Molecular & cell biology for dummies / by René Fester Kratz

Includes index

Exploring the world of the cell -- Take a tour inside the cell -- Dead or alive: viruses -- Better living through chemistry -- Carbohydrates: how sweet they are -- Proteins: workers in the cellular factory -- DNA and RNA: instructions for life -- Lipids: waterproof and energy rich -- Hello, neighbor: how cells communicate -- Metabolism: transferring energy and matter -- Cellular respiration: every breath you take -- Photosynthesis: makin' food in the kitchen of life -- Splitsville: the cell cycle, cell division, and cancer -- Meiosis: getting ready for baby -- Genetics: talkin' 'bout the generations -- DNA replication: doubling your genetic stuff -- Transcription and translation: what's in a gene? -- Control of gene expression: it's how you play your cards that counts -- The book of you: reading your genes -- Rewriting the code of life: recombinant DNA technology and genome editing -- Ten important rules for cells to live by -- Ten ways to improve your grade

3.8 billion years and counting -- there's a lot to know about the fundamentals of life. This friendly, jargon-free guide takes you from the primordial soup to the present, explaining how specialized cells have given rise to everything living, from the humbles amoeba to walking, talking humans. Whether you're taking a cell or molecular biology course, catching up on fast-evolving fields like DNA microarrays or genetics for your career -- or are just curious -- this updated edition is your all-access ticket to our inner world. -- From publisher's description