Principles of Genetics is one of the most popular texts in use for the introductory course. It opens a window on the rapidly advancing science of genetics by showing exactly how genetics is done. Throughout, the authors incorporate a human emphasis and highlight the role of geneticists to keep students interested and motivated. The sixth edition has been updated to reflect the latest developments in the field of genetics. Principles of Genetics continues to educate today's students for tomorrow's science by focusing on features that aid in content comprehension and application.
Table of Contents:
CHAPTER 1 The Science of Genetics 1
An Invitation 2
Three Great Milestones in Genetics 2
DNA as the Genetic Material 6
Genetics and Evolution 10
Levels of Genetic Analysis 11
Genetics in the World: Applications of Genetics to Human Endeavors 12
CHAPTER 2
Cellular Reproduction 18
Cells and Chromosomes 19
Mitosis 24
Meiosis 27
Life Cycles of Some Model Genetic Organisms 32
CHAPTER 3
Mendelism: The Basic Principles of Inheritance 40
Mendel’s Study of Heredity 41
Applications of Mendel’s Principles 46
Testing Genetic Hypotheses 48
Mendelian Principles in Human Genetics 52
CHAPTER 4
Extensions of Mendelism 62
Allelic Variation and Gene Function 63
Gene Action: From Genotype to Phenotype 70
Inbreeding: Another Look at Pedigrees 77
CHAPTER 5
The Chromosomal Basis of Mendelism 89
Chromosomes 90
The Chromosome Theory of Heredity 92
Sex-Linked Genes in Humans 98
Sex Chromosomes and Sex 98
Determination 100
Dosage Compensation of X-Linked Genes 104
CHAPTER 6
Variation in Chromosome Number and Structure 110
Cytological Techniques 111
Polyploidy 115
Aneuploidy 119
Rearrangements of Chromosome Structure 126
CHAPTER 7
Linkage, Crossing Over, and Chromosome Mapping in Eukaryotes 135
Linkage, Recombination, and Crossing Over 136
Chromosome Mapping 141
Cytogenetic Mapping 148
Linkage Analysis in Humans 150
Recombination and Evolution 153
CHAPTER 8
The Genetics of Bacteria and Their Viruses 163
Viruses and Bacteria in Genetics 164
The Genetics of Viruses 165
The Genetics of Bacteria 169
Mechanisms of Genetic Exchange in Bacteria 172
The Evolutionary Significance of Genetic Exchange in Bacteria 186
CHAPTER 9
DNA and the Molecular Structure of Chromosomes 192
Functions of the Genetic Material 193
Proof That Genetic Information Is Stored in DNA 193
The Structures of DNA and RNA 197
Chromosome Structure in Prokaryotes and Viruses 205
Chromosome Structure in Eukaryotes 207
CHAPTER 10
Replication of DNA and Chromosomes 220
Basic Features of DNA Replication In Vivo 221
DNA Replication in Prokaryotes 231
Unique Aspects of Eukaryotic Chromosome Replication 244
CHAPTER 11
Transcription and RNA Processing 256
Transfer of Genetic Information: The Central Dogma 257
The Process of Gene Expression 259
Transcription in Prokaryotes 263
Transcription and RNA Processing in Eukaryotes 267
Interrupted Genes in Eukaryotes: Exons and Introns 274
Removal of Intron Sequences by RNA Splicing 277
CHAPTER 12
Translation and the Genetic Code 285
Protein Structure 286
One Gene—One Colinear Polypeptide 289
Protein Synthesis: Translation 293
The Genetic Code 306
Codon-tRNA Interactions 312
CHAPTER 13
Mutation, DNA Repair, and Recombination 320
Mutation: Source of the Genetic Variability Required for Evolution 321
The Molecular Basis of Mutation 321
Mutation: Basic Features of the Process 332
Mutation: Phenotypic Effects 337
Assigning Mutations to Genes by the Complementation Test 342
Screening Chemicals for Mutagenicity: The Ames Test 346
DNA Repair Mechanisms 348
Inherited Human Diseases with Defects in DNA Repair 351
DNA Recombination Mechanisms 354
CHAPTER 14
The Techniques of Molecular Genetics 366
Basic Techniques Used to Identify, Amplify, and Clone Genes 367
Construction and Screening of DNA Libraries 377
The Molecular Analysis of DNA, RNA, and Protein 380
The Molecular Analysis of Genes and Chromosomes 386
CHAPTER 15
Genomics 397
Genomics: An Overview 402
Correlated Genetic, Cytological, and Physical Maps of Chromosomes 402
Map Position-Based Cloning of Genes 407
The Human Genome Project 409
RNA and Protein Assays of Genome Function 415
Comparative Genomics 420
CHAPTER 16
Applications of Molecular Genetics 439
Use of Recombinant DNA Technology to Identify Human Genes and Diagnose Human Diseases 440
Molecular Diagnosis of Human Diseases 448
Human Gene Therapy 450
DNA Profiling 455
Production of Eukaryotic Proteins in Bacteria 461
Transgenic Plants and Animals 463
Reverse Genetics: Dissecting Biological Processes by Inhibiting Gene Expression 467
CHAPTER 17
Transposable Genetic Elements 477
Transposable Elements: An Overview 478
Transposable Elements in Bacteria 479
Cut-and-Paste Transposons in Eukaryotes 483
Retroviruses and Retrotransposons 488
Transposable Elements in Humans 494
The Genetic and Evolutionary Significance of Transposable Elements 496
CHAPTER 18
Regulation of Gene Expression in Prokaryotes 504
Constitutive, Inducible, and Repressible Gene Expression 506
Positive and Negative Control of Gene Expression 507
Operons: Coordinately Regulated Units of Gene Expression 509
The Lactose Operon in E. coli: Induction and Catabolite Repression 511
The Tryptophan Operon in E. coli: Repression and Attenuation 519
Translational Control of Gene Expression 525
Posttranslational Regulatory Mechanisms 526
CHAPTER 19
Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes 531
Ways of Regulating Eukaryotic Gene Expression: An Overview 532
Induction of Transcriptional Activity by Environmental and Biological Factors 534
Molecular Control of Transcription in Eukaryotes 537
Posttranscriptional Regulation of Gene Expression by RNA Interference 541
Gene Expression and Chromatin Organization 544
Activation and Inactivation of Whole Chromosomes 550
CHAPTER 20
The Genetic Control of Animal Development 558
A Genetic Perspective on Development 559
Maternal Gene Activity in Development 561
Genetic Analysis of Development in Vertebrates 571
CHAPTER 21
The Genetic Basis of Cancer 581
Cancer: A Genetic Disease 582
Oncogenes 585
Tumor Suppressor Genes 590
Genetic Pathways to Cancer 600
CHAPTER 22
Inheritance of Complex Traits 607
Complex Traits 608
Statistics of Quantitative Genetics 611
Analysis of Quantitative Traits 613
Correlations Between Relatives 624
Quantitative Genetics of Human Behavioral Traits 628
CHAPTER 23
Population Genetics 634
The Theory of Allele Frequencies 635
Natural Selection 641
Random Genetic Drift 645
Populations in Genetic Equilibrium 647
CHAPTER 24
Evolutionary Genetics 656
The Emergence of Evolutionary Theory 657
Genetic Variation in Natural Populations 659
Molecular Evolution 662
Speciation 672
Human Evolution 676
Appendices
Appendix A: The Rules of Probability 685
Appendix B: Binomial Probabilities 687
Appendix C: In Situ Hybridization 689
Appendix D: Evidence for an Unstable Messenger RNA 691
Appendix E: Evolutionary Rates 693
Answers to Odd-Numbered Questions and Problems 697
Glossary 720
Photo Credits 743
Illustration Credits 745
Index 746
About the Author :
D. Peter Snustad is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Minnesota and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California, Davis. He began his faculty career in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at Minnesota in 1965, became a charter member of the new Department of Genetics in 1966, and moved to the Department of Plant Biology in 2000. During his 43 years at Minnesota, he taught courses ranging from general biology to biochemical genetics. His initial research focused on the interactions between bacteriophage T4 and its host, E. coli. In the 1980s, his research switched to the cytoskeleton of Arabidopsis and the glutamine synthetase genes of corn. His honors include the Morse-Amoco and Dagley Memorial teaching awards and election to Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. A lifelong love of the Canadian wilderness has kept him in nearby Minnesota. Michael J. Simmons is a Professor in the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He received his B.A. degree in biology from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in genetics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Dr. Simmons has taught a variety of courses, including genetics and population genetics. He has also mentored many students on research projects in his laboratory. Early in his career he received the Morse-Amoco teaching award from the University of Minnesota in recognition of his contributions to undergraduate education. Dr. Simmons’s research focuses on the genetic significance of transposable elements in the genome of Drosophila melanogaster. He has served on advisory committees at the National Institutes of Health and was a member of the Editorial Board of the journal Genetics for 21 years. One of his favorite activities, figure skating, is especially compatible with the Minnesota climate.
