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A Genetic Switch, Third Edition: Phage Lambda Revisited
The first edition of Mark Ptashne's 1986 book describing the principles of gene regulation in phage lambda became a classic in both content and form, setting a standard of clarity and precise prose that has rarely been bettered. This edition is a reprint of the original text, together with a new chapter updating the story to 2004. Among the striking new developments are recent findings on long-range interactions between proteins bound to widely separated sites on the phage genome, and a detailed description of how gene activation works.
154 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 19, 2015
A detailed look at gene regulation in the simplest of model organisms, a virus which infects the E. Coli bacterium. Its 2,000 base pair genome is simple enough that it can be understood in its entirety.
Two anecdotes:
- The width of an alpha helix is just right to fit inside the major groove of the DNA double helix. This facilitates proteins binding specifically to DNA sequences and modifying their behavior. Whether this is an essential feature in the evolution of proteins and DNA is unclear.
- There are two proteins which are encoded back-to-back in the Lambda genome. The second one "eats" (chemically decomposes) the first. So the first protein is inactive... unless a third protein binds to the DNA in between them and blocks transcription of the second. In this way the usual "more transcription"="more protein" behavior is reversed.
If you want to make a comparison between genetics and programming, the closest analogue has to be code golf. This stuff would never pass a code review.
Two anecdotes:
- The width of an alpha helix is just right to fit inside the major groove of the DNA double helix. This facilitates proteins binding specifically to DNA sequences and modifying their behavior. Whether this is an essential feature in the evolution of proteins and DNA is unclear.
- There are two proteins which are encoded back-to-back in the Lambda genome. The second one "eats" (chemically decomposes) the first. So the first protein is inactive... unless a third protein binds to the DNA in between them and blocks transcription of the second. In this way the usual "more transcription"="more protein" behavior is reversed.
If you want to make a comparison between genetics and programming, the closest analogue has to be code golf. This stuff would never pass a code review.
January 6, 2021
In contrast to those bulky molecular biology textbooks that scare people away, this small and compact book uses the world's simplest organism (i.e., the bacteriophage) to demonstrate the molecular biology of gene regulation and how people use traditional (but smart) genetics and biochemistry to get the answers.
However, most of the book's discussions are from a reductionist point of view (i.e., breaking down the genetic switch and examining each individual component). I did not find systems-level discussions about the switch (like in the context of dynamical systems).
But after all, this is a friendly introductory book for people who are not familiar with molecular biology.
However, most of the book's discussions are from a reductionist point of view (i.e., breaking down the genetic switch and examining each individual component). I did not find systems-level discussions about the switch (like in the context of dynamical systems).
But after all, this is a friendly introductory book for people who are not familiar with molecular biology.
March 25, 2020
GENETIC SWITCHES
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December 23, 2020Science is pretty cool. Although could I not just hand in this book, instead of writing an essay on it?
December 18, 2015
A model for well-written scientific books
This classic text explains the structure and function of an epigenetic switch employed by the incredibly simple genome of a common virus.
It reads like a code review of an ingenious piece of software. It starts with a high level overview and iterates to reveal more detail. Every detail is then traced back to an actual reproducible experiment. So at the end we don't only know how the phage works, but also how we know it.
The Kindle version does have a few typesetting problems that interfere mildly with comprehension of the material.
This classic text explains the structure and function of an epigenetic switch employed by the incredibly simple genome of a common virus.
It reads like a code review of an ingenious piece of software. It starts with a high level overview and iterates to reveal more detail. Every detail is then traced back to an actual reproducible experiment. So at the end we don't only know how the phage works, but also how we know it.
The Kindle version does have a few typesetting problems that interfere mildly with comprehension of the material.
February 16, 2016
Great for understanding the genetics and molecules switches which phage insert into the host genome, great read for nerds :)
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews