High-Yield: Cell and Molecular Biology » (2nd Edition)

This completely revised and updated review book consolidates the most important clinical issues that medical students need to know to be prepared for questions on USMLE Step 1. The book reviews key cell biology concepts needed to study molecular biology, and reviews the key concepts of molecular biology necessary for clinical medical practice. Flow charts provide a clear overview of molecular biology techniques and how they are applied in medicine. A chapter on understanding the research literature provides a solid background in molecular biology protocol so that students can understand the purpose and thinking behind published research articles.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Hector Lopez, MD(Thomas Jefferson University)
Description:A thorough understanding of cell and molecular biology is essential for modern clinical practice. Medical students must appreciate the complexity of the human genome. They must understand mechanisms of gene expression, chromosomal abnormalities, polymorphisms that are risk factors for chronic disease, and gene mutations that cause developmental birth defects. In addition, our future physicians must understand the fundamentals of molecular diagnosis, forensic medicine, and stem cell therapy. This compact book provides a concise (high-yield) review of many interesting topics in cell and molecular biology. The 27 chapters cover topics ranging from oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes and molecular biology of the immune system to identification of human disease genes, clearly illustrating the clinical relevance of these diverse topics. The focus is on cell biology, biochemistry, immunology, developmental biology, and (most importantly) molecular biology.
Purpose:According to the author, the goal of this second edition is to "address molecular biology from a clinical perspective that would be useful and necessary for our future physicians." The author consolidates "the important clinical issues related to molecular biology that are obvious 'grist-for-the-mill' for USMLE Step 1 preparation." The author hopes this book will provide high-yield information for success on this national licensing examination.
Audience:This concise book is written primarily for first and second year medical students who wish to review material learned in basic science courses. Biomedical researchers interested in the clinical relevance of cellular and molecular biology will also appreciate this short review book.
Features:An interesting mix of topics is presented, ranging from mechanisms of protein synthesis to techniques used to identify disease-related human genes. Each chapter provides a compendium (treasure trove) of high-yield facts and definitions. The information flows from major headers to bulleted lists. The chapters are filled with summary tables and thought-provoking illustrations. A helpful list of abbreviations, as well as excellent appendixes filled with supplemental information round out the book. For example, one appendix lists functions of important cell membrane proteins, while another illustrates chromosomal locations of human genetic diseases. Bold typography is used throughout to emphasize keywords and reinforce essential concepts.
Assessment:The wide range of interesting topics and the attention to clinical relevance are the most notable aspects of this book. It assumes readers have a working knowledge of cell and molecular biology and does not attempt to introduce these complex subjects. Rather, it assumes that rapid-fire lists of technical information and "buzzwords" will facilitate short term memory of concepts learned previously in both undergraduate and medical school courses. This is not a primer for beginning students. A short introduction to each chapter that included an overview of the subject and clinical relevance would have been helpful. Many chapters present a level of detail (e.g., lists of genes and specific mutations) that would probably not be represented on the Step 1 examination. There appear to be mistakes in the placement of some figures and some figures are not referenced in the text (see chapter 7). Overall, however, this thoughtfully prepared book presents an excellent review of clinically relevant topics in cellular and molecular biology that is useful for USMLE Step 1 preparation.

The Cell Membrane: Eicosanoids and Receptors/Signal Transduction
I. The Lipid Component of the Cell Membrane II. The Protein Component of the Cell Membrane III. Membrane Transport Proteins IV. G-Protein-Linked Receptors V. Types of G-Protein-Linked Receptors VI. Enzyme-Linked Receptors VII. Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Receptor VIII. Summary Table

Cytoplasm and Organelles
I. Cytoplasm II. Ribosomes III. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum IV. Golgi Complex V. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (sER)
VI. Mitochondria VII. Lysosomes VIII. Peroxisomes IX. Cytoskeleton X. Cell Inclusions XI. Selected Photomicrographs

Nucleus
I. Nuclear Envelope II. Apoptosis III. Nucleolus IV. Assembly of the Ribosome

Protein Synthesis
I. General Features II. Transcription III. Processing the RNA Transcript into MRNA IV. Translation V. Clinical Considerations

Chromosomal DNA
I. The Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids II. Levels of DNA Packaging III. Centromere IV. Heterochromatin and Euchromatin V. Studying Human Chromosomes VI. Staining of Chromosomes VII. Chromosome Morphology

Numerical Chromosomal Anomalies
I. Polyploidy II. Mixoploidy III. Aneuploidy IV. Selected Photographs

Structural Chromosomal Abnormalities
I. Deletions II. Microdeletions III. Translocations IV. Unstable Expanding Repeat Mutations (Dynamic Mutations)
V. Isochromosomes VI. Inversions VII. Breakage VIII. Selected Photographs

Chromosome Replication and DNA Synthesis
I. General Features II. The Replication Process III. The Telomere IV. Types of DNA Damage and DNA Repair V. Summary of DNA Replication Machinery

Meiosis and Genetic Recombination
I. Meiosis II. Oogenesis: Female Gametogenesis III. Spermatogenesis: Male Gametogenesis IV. Genetic Recombination

The Human Nuclear Genome
I. General Features II. Protein-Coding Genes III. RNA-Coding Genes IV. Epigenetic Control V. Non-Coding DNA

The Human Mitochondrial Genome
I. General Features II. Protein-Coding Genes III. RNA-Coding Genes IV. Other Mitochondrial Proteins V. Mitochondrial Diseases

Control of Gene Expression
I. General Features II. Mechanism of Gene Expression III. The Structure of Transcription Factors, Gene Regulatory Proteins, and Other Trans-Acting Factors IV. Clinical Considerations V. Other Mechanisms of Gene Expression VI. The lac Operon VII. The trp Operon

Mutations of the DNA Sequence
I. General Features II. Silent (Synonymous) Mutations III. Non-Silent (Nonsynonymous) Mutations IV. Loss of Function and Gain of Function Mutations V. Other Types of Polymorphisms

Proto-Oncogenes, Oncogenes, and Tumor-Suppressor Genes
I. Definitions II. Designations III. Proto-Oncogenes and Oncogenes IV. Tumor Suppressor Genes V. Molecular Pathology of Colorectal Cancer

The Cell Cycle
I. Phases of the Cell Cycle II. Control of the Cell Cycle III. Stages of the M (Mitosis) Phase

Molecular Biology of Cancer
I. The Causes of Cancer II. The Six Superpowers of a Cancer Cell

Homeotic Genes and Anterior/Posterior Body Pattern Formation
I. Introduction II. Human Homeotic Genes

The Human Mitochondrial Genome