Inside Modern Genetics

Evolution is one of the most misunderstood scientific theories. Simply put, it's the change in the characteristics of a species over several generations. Yet, people still argue over the idea that humans share an ancestor with an orangutan, for example. This valuable volume explains evolution, natural selection, and basic genetic concepts through accessible language, instructive examples, and enlightening images. While the critical work of Charles Darwin is a focus, the text also highlights the contributions of many other scientists whose work predated the famous expedition to the Galapagos Islands as well as those whose discoveries have since helped bolster the theory of evolution by natural selection.

Genetics can be a difficult subject for some. The terminology itself can be confusing, especially when it's presented with little background information on the subject. This volume, however, endeavors to simplify the complex yet fascinating world of genetics for teen readers. The text examines two of the greatest contributors to the field-Gregor Mendel and Charles Darwin. The contributions of these two visionary scientists was built upon by future scientists. Readers will be delighted to learn about the history of genetics and will use that to springboard into a finer understanding of the state of the field of genetics today. Diagrams and illustrations help readers make sense of a potentially difficult topic.

The human genome is like a cookbook. The genes within it are recipes for the proteins that build the body and keep it running. This fascinating journey into the microscopic mechanisms of the human body enlightens readers about the fundamentals of genetics, including how inherited genes express themselves and how they're passed down through generations. The accessible text has a particular focus on genetic diseases and the breakthrough technologies that are giving people hope for cures. Future geneticists will especially appreciate learning what the Human Genome Project revealed about our DNA as well as about the advances in genomic research that it accelerated.

The natural world is wild, but there's order to it too. To understand biological diversity, scientists arrange organisms into groups, a science called taxonomy. This absorbing volume looks at the ways people have tried to classify the living world over the centuries with a spotlight on the contributions of Carolus Linnaeus, whose system includes the now-famous categories of kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. The accessible text also explains how the science is changing with our developing knowledge of genetics. With millions of species yet to be discovered, the field of taxonomy will continue to tell us how organisms fit into the tree of life.

Cells are the basic units of life, but within them are even smaller structures that act as the machinery that keeps us alive. This include the key molecules in cellular biology, deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid-better known as DNA and RNA. These teammates have essential jobs and they work together to make life possible. DNA stores and transfers genetic information, while RNA codes for amino acids and acts as a messenger in the making of proteins. This enlightening book erases much of the mystique surrounding the science of genetics, thanks to thorough explanations of DNA and RNA at work within the body. Numerous diagrams help make this potentially difficult topic more accessible.

Microbes are everywhere! They live on and under the ground. They live in all kinds of water on Earth, even around the hottest deep-sea vents. They even live on and inside your body! Since the advent of powerful microscopes, scientists have been studying our world's smallest denizens. Many people get scared just hearing the words "bacteria," "fungus," and "virus" because of the diseases they cause. However, scientists have discovered many beneficial microbes that actually help support all life on Earth. Geneticists have sequenced the genomes of numerous microbes, extending our knowledge of the organisms and how they affect our lives.