Product Description

Molecular Biology of the Cell is the classic in-dept text reference in cell biology. By extracting the fundamental concepts from this enormous and ever-growing field, the authors tell the story of cell biology, and create a coherent framework through which non-expert readers may approach the subject. Written in clear and concise language, and beautifully illustrated, the book is enjoyable to read, and it provides a clear sense of the excitement of modern biology. Molecular Biology of the Cell sets forth the current understanding of cell biology (completely updated as of Autumn 2001), and it explores the intriguing implications and possibilities of the great deal that remains unknown. The hallmark features of previous editions continue in the Fourth Edition. The book is designed with a clean and open, single-column layout. The art program maintains a completely consistent format and style, and includes over 1,600 photographs, electron micrographs, and original drawings by the authors. Clear and concise concept headings introduce each section. Every chapter contains extensive references. Most important, every chapter has been subjected to a rigorous, collaborative revision process where, in addition to incorporating comments from expert reviewers, each co-author reads and reviews the other authors' prose. The result is a truly integrated work with a single authorial voice. Features : - Places the latest hot topics sensibly in context - including genomics, protein structure, array technology, stem cells and genetics diseases. - Incorporates and emphasises new genomic data. - All of molecular biology is brought together into one section (chapters 4-7) covering classically defined molecular biology and molecular genetics. - Two chapters deal exclusively with methods and contain information on the latest tools and techniques. - New chapters on "Pathogens, Infection, and Innate Immunity". - Cell Biology Interactive CD-ROM is packaged with every copy of the book. - Contains over 1,600 illustrations, electron micrographs and photographs, of which over 1,000 are originally conceived by the authors.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #120067 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 1616 pages

Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Education, Volume 31, 2003
MBoC is a visually beautiful book. It is richly illustrated with clear diagrams and photographs.

Nature, May 2002
The clear and concise style and copious informative diagrams and illustrations set an impressive standard..

Werner Kühlbrandt, Max-Planck-Institut für Biophysik, Germany
I found the chapter quite excellent and right up-to-date, covering the main recent developments..

Commenting on Chapter 14

Customer Reviews

Outstanding
Quite simply, this book is a must for any undergraduate students of the biological sciences. The breadth and depth of subjects covered within this book is unparalleled. It's also bang-up-to-date.

An excellent introduction to molecular and cellular biology
Molecular Biology of the Cell (MBoC) (4th Ed) provides a definitive overview of a myriad of cellular and molecular techniques, encompassing a wide topic range including developmental systems, cancer and cellular construction. Alberts provides a comprehensive fundamental groundwork in the earlier chapters leading on to more advanced approaches and techniques, using clear and concise phrasing juxtaposed with simplistic and easy-to-follow diagrams reinforcing the ideas purveyed.

The book was recommended as a core text to supplement my Molecular Biology degree and provides a significant, if in some areas slightly basic in content, scope of topics which have extended well beyond the first year. MBoC establishes a great deal of the practical application of techniques and theory in cell biology, bringing out the scientific importance of what’s taking place. The editors also provide modest historical components to topics under discussion, providing the reader with a sense of the background to cell biology discoveries.
While the text is a highly useful tool in cellular molecular biology, one of its great uses is the provision of a framework on which to review primary literature, like journal articles, which ultimately give a more up-to-the minute view of molecular cell biology.
While many topics discussed are advanced, the writing style, illustrations and supporting CD-ROM material makes MBoC easy to follow and a worthwhile investment for anyone with an interest in molecular cell biology, particularly those progressing from A-Levels to degree studies.

The only book you really need
I have just finished my BSc Biology and this is the only textbook which was consistently useful throughout all three years of my degree. Invaluable for tutorials, revision and short assignments and a great starting point for most biology/biochemistry essays. The text is clear and concise and the illustrations are amazingly helpful. Get it from Amazon though; lugging it home from the bookshop will do your back in.