Molecular Biology of the Cell

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Summary: Molecular Biology - medical students need backup
Review: Molecular Biology of the Cell is written in a straightforward easy-to-read manner. The book is especially well up-to-date on many ascpects and, to my delight, connective tissue components are given enough space. This is your book if you're interested in molecular biology. A drawback from the point of view of a medical student is the lack of integration of metabolism to the organ level, let alone human body. Molecular Biology of the Cell sticks to its header by consistently leaving out topics such as - insulin regulation of blood glucose - ketone bodies - fasting (and ketone bodies) - CYP enzyme family (cytochrome P450) - pentose phosphate pathway/hexose monophosphate shunt/glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase - purine catabolism/xanthine oxidase/uric acid/gout

Clearly, if backed up with a texbook of biochemistry or physiology covering metabolism on a higher level, Molecular Biology of the Cell is an excellent choice, even for medical students.

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Summary: Best intro molecular/cell text out there.
Review: Well, considering that this book got me through a full year of molecular and cell biology as an undergraduate, I'm pretty fond of the book. Especially considering that the second half of the year was taught by two people who had never taught a class in their lives before. Reason for the five stars is that this is an INTRODUCTORY level textbook written about 7 years ago. Even considering that, it's thorough enough and comprehensive enough for an entire year. I wasn't expecting work done last year to be included and I wasn't expecting that it would delve into the intricate details of photosynthetic reaction centers or the latest in optical methods in single molecule dynamics. If you want that kind of detail, go to the journals or specialized texts. However, for those undergraduates undertaking a full year of MCB, I can't recommend this text highly enough. And if you're looking for prokaryotic information, I'd go pick up a copy of Prescott, Harley, and Klein's "Microbiology."

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Summary: A perfect introduction to the subject
Review: I will say that I had no trouble in reading and understanding this book. All subjects are nicely elaborated and picturized with detailed schematics or with electron microscopy pictures. Scanning electron pictures are the best but very minimal.All basic concepts are covered structure of cell, protein synthesis, DANA , cell structures,nerve cells, atp, etc. You may want to skip better books when it comes to biochemistry or developmental biology but this book gives smooth introduction all subjects and than you make your direction. Compared to book written by Karp, I prefer this one for wider coverage but Karp has some sections called "experimental pathways" that open your vision to latest developments.

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Summary: Comprehensive and useful
Review: Most people, when commenting about this book, tend to compare it to Lodish's Molecular Cell Biology. I own both, and I must say that they are quite similar in their content but different in the way of explaining concepts. Although Lodish's book is a little more up-to-date, it's just a matter of time until a new edition of MBoC is published. In fact, a great number of concepts are clearer in Molecular Biology of the Cell... and vice-versa. About the book, it is the authoritative text of molecular biology for beginners and a reference guide to all fields of cell biology. The chapters concerning the structure of the cell and of the organelles are amazing and include in-depth explanations. It also comprehends the best revision chapters on macromolecules compared to Lodish's. The team of authors was accurate to compose one of the best books in molecular biology for students of all biological and biomedical sciences.

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Summary: May be catagorised: "Antique"
Review: Ounce apon a time in the beginning of the 90's there was a great book: "Molecular Biology of the Cell". However, this very book missed the oppportunity to keep up with exponentiall growth of knowledge accumulated in this field. Indeed it lacks the fundamental information needed by every cell biology student and may only satisfy the needs of a AP biology class at High School.

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Summary: an outstanding book but somewhat outdated
Review: This book is the most comprehensive book of cell biology I have ever read. I think it is still better than Lodish's Molecular Cell Biology, even the 4th edition of the latter is updated. It helped me greatly in my preparation for GRE Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Test (I received a score of 750, 98%). However, 7 years have passed since this edition and many progresses in cell biology have been made in these years and a new edition is needed. It is said on Medscape Bookstore that the 4th edition of Molecular Biology of the Cell is due to be published in 2002-04 and now I am waiting for it.

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Summary: [....]
Review: The Alberts text is the definitive resource for anyone interested in the subject. It is also useful for people who's parents coerced them into majoring in biochemistry. The details are plentiful and well-explained. The diagrams are clear and generally easy to understand. In the end, the mark of a truly exceptional textbook is how dumb you feel upon having read it. Based on this, Bruce Alberts has co-authored arguably the finest molecular cell biology ever produced in that it made me realize exactly how dim I really am. [....]

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Summary: my bible
Review: My prof recommended this great book for the A GRE in Biochemistry and cell bio. I've learnt so much from it that its my bible.Its great to study from and makes a great read. Excellent book. The chapters on genetics and cancer are very well written.

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Summary: An exceptional book!
Review: We used it as a textbook for our cell bioloogy course at the Copenhagen Medical School, and I guess we all loved it! This is a book that tells an important story, and takes the necessary time and space to do just that.

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Summary: Cellbiology Bible
Review: It's my biobible, single most usefull textbook on myself (and I have A LOT of books on my shelf) I just wish they'd hurry up with a fourth edition because this one is getting outdated.