A Guide to Methods in the Biomedical Sciences

by Ronald B. Corley

Overview

A Guide to Methods in the Biomedical Sciences gives a basic description of common methods used in research. This is not intended to be a methods book. Rather, it is intended to be a book that outlines the purpose of the methods described, their limitations and provide alternative approaches as appropriate. Thousands of methods have been developed in the various biomedical disciplines and those covered in this book represent the basic, essential and most widely used methods in several different disciplines.

The historical background (including some interesting anecdotes) leading to the development of ground-breaking techniques is described, especially of those that significantly advanced the field of biomedical research. Advances that earned their inventors prestigious Nobel Prizes are emphasized.

The book is divided into six sections, highlighting selected methods in protein chemistry, nucleic acids, recombinant DNA technology (including forensic-based methods), antibody-based techniques, microscopy and imaging, and the use of animals in biomedical sciences.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781441935601
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	10/15/2010
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of hardcover 1st ed. 2005
Pages:	126
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.24(d)

Table of Contents

Detection and Analysis of Proteins.- Detection and Analysis of Nucleic Acids.- Recombinant DNA Techniques: Cloning and Manipulation of DNA.- Antibody-Based Techniques.- Microscopy: Imaging of Biological Specimens.- The Derivation and Manipulation of Experimental Animals in Biomedical Sciences.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Eugene A Davidson, PhD (Georgetown University School of Medicine)
Description: This book is a series of paragraphs describing various methods used in current biological research; the treatment is very superficial.
Purpose: It is intended to provide students a primer/introduction to various research tools, but it is too elementary to be of much value. Serious students will find coverage incomplete.
Audience: The audience sought is students wishing an introduction to methods employed in modern biological research. In my judgment, this may be suitable as an adjunct for interested high school students. The methods described are too broad in scope for any individual to claim expertise.
Features: The book is intended as a student companion/introduction to modern research tools. The focus is on biological science. A broad spectrum of techniques is described (protein and nucleic acid methods, imaging, immunochemical), each by a short paragraph or two. The descriptions are, of necessity, superficial and do not leave the reader with enough information to gauge applicability to a given problem. Potential pitfalls/caveats are not provided. None of the individual chapters has appended references; rather, a short bibliography serves as an appendix with a list of mainly classic papers and little of practical utility. There are no illustrations. The audience that might find the material of interest would seem to be high school students interested in an overview of what can be done.
Assessment: It is hard to imagine why this was published. I cannot visualize college level students wanting this book. It reminds me of much of TV news.

Doody's Review Service