Cartoon Guide to Genetics

by Larry Gonick, Mark Wheels, Mark Wheelis

Book Overview

Have you ever asked yourself: Are spliced genes the same as mended Levis Watson and Crick Aren't they a team of British detectives Plant sex Can they do that Is Genetic Mutation the name of one of those heavy metal bands Asparagine Which of the four food groups is that in Then you need The Cartoon Guide to Genetics to explain the important concepts of classical and modern genetics--it's not only educational, it's funny too!

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0062730991
• ISBN13: 9780062730992
• Release Date: July 1991
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.4" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

A valuable overview and review

I am a student that has completed university-level biology over the past year (2004) with an `A' average, and presently studying the application of computer science to biological problems. I found this book laying in a professor's office so I borrowed it for kicks. What a surprise to find the principle concepts of biology arranged so well as to make a quick afternoon review of the basics possible. I really like modern university science texts, but sometimes the interrelationships of concepts are lost in the flood of information from them. This book lifts the academic information fog away from those interrelationships so that they may be clearly seen. Concepts traditionally separated by chapters of information are brought together in the space of a funny drawing or two in this book. I wish I had this book before I went through basic biology, because I think I would have gotten more out of the course with such an overview. But that didn't stop me from killing all hope of a curve at exam time:) By the way, although this book was published in 1991 the content remains quite accurate to this date with few exceptions, most notably the 2 page emphasis on `one gene - one enzyme' (pp114-115). This has changed now with the discovery of alternative splicing just a few years ago. But overall, the book remains a very useful overview of an incredibly fascinating field of science. 5 stars

Biology is FUN!

I loved this book. It was so much fun. I'm a medical school student and I just finished a Cell Biology class. The first time I read "The Cartoon Guide to Genetics" was 3 years ago, when I didn't know lots of Biology. Now as a student, I read it again and I was amazed to see that all the concepts I was learning at school were clearly explained in this book and in the most hilarious manner. As I was reading it, I couldn't believe I was actually laughing! Simply GREAT!

Genetics makes sense at last!

I am a reasonably intelligent person with no biology background, trying to make sense of genetics so I can understand discussions about genetic engineering, medicine, the Human Genome Project, creation-evolution, etc. I have tried to read the genetics sections of biology textbooks to understand what's going on, but I find it hard to get the big picture from those. This book is perfect... it starts right from the beginning, and builds carefully and simply all the way to recombinant DNA, glossing over a few hard details but not making any huge, puzzling leaps like other books seem to. My girlfriend, taking third year undergraduate genetics, was astonished at how much material was covered so clearly in such a small book. The book is also fascinating as a study of how science really works. I'm ready for more genetics now!

I laughed, I cried...it became a part of me

Okay, I didn't cry. But I did laugh and it did help me understand life a little more. This great little book is witty and informative--two words that don't often seem to go together where science books are concerned. It's the best "study guide" out there to augment a genetics text or brush up on the basics. Great Book! I give it Two Chromosomes Up!

great book

I've read several books about genetics, and the Cartoon Guide to Genetics is the best book at making genetics comprehendable and interesting. Important informantion that leads to clear understand is emphasized and made exlicitly clear, instead of buried in a mountain of minute details like other books. You will not understand genetics overnight, but it's so fascinating and entertaining, you'll find it a pleasure to read the Cartoon Guide to Genetics over and over.