Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello! Next year in high school, I am planning on taking Molecular Biology because the subject interests me and I would like to get an internship relating to that field. Are there any textbooks (paperback/ hardcover) available for this topic? I am having a hard time finding the appropriate book to help introduce/prep me for this (potentially challenging) class.

Thank you!

Yes, there are a ton. The most popular one used in college is titled Molecular Biology of the Cell. The new edition is pretty pricey, but there are lot of old editions that people are trying to sell for very cheap.

Hope that helps!

Hi,

In addition to the Molecular Biology of the Cell( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21054/), you can also try to look for Biology 8th Edition by Campbell Reece. Most AP biology courses are based on this textbook.

Just in case here is a site for most of the biology terms you will encounter:
Molecular Biology Glossary
http://seqcore.brcf.med.umich.edu/doc/e ... gloss.html

If you have anymore questions, please ask!

-Grace

For "Biology 8th Edition by Campbell Reece," how much information do they have relating to molecular biology topics?

Thanks!

Hi again!

Well, the basic topics of the textbook include: Introduction:Themes in the Study of Life, The Chemical Context of Life, Water and the Fitness of the Environment,Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life, The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules, A Tour of the Cell, Membrane Structure and Function, An Introduction to Metabolism, Cellular Respiration: Harvesting Chemical Energy, Photosynthesis, Cell Communication, The Cell Cycle, Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles, Mendel and the Gene Idea, The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance, The Molecular Basis of Inheritance, From Gene to Protein, Control of Gene Expression, Viruses, Biotechnology, Genomes and Their Evolution, Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life, The Evolution of Populations, The Origin of Species, The History of Life on Earth, Phylogeny and the Tree of Life, Bacteria and Archaea, Protists, Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land, Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants, Fungi, An Introduction to Animal Diversity, Invertebrates, Vertebrates, Plant Structure, Growth, and Development, Transport in Vascular Plants, Soil and Plant Nutrition, Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology, Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals, Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function, Animal Nutrition, Circulation and Gas Exchange, The Immune System, Osmoregulation and Excretion, Hormones and the Endocrine System, Animal Reproduction, Animal Development, Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling, Nervous Systems, Sensory and Motor Mechanisms, Animal Behavior, An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere, Population Ecology, Community Ecology, Ecosystems, Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology.

Out of these topics, I would say that molecular biology is included mostly in chapters 14-21: Mendel and the Gene Idea, The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance, The Molecular Basis of Inheritance, From Gene to Protein, Control of Gene Expression, Viruses, Biotechnology, Genomes and Their Evolution(chapter sequence might differ for the 8th edition) . In my opinion, this book will introduce you from the basics of biology to the specifics, including a major focus on molecular biology.

I hope this helps you find the right book!

-Grace