Biotechnology 101

(Hardback)

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Description

What should the average person know about science Because science is so central to life in the 21st century, science educators and other leaders of the scientific community believe that it is essential that everyone understand the basic concepts of the most vital and far-reaching disciplines. Biotechnology 101 does exactly that. This accessible volume provides readers - whether students new to the field or just interested members of the lay public - with the essential ideas of biotechnology using a minimum of jargon and mathematics. Concepts are introduced in a progressive order so that more complicated ideas build on simpler ones, and each is discussed in small, bite-sized segments so that they can be more easily understood. This short volume will enable students and lay people to understand the basics of one of the most important scientific fields of endeavor for the future.

Reviews

Shmaefsky addresses basic principles along with techniques, applications, and tools used in the science of biotechnology. He provides a historical overview of the origins of biotechnology and innovations used relating to agriculture, commercial manufacturing, consumer products, and medicine. Included is a selective but extensive listing of a diverse group of scientists, with each one's brief biography and role in contributing to the principles and development of biotechnology. Also provided is a glossary of terms, an annotated bibliography of print resources for books and references to articles, and Web sites on or relating to biotechnology. This book will interest those in all areas of the sciences, as well as engineering, legal, health, and medical professions. Biotechnology 101 is a volume in the series Science 101, which provides a concise but easy understanding of the concepts of scientific research. Recommended. All levels. * Choice *
Editor's Choice Biotechnology 101is just what it ought to be: It sounds like a broad introduction to a complex field of study, that that's just what the reader gets. For introductory students and, perhaps even more importantly journalists and policy makers, the book provides a quick, concise introduction to the science, methods, potential, and history of this important field.[t]he explanations are clear, the issues carefully laid out, and the illustrations simple, yet very useful. In a relatively short space of time, the book should allow a person with little background in biology to understand the fundamental concepts that underlie problems in modern biotechnology. * SB&F *
For students and general readers, Shmaefsky, a former industrial chemist in the biotechnology industry, presents an introduction to biotechnology, its definition and basic science, with primary focus on tools, innovations, and key figures. The volume devotes about a quarter of its text to this last section, providing brief biographies of figures such as Charles Darwin, James Watson, Louis Pasteur, Maxine Singer, Gregor Mendel, Alec Jeffreys, and many others. The list of references and other resources is annotated. * SciTech Book News *

Author Bio

Brian Robert Shmaefsky is a professor of biology at Kingwood College in Texas. He was an industrial chemist in the biotechnology industry before becoming a college professor who teaches biology and biotechnology. Dr. Shmaefsky studied at Brooklyn College in New York and did his graduate work at Southern Illinois University and the University of Illinois. He continues to consult in the biotechnology industry and trains teachers to perform biotechnology in their classrooms.