Table of Contents

Introduction: cells as macromolecular assemblies; proteins; compartments. Part 1: DNA as information; genes are mutable units; DNA is the genetic material; nucleic acid structure; isolating the gene. Part 2: from gene to protein; messenger RNA; protein synthesis; interpreting the genetic code; protein localization. Part 3: prokaryotic gene expression; transcription; the operon; phage strategies. Part 4: perpetuation of DNA; the replicon; DNA replication; restriction and repair; recombination; transposons; retroviruses and retroposons. Part 5: the eukaryotic genome; DNA biotechnology; genomes; exons and introns; gene numbers; organelle genomes; simple sequence DNA; chromosomes; nucleosomes. Part 6: eukaryotic gene expression; initiation of transcription; regulation of transcription; nuclear splicing; catalytic RNA; rearrangement of DNA; immune diversity. Part 7: cell growth, cancer, and development; protein trafficking; signal transduction; cell cycle and growth regulation; oncogenes and cancer; gradients and cascades. Epilogue: landmark shifts in perspective.

About the Author

After obtaining his degrees at the University of Cambridge, Dr. Benjamin Lewin was the founding editor of the journal cell, now one of the leading international journals in life science. As editor of cell, he is concerned with reviewing current research in molecular and cellular biology. In addition to writing Genes VI, he is the author of a three-volume series of advanced books on Gene expression.