BASIC TEXTS for Fall 2008

Last updated: August 24, 2009 05:34 PM

For 2009

BASIC TEXTS
The first 2 books should be available at the CU Bookstore. You need not necessarily buy texts 1 and 2; it depends on your background and your learning style. Alternative free online sources are available. Everything you need to know for exams will be covered in the lectures; you will not be held responsible for any material in these texts that is not covered in lecture (i.e., that is found solely in the texts). You absolutely must buy book #3.

The 2 text books can also be purchased online, or rented for a term or year. They are available in paper and electronic versions. We are still researching the options for electronic or rental versions. Details will be posted. An electronic of Sadava can be rented from the publisher, see below.
The Problem Book is available in only in paper, and only from the copy shop (see below).

1. Becker, Kleinsmith, and Hardin, The World of the Cell, 7th ed., Benjamin Cummings, 2008. We will cover more than half of the book (see Reading List). This book is very strong on biochemistry but weak on genetics and has no evolution at all. The 6th edition is not as up to date, but will be okay if you want to save money, as it can be had at Amazon for as little as $15 as of 8/20/08. If you already have another recent cell biology book, you don't need to get Becker. There are several cell biology books available online as part of the PubMed bookshelf. However, topics online are apparently accessible only by searching, i.e., no browsing. Keep in mind that Becker will also be used similarly in the second semester of Intro Bio, Biol. C2006.

2. Sadava, Heller, Orians, Purves and Hill, Life: The Science of Biology, 8th Edition, Sinauer-Freeman, 2008. In the 6th and 7th editions of this text, Purves is the first author. This book supplies the topics missing in Becker -- basic genetics and evolution for this term; physiology and development for next term. If you have any other recent comprehensive college biology text, such as Campbell or Gould & Keeton or the 6th or 7th edition of Purves, then you don't need to buy a new intro bio text -- any current college biology text will cover the same material. Just use the index to find the material. And the 7th edition can be had online for just a few dollars. See Kimball's Biology Pages if you prefer to use an online basic bio text. Again, topics online are apparently accessible only by searching, i.e., no browsing. Savada will also be used in the second semester of Intro Bio, Biol. C2006.

We have prepared a custom electronic version of Life by Sadava et al. that can be rented for 545 days at http://ebooks.bfwpub.com/life8e.php . The custom version has 37/57 of the chapters (1-25 and 40-51), and costs $47, about 30% the Amazon price of owning the paper book (there are less expensive sources). Moreover it provides some digital enhancements (e.g., search, quizzes). Its ID no. is 9740397 .

3. Mowshowitz, Problems in Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, 19th edition (2009). The 18th edition (original or revised ) & the 17th edition (original or revised) are very similar. This book, also known as "the problem book" contains study questions and problems from old exams; it also contains brief answers to the questions. This book is available from the Village Copier on Broadway near 112th St. You are urged to get this book and start doing the problems regularly as soon as the term starts. (Do not try to do the problems before lecture -- wait until after the corresponding lecture, and you have reviewed your notes.) We strongly recommend using the most recent edition so you can mark it up yourself as you go along. If you have an older edition, click here.

SUPPLEMENTARY TEXTS: The two textbooks cover most of the material in the lectures, but you may want to consult more advanced texts (print or online) occasionally for details on specific topics. Almost any standard biochemistry, cell biology or genetics text will do the job. A list of recommended texts and online resources will be posted. Many good books are available online as part of the PubMed bookshelf (most relevant are books by the following first authors: Berg, Cooper, Strachan, Griffiths, Alberts, Lodish). Many former students have recommended especially Biochemistry by Stryer (or Berg et al. in later editions) and The Molecular Biology of the Cell by Alberts et al.