[Histonet] General Genetics (lecture and lab textbooks)

[John Kiernan]

Dear Jorge A. Santiago-Blay,

How did you learn enough about "General Genetics for science majors" to be hired to teach the subject? Do you not own at least one textbook in the field? How did you qualify to teach the subject? 

With the internet (Google) it will be easy to find the most recent edition of the text from which you studied General Genetics. You could buy the book or ask the publisher for a free copy. Publishers happily provide free textbooks to instructors, hoping that every student will buy a copy of the "adopted" textbook. 

Why ask me? My fields of interest, before I retired, were Neuroanatomy and Histochemistry, not Genetics.

Does your institution have a way to warn students that an instructor does not know a suitable textbook for his course? Your students may need such a warning!

J. A. Kiernan
Anatomy & Cell Biology
University of Western Ontario
London, Canada
= = =
On 08/06/15, "Jorge A. Santiago-Blay"  <blayjorge at gmail.com> wrote:
> General Genetics (lecture and lab textbooks)
> 
> Dear Histonet-Listers:
> 
> I wish to know if you have recommendations of *excellent* textbooks
> (lecture and labs) for General Genetics for science majors. Although I just
> finished teaching an upper division Genetic Analysis course and I am well
> familiarized with what is available, I am not as familiarized with la creme
> de la creme for General Genetics.
> 
> Ideally, I want a textbook that is (list is not comprehensive):
> 1. As inexpensive as possible (available online, softbound, etc.).
> 
> 2. Easy to read, understand. and profusely illustrated.
> 
> 3. Does not assume more than intro. biology (for majors) knowledge.
> 
> 4. Emphasizes principles of genetics, model organisms, critical thinking,
> experimental design, ecological and conservation genetics, etc.
> 
> 5. Has a generous companion packages (incl. PowerPoints, online quiz
> cartridges - not the ones that reside with the publishers but the ones than
> reside on campus only, etc.). For anything online, technology is as close
> to 100% reliable and intuitive as possible.
> 
> 6. Does not shy away from math and stats (because I do not shy away from
> those either).
> 
> 7. Is not divorced of the historical context of genetics.
> 
> 8. Highlights the importance of genetics in modern life.
> 
> 9. For labs, all of the above and not just the usual genetics exercises. I
> want a book that invites exploration and engages all of us in the field.
> Ideally, with a manual for s/he that may be helping with setting up the lab.
> 
> If you have any feedback, please kindly send it directly to me,
> blayjorge at gmail.com
> 
> With gratefulness,
> 
> Jorge
> 
> P.S Apologies for potential duplicate emails.
> 
> Jorge A. Santiago-Blay, PhD
> blaypublishers.comblay.cfm
> <http://paleobiology.si.edu/staff/individuals/santiagoblay.cfm>
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