"Bioinformatics is for the biologist who wants to learn more about the fundamentals of DNA sequence analysis.
An analogy for the target audience would be readers who want to know the components of an automobile that make
it go, rather than seeking information on how to drive from Tucson to Santa Fe, or on the physics of an internal
combustion engine. This audience is probably the largest and, until now, the most neglected �. The text [in Bioinformatics]
is well formatted and easily read, with many figures and tables. Color is used both effectively and densely. The
book is worth purchasing if only for the extensive bibliographies at the end of each chapter. Moreover, the quality
and level of explanation in each chapter is generally consistent, something that cannot be said for �compilation�
texts �. Bioinformatics is an excellent text for the biologist who wants to learn more about the field, and is
well worth exploring by the instructor looking to tackle his or her first bioinformatics course."
--Nature Genetics
CSHLP America Web Site, April, 2002
Summary
The application of computational methods to DNA and protein science is a new and exciting development in biology.
Bioinformatics: Sequence and Genome Analysis is a comprehensive introduction to this emerging field of study. The
book has many unique and valuable features:
It is written for any biologist who wants to understand methods of sequence and structure analysis and how
the necessary computer programs work
Sequence alignment, structure prediction, phylogenetic and gene prediction, database searching, and genome
analysis are clearly explained and amply illustrated
Underlying algorithms and assumptions are clearly explained for the non-specialist
Examples are presented in simple numerical terms rather than complex formulas and notation
Theoretical underpinnings are linked to biological problems and their solutions
Extensive tables provide descriptions and Web sources for a broad range of publicly available software
An associated Website (www.BioinformaticsOnline.org), accessible free of charge by book purchasers, provides
links to Internet sources referred to in the text, as well as problem sets for classroom use, and other useful
material not included in the text.
Based on the author's extensive experience as a molecular geneticist and bioinformaticist at the University of
Arizona, this is a uniquely educational book, ideal as a laboratory reference for investigators and also as teaching
reference for graduate and undergraduate students studying this fast-changing discipline.
Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter 1. Historical Introduction and Overview
Chapter 2. Collecting and Storing Sequences in the Laboratory
Chapter 3. Alignment of Pairs of Sequences
Chapter 4. Multiple Sequence Alignment
Chapter 5. Prediction of RNA Secondary Structure
Chapter 6. Phylogenetic Prediction
Chapter 7. Database Searching for Similar Sequences
Chapter 8. Gene Prediction
Chapter 9. Protein Classification and Structure Prediction
Chapter 10. Genome Analysis
Glossary
Index