text are provided in PowerPoint® and JPEG format on the CD that accompanies the book. The CD also contains helpful animations and videos that make some of the more difficult concepts come to life for the reader. The last five chapters cover special topics such as sexual reproduction, multicellular organisms, and the immune system and can be found on the CD as PDF documents. Although this format reduces the book to a more manageable size compared to the previous edition, unfortunately it does not lend itself to easy note taking for the interactive learner. The authors do a superb job of highlighting the historical context of major discoveries and showcase a variety of standard cell biology techniques throughout the figures and text. Electron micrographs, X-ray crystal structures, and immunofluorescence images litter the pages and give readers a clear picture of the original data that first gave rise to the facts presented in the text. More recently developed techniques, including total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, DNA microarrays, and in situ hybridizations, also are referenced to demonstrate the wide variety of approaches used by researchers to elucidate the intricate workings of the cell. In addition to its thorough treatment of both fundamental and cutting-edge topics in cell biology, the authors have sought to encourage critical thinking skills through end-of-the-chapter questions. These require the reader to critically analyze the facts presented and then apply the underlying principles to similar biological problems. The Problems Book, which can be purchased separately, contains thousands of additional questions and answers in several different formats: “Definitions,” “Calculations,” “Data Handling,” and “Thought Problems.” These questions can be used to assess understanding of the material, as well as stimulate discussions about more advanced topics in cell biology. Having used this book both as an undergraduate and as a graduate student, I found the newest edition of this book to maintain the informative and user-friendly quality of previous editions. I highly recommend this book to students and instructors alike who seek to learn the foundational concepts of cell biology. By linking past discoveries with the most recent findings in the field, Molecular Biology of the Cell leads the reader on a logical and expository journey through the microscopic world of the cell.