Developing Bioinformatics Computer Skills

Cynthia Gibas, Per Jambeck

List Price: $34.95

Paperback: 442 pages

Publisher: O'Reilly & Associates; 1st edition (April 15, 2001)

ISBN: 1565926641

This is the bioinformatics book that Jim likes.  It discusses databases and search engines and it includes a primer on the operating systems and languages that someone in bioinformatics should at least develop a rudimentary knowledge in:  Unix and Linux (for those of us who converted to Windows or Mac and didn’t look back) and Perl.  The book includes specifics on the major current biological databases and common sequence search techniques, and it also covers a bit of proteomics and microassays.  Jim is considering this as a text to accompany a bioinformatics course.  JdK

Beginning Perl for Bioinformatics
James Tisdall

List Price: $39.95

Paperback: 400 pages

Publisher: O'Reilly & Associates; 1st edition (October 15, 2001)

ISBN: 0596000804

The author wrote this book for biologists to get started programming for the field of bioinformatics.  It is written as a tutorial.  Biologists should also learn HTML, Linux (or Unix), a database like Access, and PERL for a programming language.  This book covers PERL and uses problems and exercises that focus on biological problems to teach the language.   JdK

As the Future Catches You: How Genomics & Other Forces Are Changing Your Life, Work, Health & Wealth

Juan Enriquez

List Price: $23.95

Hardcover: 272 pages

Publisher: Crown Publishing Group; (October 16, 2001)

ISBN: 0609609033

This is a quirky book suggested by UC Davis’ Stephanie Tatum Murphy.  It covers interesting topics and is worthwhile to see just for its interesting approach: It mixes sizes and typefaces to emphasize or de-emphasize points.  JdK