Biotechnology for Beginners

Biotechnology for Beginners is a gloriously unorthodox textbook. Orthodox textbooks concentrate on “the facts” without giving much thought about making the facts interesting. Students should just learn them. Biotechnology for Beginners takes a different approach. By making the material exciting and engaging, the students will want to understand the “facts.” Graphics are the cornerstone to this approach. The graphics (mostly color) are luxurious and used liberally (typically 3–5 per page). Line drawings, three dimensional figures, and illustrations that reach the level of art draw students into the material and aid in its comprehension. The illustrations of “bacteria and fungi” and the “tree of life” (among others) could be framed and displayed in any office or laboratory. Biochemical pathways are illustrated by line drawings and “stick-and-ball” representations; corresponding enzymes appear as three dimensional structures. Pictures of the scientists behind the concepts and their stories humanize the subject for students and generate enthusiasm for the scientific process. Visual learners will be ecstatic. The chapters (see below) are supplemented by boxed material and end with eight questions that help students hone their critical thinking skills.