How the Human Genome Works

The Essential Genetics Primer! This unique text explains the basics of the human genome: what it is, what it does, and its implications in health and disease. In seven clear and concise ‘Lectures,’ Dr. McConkey conveys the essentials of what we know about genes and gene expression, how mutations lead to simple and complex disorders, and how the rapid advance in our understanding of the human genome is impacting the practice of medicine.

How the Human Genome Works will be useful for people in the health sciences at all levels, from students to established professionals, who want to update their knowledge about human genetics without making a major time commitment. This brief book, which can be read in a few sittings, will provide you with a broad basic understanding of this complex topic. It is the ideal text for science, medical, and nursing students, practicing physicians and nurses, and all others who need a readable overview of human genetics.

Author Biography

Edwin H. McConkey is a molecular biologist who began his career in science as a herpetologist. At the University of California, Berkeley, he became interested in molecular aspects of development, which evolved into an emphasis on protein synthesis under the influence of James Watson at Harvard University. After many years at the University of Colorado, his interests focused on human genetics, and he now specializes in comparative studies on the human and chimpanzee genomes, with the goal of understanding the genetic basis of human uniqueness.