Читать книгу Cell Biology - Stephen R. Bolsover - Страница 9

PREFACE

Our aim in previous editions of Cell Biology, A Short Course was to cover a wide area of cell biology in a form especially suitable for first‐year undergraduates, keeping the book to a manageable size so that neither the content, the cost, nor the weight was too daunting for the student. For the fourth edition we have thoroughly revised the content to concentrate on the core of cell biology: the structure of the cell, how it is made, and how cells and the parts of cells interact and move.

We begin (Section 1, Chapters 1 and 2) by describing the components of the cell as seen in the microscope. We then (Section 2, Chapters 3–8) turn to the central dogma of molecular biology and describe how DNA is used to make RNA which in turn is used to make protein. We end this section with chapters on protein structure and on recombinant DNA technology and genetic engineering. Section 3 (Chapters 9–11) describes how cells use electricity, ion concentrations, and chemical messengers to interact with and respond to external cues. Section 4 (Chapters 12–14) describes the physically moving cell: intracellular trafficking, the cytoskeleton and molecular motors, and cell division and death. Finally, in Section 5 (Chapter 15) we use cystic fibrosis as a case study that illustrates how all the areas of knowledge covered in this book contribute to an understanding of this disease and have allowed the development of novel clinical treatments.

Boxed material throughout the book is divided into EXAMPLES that illustrate the topics covered in the main text, explanations of the MEDICAL RELEVANCE of the material, and IN-DEPTH sections that extend the coverage beyond the content of the main text. We include BRAINBOXES highlighting a number of the scientists who have made significant contributions to cell biology, either by making critical discoveries, or by creating the tools that made those discoveries possible. REVIEW QUESTIONS in extended matching‐set format at the end of each chapter help the reader assess how well they have assimilated and understood the material, while each chapter also poses a “THOUGHT QUESTION” that tests concepts rather than facts.

A comprehensive website accompanies the book at www.wiley.com/go/bolsover/cellbiology4. This includes additional examples, in‐depth explanations, and medical discussions for which there was no room in the printed book. Students who would like to test their understanding of the subject will find additional review questions, while teachers can find suggestions of essay titles. The website gives links to other internet resources together with references to primary research publications to allow readers to trace the origin of statements in the text. Lastly, the website allows download of all the figures from the book as slides for use by teachers.