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Understanding Genetics: DNA, Genes, and Their Real-World Applications  By  cover art

Understanding Genetics: DNA, Genes, and Their Real-World Applications

By: David Sadava, The Great Courses
Narrated by: David Sadava
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Publisher's summary

We use DNA routinely - to cure diseases, solve crimes, and reunite families. Yet we've known about it for only 60 years. And what we're continuing to learn about it every day has the potential to transform our health, our nutrition, our society, and our future.

But what, exactly, is DNA, the self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms? You'll learn the answer - and much more - in this briskly paced series of 24 easily understood lectures from an award-winning teacher, author, and scientist. Professor Sadava unlocks DNA's mysteries as he explains what the science of genetics is and guides you through decades of cutting-edge research, scientific discovery, and genetics' weighty implications for us as individuals and as a society. Professor Sadava draws on examples from his own research to show how understanding genetics allows us to improve medical treatment and nutrition, vastly improving our health and quality of life.

You'll also learn how understanding genetics is a critical step toward understanding human identity, itself. For examining our DNA - how it works and what happens when something goes wrong - enables us to see the roots of how our bodies work, why we get sick, and how traits are passed through families.

Enjoy this rare opportunity to peer over the shoulder of a working scientist, learning how he puzzles through the problems of genetics to find meaningful, real-world solutions that can not only save an individual life but also enhance the quality of life for everyone.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2008 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2008 The Great Courses

What listeners say about Understanding Genetics: DNA, Genes, and Their Real-World Applications

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“ The DNA double helix, discovered in 1953, is...

“ The DNA double helix, discovered in 1953, is one of the great icons of science in our society, rivaling the atom in its pervasiveness in our culture. ”

These 24 half hour lectures given by Professor David E. Sadava retired from Claremont McKenna College and City of Hope Medical Center in Duarte, California were very engaging and eye opening to me. I never attended college so this year as part of my audible membership I have decided to buy several of the Great Courses programs they offer. This was the first of my new subscription and I can tell I am already getting my credits worth!

Prof. Sadava explains DNA, genes and chromosomes so a layperson like me can understand them. He also helps us to understand how the knowledge of how they work will enrich life here on planet earth.


24 Lectures

1 Our Inheritance

2 Mendel and Genes

3 Genes and Chromosomes

4 The Search for the Gene—DNA

5 DNA Structure and Replication

6 DNA Expression in Proteins

7 Genes, Enzymes, and Metabolism

8 From DNA to Protein

9 Genomes

10 Manipulating Genes—Recombinant DNA

11 Isolating Genes and DNA

12 Biotechnology—Genetic Engineering

13 Biotechnology and the Environment

14 Manipulating DNA by PCR and Other Methods

15 DNA in Identification—Forensics

16 DNA and Evolution

17 DNA and Human Evolution

18 Molecular Medicine—Genetic Screening

19 Molecular Medicine—The Immune System

20 Molecular Medicine—Cancer

21 Molecular Medicine—Gene Therapy

22 Molecular Medicine—Cloning and Stem Cells

23 Genetics and Agriculture

24 Biotechnology and Agriculture

My favorite lectures were the medical ones where he explained the different ways genetics can help us either control diseases, eliminate diseases and cure disease. He also explained how many diseases are not caused by a single gene but by many so that it isn't as simple as replacing one gene and you are cured.

The PKU screening test done on all infants is a form of molecular dna testing. If your child tests positive you can keep the harmful effects in check by limiting protein in their food of a certain amino acid that builds up and could cause mental retardation. This test has been going on for at least 50 years.

Professor Sadava does warn of the careful testing that needs to be done before rushing a product to market. Let's say you create a wheat seed that grows faster and has additional fiber added into it's genetic structure. Sounds good, right? However, what if by doing this it creates an allergy in 50 per cent of the population to wheat? Then it's properties are no longer worthwhile or profitable. He used as an example a case of early gene therapy in a boy with cancer that they tried to change his cancer cells into healthy cells but instead of curing the boy the bodies white blood cells fought back and killed him because they could not recognize the new cells.

This is a great series of lectures given by an energetic and informative man for anyone interested in science and medicine. I know I learned a lot from it.

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49 people found this helpful

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Very good book on genetics

I thought that this was a very good book on genetics and how this field of science is being applied in the real world. The material is presented in a way that the average listener can understand and grasp. The delivery of the lectures are very well done. You will learn the basics about genetics and develop a working vocabulary. The author and in this case the professor / narrator starts each lecture with a very interesting story that sets the stage for the content of the lecture. If you have any interest in learning the basics about genetics, then I highly recommend this audio book. The Great Courses usually do a great job at providing content. This is a good book for high school students or above. It is a very interesting and enjoyable course.

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33 people found this helpful

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Great introduction to genetics

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend this to anybody who is curious about genetics. This is a great introduction to the short history and slightly technical side of genetics in layman's terms. David Sadava keeps the course engaging with a memorable story at the start of each lecture and briefly tells the story of all the important contributors (Mendel, Darwin, the guys who first thought of the double helix etc.). He explains the significance and relevance of each topic to today's society (forensics, agriculture, ethics, disease & medicine). This course has made me realise the vast practical applications of genetics. Being from a science background but never having gotten around to studying biology, the knowledge I've taken from this course will be invaluable. I can now read otherwise intimidating texts on the subject now that I am familiar with the basic terms and concepts.

What other book might you compare Understanding Genetics: DNA, Genes, and Their Real-World Applications to and why?

I think if you are serious about understanding the material, the DVD version, having diagrams, would make things much easier (although it is significantly pricier). As with all sciences some concepts cannot be explained easily without a diagram. I would recommend taking notes throughout the course and looking up key concepts online for relevant graphs (e.g. punnet squares), diagrams and illustrations (DNA double helix, molecular structures, cell diagrams etc.).

Which character – as performed by Professor David Sadava – was your favorite?

Mendel - the father of modern genetics. Another great contributor who wasn't appreciated during his lifetime!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Silly question.

Any additional comments?

Sadava is a good lecturer. He is very listenable and has friendly tone reminds me of Jerry Seinfeld at times.

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19 people found this helpful

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  • gc
  • 11-10-14

Fascinating Subject - Prof Could be Better

I read many science books but somehow missed the field of genetics. This book definitely filled that desire to learn the basics of the subject, although visual aids would have helped me understand it faster. I also found that I repeated certain chapters to ensure I understood the concept better. The Prof was engaging and enthusiastic, but he had a tendency to repeat useless info while not explaining some basic science concepts thoroughly enough. I tended to lose focus due to his repetitive obsession to give an acronym and then have to explain what it means while saying he won't do it again - but then does. Despite that, he presented a broad base and logical development to the subject by explaining the history of genetic discoveries and then biotechnology applications in cancer and agriculture. Overall, the subject was so fascinating that I must admit that I enjoyed it, but the Prof lost me many times. This may be my ignorance of the subject, but if I am evaluating the experience I have to give it an average rating -since the subject is the subject. I have listened to 4 or 5 Great Courses and this Prof was the most difficult to follow.

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10 people found this helpful

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Not what I expected

I thought this book would be more of a lecture on the basics of genetics. This book is filled with history and stories with unnecessary details. It's distracting for me and feels like a waste of time. If you're looking for a book filled with history as well as real-world applications, it is a good book for you! The real-world applications are interesting, but I wish there were less of them.

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7 people found this helpful

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  • TJ
  • 10-10-15

Boring.

Lectures are nothing more than a popular overview of genetics. We've heard it all on the radio and have seen it on the Web. There is a lack of specific real-life examples and details. Author withholds his personal opinion/experience. Instead, we get a standard "science is great; why worry about anything else" attitude.

In five minutes, anyone can get the same knowledge from Wikipedia, or elsewhere online, while it takes hours to get through the book. Other Biology lectures here are much better and have more info about genetics and biology overall.

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Interesting lectures on biotechnology

Where does Understanding Genetics: DNA, Genes, and Their Real-World Applications rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is probably my favorite non-fiction audiobook so far.

What did you like best about this story?

The content is very relevant to our lives and is pretty up to date on modern biotechnology. The beginning had a great review of genetics before jumping into the biotechnology lectures.

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Very understandable series on genetics

Wonderful series that explains what genetics is, how we can use it, and pros vs cons in gene technology. Could be made better if updated for todays advancements (this was made about a decade ago), however there isn't much to gripe about with this production. This lecture series is broken up into 24 easily digestible chunks of about 30-45 minutes.The narrator is a very experienced professor and reminiscent of Dr. Michio Kaku. Listened all the way through and will definitely listen to it again.

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Listen a few times

I recommend listening to it a few times. There is a lot of good info that can go over your head at first on the first listen.

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Dilivery is intended to teach not preach

Loved it. Dilivery is intended to teach not preach, a difficult subject made easy to understand . Excellent teacher... I will listen to more of his courses.

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4 people found this helpful