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Genetic Engineering is the most cutting-edge field of research in the present times. The future also seems bright for those seeking a career in it due to constant growth and demand in market. The foremost requirement in this area of research is a thorough understanding of the experimental designs along with fundamentals.
For understanding the practical aspect, the theoretical approach must be intelligible. For doing so, you need the best books on genetic engineering. Choosing the most authentic guides is crucial for excelling. Try to read-only the best textbook for genetic engineering that is most recommended by the experts.
The best textbook for genetic engineering is the one that lets you experience the lab while reading the theory. We bring you the 12 Best Genetic Engineering Books to learn the burning topics around molecular engineering. This list is prepared while keeping the needs of the readers in mind. Read to find out more.
Best Genetic Engineering Books to Learn Latest Techniques & Enhance Knowledge
For thorough information and hands-on skills for performing laboratory experiments, you need the appropriate books. There are countless books available to study genetic manipulation. We have prepared a list of the best books recommended for the learners of genetic engineering based on different levels of learning.
- For Beginner level: Genetics 101 and Zero to Genetic Engineering Hero are most ideal textbooks for beginners to learn genetic engineering.
- For Beginner to Intermediate level: An Introduction to Genetic Engineering and Hacking Darwin are good to go with if you have slight idea about genetic manipulations.
- For Intermediate to Advance level: The Hope, Hype and Reality of Genetic Engineering and Genetic Engineering: Emerging Concepts and Technologies are recommended for a little advance learners.
- For Advance level: Principles of Gene Manipulation and Genomics and Gene Cloning and DNA Analysis are a great choice for excelling in the laboratory skills along with clear understanding of the fundamentals.
Genetic engineering is an amazing field of study. We hope that these books provide you the fundamental insights and experimental skills. You can read about each one of them in detail in the upcoming section.
1. Zero to Genetic Engineering Hero
Zero to Genetic Engineering Hero is the perfect book to begin with the learning process of Genetic Engineering. With the growing use of genetically engineered products every day, this textbook guides appropriately to learn the processes to engineer biological items. No previous knowledge is required to get started on this.
This textbook includes the methods to set up an experimentation environment, isolation of DNA, growing E. coli cells in a safe environment, total engineering of E.coli cells, extraction of engineered proteins, processing chemicals with engineered enzymes, mutually turning on the genes in engineered organisms.
Every chapter of the book begins with one or more activities. The learning gets stronger with hands-on activities based on the fundamentals of genetics. Along with boosting the theory, it gives intensive experience in performing the laboratory practical. The pictorial representations help in grasping the concepts instantaneously.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- Simple and straightforward text in the format of narration by writer
- A great book to start learning about the basics of genetic engineering
- Learn to perform the Genetic engineering lab experiments
- More than 130 colorful illustrations for visualization
- Web search terms included for web browsing
- Combination of real-world examples and relevant activities
- Recommended for the beginner level of biologists and biotechnologists
Level (best suitable for): Beginners
2. An Introduction to Genetic Engineering
An Introduction to Genetic Engineering is a vital book for understanding the principles lying behind genetic engineering. The book is up-to-date and mostly focuses on clearing the concepts used in genetic manipulations. Simple language and non-technical words used to describe the methods. Overall the book is divided into three brief sections.
Section 1 provides a brief introduction to the relevant terminologies and topics associated with molecular biology. Section 2 is about the methods involved in gene manipulation. Brief details on the experimental protocols and analysis of results given too. This section is critically important for getting an understanding of the practical approach.
The last section is about the applications of genetic engineering technology in different areas of science. The guide is recommended for the beginners and intermediate learners belonging from the Biotechnology field.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- Covers the basic concepts and fundamentals
- A comprehensive text and simple language for understanding
- A thorough description of experimental methodologies and results
- Application and importance of bioinformatics as an emerging science field
- Highlighted texts and chapter summaries at the end
- Keyword listings, glossaries, and concept maps
Level (best suitable for): Beginner to Intermediate
3. Hacking Darwin
Hacking Darwin is an interesting book that includes thoughtful ideas and future perspectives of genetic engineering. It begins with an intriguing introduction. It provides a brief synopsis on the history of genetic engineering and where it is headed for in the next 10 to 15 years.
The book focuses on the central question of how modern genetics is affecting lives. It raises questions about the future and present scenarios in genetic manipulation. It is a non-conventional book that is recommended for beginners and intermediate learners or advance learners too just for some extra supplementary reading.
It provides insights on the ethical, moral, technical attributes of science. The easy writing style makes the book readable to non-technical readers. The simple language and easy to understand approach makes it stand out among the other non-conventional books.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- Very engaging, humorous, and informative guide
- Simple and comprehensive text
- The book develops the deep thinking ability of the readers
- Persuasive writing style with use of non-technical words
- Recommended for undergraduates and graduates wishing to read something different
Level (best suitable for): Beginner to Intermediate
4. Gene Cloning and DNA Analysis
Gene Cloning and DNA Analysis is a standard book for understanding the gene cloning methodologies. The book includes up-to-date information on the growing area of research and DNA analysis. The principles of techniques and their applications are laid out in great detail.
Overall the book is divided into three distinct parts. Part one deals with the basic principles of gene cloning and DNA analysis. It explains cloning vectors, purification of DNA, manipulation, and the polymerase chain reaction among others.
Part two of the book is regarding the applications of gene cloning and analysis in a research area. The last section is about the applications of gene cloning in biotechnology, forensics and archaeology.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- An in-depth description of the Next-Generation Sequencing methods
- Applications of NGS in studying genomes and transcriptomics
- ChIP seq analysis and proteomics
- Description of strategies used in the assembly of genome sequences
- More than 250 coloured illustrations on the techniques
Level (best suitable for): Advanced
5. Genetic Engineering: Principles and Methods
Genetic Engineering: Principles and Methods is a voluminous textbook that contains explanatory discussions on relevant topics of genetic manipulation. In-depth description of relevant topics would help in polishing the previous knowledge.
It includes important topics of gene silencing: its principles and applications, myocardium and integrins, plant virus vectors, novel approach to control transcription, DNA polymorphism in genetic mapping, and applications of FLP in site-specific DNA recombination system in plants.
The methods, approaches, and principles related to genetic engineering are essential for all. The academicians and scientists who wish to take advantage of the emerging field should definitely go for this textbook.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- A comprehensive textbook with a central focus on principles and methods
- A brief description of up-to-date and relevant topics
- Illustrative diagrams and figures for clearing concepts
- Simple to read language and use of easy words
- Recommended for intermediate and advanced learners with prior knowledge
Level (best suitable for): Intermediate to Advance
6. Principles of Gene Manipulation and Genomics
Principles of Gene Manipulation and Genomics is a compilation of the fundamentals of genetic engineering and its application. Highly recommended for understanding polygenic disorders and identification of quantitative trait loci.
The book includes relevant topics of basics and advanced gene manipulation techniques, genomic analysis, essential subjects of genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, and much more.
The textbook is divided into three clear-cut and detailed sections. Section one is about the fundamentals of genetic manipulation. Section two deals with the manipulation of DNA in microbes, plants, and animals. The final and third section is about genome analysis, DNA analysis, genomics, and much more.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- Comprehensively written with up-to-date information
- A special emphasis on applications of genomics in the field of research
- The availability of online study material for students with self-assessment questions
- Downloadable format of figures, diagrams, and related material
- Recommended for advance students of genetics, genomics, molecular biology, and biotechnology
Level (best suitable for): Advanced
7. Genetics 101
Genetics 101 is a beginner level book for understanding the teeny tiny bits of genetics. The topics from chromosomes to the double helix structure of DNA are explained in very simple terms. Better to describe it as the first textbook for any beginner.
The book focuses on the genetic makeup of living organisms and the characteristics it imparts to the next generation. The color of the eye, the height of a person, health, and longevity are some of the features that are passed from parents to offspring. All this has been tracked down in details.
The book answers questions like what is DNA, how it works, how the DNA of different people is varying, it’s effect on health, how personal genomics can help in improving health conditions, and so on. For a better understanding of genetics and looking into your own DNA, this guide can be referred to.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- A very simple, comprehensive, and lucid style of writing
- Easy to understand and non-technical words used
- Great start for learners with no previous knowledge of genetics
- Short and precise text with positive reviews by many readers
- It is brief, cheap and provides the basic information
Level (best suitable for): Beginners
8. The Hope, Hype, and Reality of Genetic Engineering
The Hope, Hype and Reality of Genetic Engineering is a compilation of the advanced applications of genetic manipulation in agriculture, industry, medicine and the environment fields. The book focuses on the genetic manipulations in microbes, crops, animals, and Gene therapies for humans.
It includes case studies from different backgrounds such as genetic engineering of insulin and Bt-corn along with low phosphorus pigs and zebrafish biosensors development. Illustrative examples on genetically modified organisms such as round-up ready Soyabean and how salmonella genes block the action of glyphosphate along with agricultural methods of crop improvement.
Each chapter concludes at the personal assessment by the author. The technological aspects, hurdles, ethical issues have been addressed with feasibility. The author has intelligently conveyed the details and the challenges involved in engineering of genome of organisms.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- A comprehensive textbook that includes every aspect of genetic engineering
- Illustrative examples from different industries
- Description of key case studies in recent times
- Persuasive style of writing for clearing the concepts
- Recommended for intermediate to advanced learners working in industrial areas
Level (best suitable for): Intermediate to Advance
9. Genetic Engineering: Emerging Concepts and Technologies
Genetic Engineering: Emerging Concepts and Technologies is a thorough compilation of the genomic manipulation in organisms. The book is an overview of gene modification and the change in genetic traits. It is an intriguing textbook with key specialization in methods. One of the best books on genetic engineering.
The book includes several techniques that are used for changing the genome, isolate the gene, gene targeting and regeneration, and much more. It also lays focus on the applications of these techniques in several fields such as industrial biotechnology, medicine, agriculture, and more.
Since the field is expected to grow in the upcoming years, this book will help in guiding the readers to understand the modern concepts and applications of the subject. Several case studies and examples are used for clearing the difficult concepts of engineering a gene while keeping it as informative as possible.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- It includes details on techniques in a very lucid way
- Clear-cut sections for easy navigation
- A comprehensive text and easy language used for understanding
- This includes the applications in brief
- The latest case studies and examples are given to understand the techniques
- Recommended for intermediate and advanced learners working in industrial fields
Level (best suitable for): Intermediate to Advance
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10. Replicating and Repairing the Genome
Replicating and Repairing the Genome is a concise compilation of the fields of DNA replication and repair. It includes a detailed description of methods of manipulating DNA and repairing it. It provides simple concept descriptions of the pathways, functioning, and biochemical mechanisms in an organism.
It is written extensively with lots of diagrams and figures are incorporated with it for visualization of ideas. A precise number of experiments and its applications in the various fields are also written down lucidly.
The vital topic such as DNA replication, bacterial systems, virus systems, proteins, genes, eukaryotic systems is written down in detail. A separate section is dedicated to the DNA repair process, applications, repair of mismatches, excision repair, DNA break repair, and DNA damage tolerance.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- The topics included are very relevant for brushing up the genetic engineering basics
- Very conceptual descriptions on related topics
- Illustrative diagrams for concept visualization
- Comprehensive, simple text and easy language used
- Recommended for a molecular biologist, biotechnologists, biochemists belonging to intermediate levels
Level (best suitable for): Intermediate
11. Genetic Engineering Dream or Nightmare
Genetic Engineering Dream or Nightmare is an interesting Book that has included an in-depth discussion on the controversial issue of genetic engineering. The book is very detailed and exposes the science behind genetic engineering technology in a persuasive style of writing.
The book is about the social and political implications associated with this new and latest science technology. It pins points towards the countless benefits availed in the past, the present and mostly in the future. It also talks about the serious hazards that are inherent in this method but are predominantly looked over by regulators and practitioners.
Overall the book is about the comprehensive scientific findings and their implications on social, economic, and ethical issues. With the help of case studies and examples, the author has tried to validate the strong assumptions made.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- A brief overview of genetic engineering as a field of study
- The present and future perspectives are considered
- Personal experience of authors included as narration
- A lucid, persuasive style of writing to keep reader engaged
- Simple text and to the point format for easy understanding
Level (best suitable for): Beginner to Intermediate
12. GMO Myths & Truths
GMO Myths & Truths is a compilation of the recently developed genetically modified (GMO) crops and food. This book provides a collective overview of both the good and the bad side associated with GM crops and food technology. The book is clearly divided into different chapters.
It focuses on the various genome editing techniques which are critical for the food and agriculture industry. It also explains how and why these methods of genetic modifications are important. It explains the health risks it poses and the environmental effects of transgenic food. Since the GMO crops are overtly debated, this book helps in aligning your own thoughts.
The chapter summaries are efficient for a quick read. The book reflects how conventional breeding methods in various countries contribute to higher yields, better nutrition, and environmental tolerance.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- GMO is an application of genetic engineering and hence critically important
- A comprehensive text and easy to understand language
- Precise and to the point information provided
- Methodologies, techniques, and concepts are written down descriptively
- Examples and case studies are provided for a better understanding
- Recommended for advanced learners belonging to the field of biotechnology
Level (best suitable for): Advanced
Genetic manipulations are taking the science world by storm. It is the burning area for research and development. In this article, we have discussed the 12 best genetic engineering books that would help you tremendously in excelling this field.
Some books mentioned above are for beginners with rudimentary knowledge about the subject. A few books are specially written for a specific group of people, those belonging to industrial science areas.
Each textbook is unique in its own way. Pick any that fits well with your requirements. Some books are both heavily informative and cheap. There are books with online resources and some with extensive, illustrated pictures.
