An A to Z of DNA Science: WhatScientists Mean When They Talk About Genes and Genomes (A to Z...)

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 126 pages
• Published by: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
• Edition: 1st Edition October 15, 2001
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0879696001
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0879696009
• Book Dimensions: 7.4 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Weighs: 8 ounces

Product Review
Any lawyer would love to have this guide to DNA that is easy to read and easy to understand. gorgeously illustrated, the book focuses on the language of genes, genomes, DNA, biotechnology, and heredity. --David Marshall Nissman, J.D.

Product Description
Medical science constantly demands our attention, as patients or relatives, concerned citizens, voters, investors, or simply curious individuals. But for those without training, the language of science is often hard to follow. The A to Z of DNA Science book series defines and illustrates specialized terms in ways that non-specialists can appreciate and enjoy. This volume focuses on the language of genes, genomes, DNA, biotechnology, and heredity, defining, explaining, and illustrating over 200 terms used in books, broadcasting, websites, and newspaper and magazine articles.

Reader Reviews
An A to Z of DNA Science is an illustrated glossary coauthored by the Director and Deputy Director of the Office of Science Education at the National Human Genome Research Institute at NIH. (The third author created the illustrations). For each glossary term the authors provide a concise, one-sentence definition, a longer explanatory paragraph, and often an accompanying illustration. Given the authors' respective credentials as science communicators and educators, I was surprised and disappointed by the ambiguity inherent to the writing style, inconsistencies among and within definitions, and the paucity of terms represented. The lack of clarity in the writing was particularly striking given the following excerpt from Dr. W. French Anderson's preface to the book: "[This book's] core value...is the increased access into, and understanding of, the world of genetic research that it provides to the non-scientist through clear, well-defined terms." For example, the definition of a "genotype" is listed as "the genetic identity of an individual that does not show as outward characteristics." The use of the word "that" instead of the word "which" implies that the authors are distinguishing "genotype" from some other genetic identity that does show as outward characteristics. Even as a neophyte in this arena, I am fairly certain that some portion of the genetic identity codes for outwardly identifiable traits. Clearly, this is simply a case of poor grammar. One would expect more from science educators, especially when the result is semantic ambiguity. In some cases, poor writing results in apparent inconsistencies and tautologies within definitions. For example, the notion of "contig" is first defined as "a chromosome map", then as a "collection of overlapping clones", and finally, a "contig map" (a new term?) is described as "a physical map reflected by an overlapping series of clones". Thus, if we subscribe to the first definition, then a contig map is a map of a chromosome map. But from the second and third definitions, we can also infer that a contig map is a physical map reflected by a contig. Confused? So was I. In a field that Dr. Anderson refers to as "exacting", it is unfortunate that this book seems to have inconsistencies also among its definitions. For example, "genome" (a fundamental term in DNA Science), is defined to include both the DNA in the nucleus of a cell as well as the DNA found in mitochondria. However, if one were to look up the term "mitochondrial DNA", one would find that it is "a complete and independent genome". If this is not contradictory, it certainly requires a modicum of elaboration in order to reconcile the seemingly incongruous definitions. Finally, while brevity may be the soul of wit (to steal from Mr. Twain), in science, it leads to conceptual poverty. Though much of the explanatory text seemed to be of an appropriate length for this type of book, some key terms and their related concepts seemed to be missing. For example, the illustration for a "chromosome" depicts two "chromatids", which are also referenced in the explanation of a "centromere". However the "chromatid" is simply not included as a glossary term in this book. On this basis of this review, one might expect to see a numerical rating lower than three. However, despite the shortcomings described above, I was sufficiently motivated by my interest in each definition to pursue other related definitions. Ultimately, I found myself flipping pages back and forth throughout the book in an effort to pursue various conceptual threads. If the book can stimulate such interest in me, then perhaps it will also be of interest to others - particularly in a second edition which has been embellished for completeness, and edited for clarity and consistency.