New to This Edition
• Each chapter now opens with a case
study that provides students with a
glimpse of the personal impact of
genetics.
• Relating the Concepts sections pose
questions related to the opening case
study, so students apply concepts to
real-life situations.
• New and updated information has
been integrated throughout the text,
giving students a modern perspective of
human genetics.
Chapter 1, Overview of Genetics
• Boxed reading introduces DNA
structure and function, so
instructors can easily cover DNA
or Mendel first.
• New section on metagenomics
discusses sampling DNA from
ecosystems.
Chapter 4, Mendelian Inheritance
• Illustrations reworked so the
short and tall pea plants are
easier to distinguish.
• Several new end-of-chapter
questions.
Chapter 5, Exceptions and Extensions to
Mendel’s Laws
• New figure compares independent
assortment to linkage.
Chapter 8, The Genetics of Behavior
• Fuller explanation of neuron
function begins the chapter.
Chapter 14, When Allele
Frequencies Stay Constant
• Section on forensics is rewritten
for clarity and currency.
Chapter 15, Changing Allele
Frequencies
• Reading, Antibiotic Resistance:
Genomics to the Rescue? revised to
include information on
methicillin-resistant staph aureus
(MRSA) and microbial genome
sequences that determine how
resistance arises.
• Figure 15.9 from the sixth
edition, Forces that change allele
frequencies, is broken down into
its parts at the appropriate
section of text, and the parts
reunited into a complete figure at
the end of the chapter.
Chapter 18, Genetics of Cancer
• New section, table, and figures on
Origins of Cancer Cells.
Chapter 19, Genetic Technologies
• Reorganized to cover patenting,
amplifying, modifying, and
monitoring DNA.
Chapter 20, Genetic Testing, Genetic
Counseling, and Gene Therapy
• Emphasizes genetic testing,
counseling, and privacy.
Chapter 22, The Age of Genomics
• Offers more information on
comparative genomics including a
new figure : “A periodic table of
genomes” that highlights 9
sequenced (non-human) genomes.
• Unparalleled coverage of stem cells
Dr. Lewis’ specialty is stem cells, and
coverage in this text reflects her
frequent conversations with leading
researchers in this field. The
information and illustrations on stem
cells are unparalleled.
• In Chapter 2, Cells, four illustrations
accompany the clear narrative,
progressing from basic to applied
views of stem cells. Figures 2.23 and
2.24 stress the defining characteristic
of self-renewal, as well as depicting
the route to differentiation of
daughter cells. Figure 2.25 walks
through somatic cell nuclear
transfer, and figure 2.26 considers
how stem cells can heal a heart.
• The stem cell theme continues in
figure 11.4, which depicts
development of the pancreas into a
uniquely dual structure—from a
single type of progenitor cell.
• A new section in Chapter 18, Genetics
of Cancer, explores the role of stem
cells in causing cancer, with several
new figures (18.8, 18.9, 18.10).
• New problems, cases, and research
questions are scattered throughout the
text. The popular Solving a Problem
feature introduced in the last edition
includes new problems.
• Focus Placed on the Important Concepts
Fewer bold terms and a more concise
glossary emphasize the important
terms—if a term isn’t directly related to
genetics, or if it is a disorder name, it
isn’t emphasized for memorization. At
the same time, all disorders are
identified by their Online Mendelian
Inheritance in Man number, to ease
acquiring further information.
Suggested Readings have been moved to
the Online Learning Center, providing
space for more end-of-chapter exercises.
To obtain an instructor login for this Online Learning Center, ask your local sales representative.
If you're an instructor thinking about adopting this textbook, request a free copy for review.
2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education