Essential Cell Biology / Edition 3

by Bruce Alberts, Dennis Bray, Karen Hopkin, Alexander D Johnson, Alexander Johnson

Overview

Essential Cell Biology provides an accessible introduction to the fundamental concepts of cell biology. Its lively writing and exceptional illustrations make it the ideal textbook for a first course in cell and molecular biology. The text and figures are easy-to-follow, accurate, clear, and engaging for the introductory student. Molecular detail has been kept to a minimum in order to provide the reader with a cohesive, conceptual framework of the basic science that underlies our current understanding of biology.

The Third Edition is thoroughly updated scientifically, yet maintains the academic level and size of the previous edition. The book is accompanied by a Media DVD-ROM with over 130 animations and videos, all the figures from the book, and a new self-test quizzing feature for students.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780815341291
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/06/2009
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	860
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.10(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Bruce Alberts received his PhD from Harvard University and is Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco. He is the editor-in-chief of Science magazine. For 12 years he served as President of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (1993-2005).

Dennis Bray received his PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is currently an active emeritus professor at University of Cambridge. In 2006 he was awarded the Microsoft European Science Award.

Karen Hopkin received her PhD in biochemistry from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and is a science writer in Somerville, Massachusetts.

Alexander Johnson received his PhD from Harvard University and is Professor of Microbiology and Immunology and Director of the Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program at the University of California, San Francisco.

Julian Lewis received his DPhil from the University of Oxford and is a Principal Scientist at the London Research Institute of Cancer Research UK.

Martin Raff received his MD from McGill University and is at the Medical Research Council Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and Cell Biology Unit and in the Biology Department at University College London.

Keith Roberts received his PhD from the University of Cambridge and is Emeritus Fellow at the John Innes Centre, Norwich.

Peter Walter received his PhD from The Rockefeller University in New York and is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco, and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1	Introduction to Cells	1
Panel 1-1	Light and electron microscopy	8
Panel 1-2	Cells: the principal features of animal, plant, and bacterial cells	25
	How We Know: Life's common mechanisms	30
Chapter 2	Chemical Components of Cells	39
	How We Know: What are macromolecules?	60
Panel 2-1	Chemical bonds and groups	66
Panel 2-2	The chemical properties of water	68
Panel 2-3	An outline of some of the types of sugars	70
Panel 2-4	Fatty acids and other lipids	72
Panel 2-5	The 20 amino acids found in proteins	74
Panel 2-6	A survey of the nucleotides	76
Panel 2-7	The principal types of weak noncovalent bonds	78
Chapter 3	Energy, Catalysis, and Biosynthesis	83
Panel 3-1	Free energy and biological reactions	96
	How We Know: Using kinetics to model and manipulate metabolic pathways	103
Chapter 4	Protein Structure and Function	119
Panel 4-1	A few examples of some general protein functions	120
	How We Know: Probing protein structure	129
Panel 4-2	Four different ways of depicting a small protein	132
Panel 4-3	Cell breakage and initial fractionation of cell extracts	160
Panel 4-4	Protein separation by chromatography	162
Panel 4-5	Protein separation by electrophoresis	163
Panel 4-6	Making and using antibodies	164
Chapter 5	DNA and Chromosomes	169
	How We Know: Genes are made of DNA	172
Chapter 6	DNA Replication, Repair, and Recombination	195
	How We Know: Finding replication origins	198
Chapter 7	From DNA to Protein: How Cells Read the Genome	229
	How We Know: Cracking the genetic code	246
Chapter 8	Control of Gene Expression	267
	How We Know: Gene regulation--the story of eve	282
Chapter 9	How Genes and Genomes Evolve	293
	How We Know: Counting genes	314
Chapter 10	Manipulating Genes and Cells	323
	How We Know: Sequencing the human genome	334
Chapter 11	Membrane Structure	365
	How We Know: Measuring membrane flow	384
Chapter 12	Membrane Transport	389
	How We Know: Squid reveal secrets of membrane excitability	414
Chapter 13	How Cells Obtain Energy from Food	427
Panel 13-1	Details of the 10 steps of glycolysis	432
	How We Know: Unraveling the citric acid cycle	442
Panel 13-2	The complete citric acid cycle	450
Chapter 14	Energy Generation in Mitochondria and Chloroplasts	453
	How We Know: How chemiosmotic coupling drives ATP synthesis	460
Panel 14-1	Redox potentials	471
Chapter 15	Intracellular Compartments and Transport	497
	How We Know: Tracking protein and vesicle transport	520
Chapter 16	Cell Communication	533
	How We Know: Untangling cell signaling pathways	561
Chapter 17	Cytoskeleton	573
	How We Know: Pursuing motor proteins	586
Chapter 18	Cell-Cycle Control and Cell Death	611
	How We Know: Discovery of cyclins and Cdks	618
Chapter 19	Cell Division	637
Panel 19-1	The principal stages of M phase in an animal cell	642
	How We Know: Building the mitotic spindle	646
Chapter 20	Genetics, Meiosis, and the Molecular Basis of Heredity	659
	How We Know: Reading genetic linkage maps	682
Panel 20-1	Some essentials of classical genetics	685
Chapter 21	Tissues and Cancer	697
Panel 21-1	The cell types and tissues from which higher plants are constructed	700
	How We Know: Making sense of the genes that are critical for cancer	734
	Answers to Questions	A:1
	Glossary	G:1
	Index	I:1

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Bruce A. Fenderson, PhD (Thomas Jefferson University)
Description: This is the third edition of an introduction to the exciting world of cell biology. As the authors note, "in our world there is no form of matter more astonishing than the living cell." The book's 20 concise chapters cover topics ranging from membranes and mitochondria to stem cells and cancer.
Purpose: The authors' purpose is to "explain, in a way that can be understood even by a reader approaching modern biology for the first time, how the living cell works." This book is derived in part from the larger textbook by the same authors, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 5th edition (Garland Science, 2008). The value of this abridged book is that it provides "a digestible, straightforward, and engaging account of only the essential principles."
Audience: This is an outstanding companion text for undergraduate and graduate-level courses in cell biology (cellular biochemistry). It is written for students across a wide range of life science disciplines, including developmental biology, biochemistry, and biophysics. The authors are outstanding research scientists, noted authors, and highly regarded educators.
Features: Readers will experience a sense of awe and wonder about life on Earth. The authors are mindful of the ancient evolutionary history of cell structure and function, and they take time to instruct students on innovative and successful approaches to scientific inquiry. Molecular models highlight examples of biological structure. Full-color illustrations and photomicrographs are easy to understand and highlight key points. Open-ended questions throughout the book and at the end of each chapter stimulate critical thinking and application of knowledge. For example, one color-coded question box asks: "How do cells in plant roots survive, since they do not have chloroplasts and are not exposed to sunlight?" (Answers are in the back of the book.) The CD that is included contains video clips, animations, molecular structures and high-resolution photomicrographs — a real treasure trove of ancillary information for students and teachers alike. The inside front cover is filled with helpful information, including a chart of amino acids and their codons, as well as units of measure and other useful constants and conversions. The book also includes a glossary.
Assessment: The authors organize and explain the basic intracellular processes that are critical for life. Large font and colorful graphics make the book student-friendly. It is comprehensive yet concise, and it is polished in every detail, from the lively front cover to colorful illustrations and beautiful photomicrographs that highlight current research. I enjoyed seeing the examples of research methods, such as the use of fluorescent tags and antibodies to reveal the subcellular localization of biomolecules. This book provides a great introduction to cell biology. It is well written, carefully edited, and a joy to read. I highly recommend it for undergraduates and graduate students in the life sciences. Every biology department and health science library should have multiple copies on hand.

Doody's Review Service

3 Stars from Doody

This book fills a critical niche in the pedagogical process of introducing cell biology and does an excellent job in reaching its objective.
—December 2004, volume 79

The Quarterly Review of Biology

An excellent example of designing a textbook for undergraduates and non-biology majors. It is clear, well illustrated, conversational in tone and enjoyable to read and browse through.
—October 2004

E-Streams

College and university professors who have used the previous editions of ECB will be pleased with the new edition. The format and organization are retained but have been infused with fresh images and updated material. It's as if a trusted old friend has come back from an extended vacation with a bright new look and a refreshed attitude. The reader is at once comfortable with and excited by the changes. New users of the textbook will find it accessible and approachable at the professorial and student levels . . . .I highly recommend it to all CBE-Life Sciences Education readers who are also classroom educators.

CBE-Life Sciences Education