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Rating: 
Summary: Good book, but attack on special creation unneccessary
Review: I really liked the 6th edition of this text, which I used for both semesters of General Biology. The illustrations were clear and I think Mader had a clear grasp of the concepts of biology. However, as a molecular biology major and as a person who has seen no evidence that macroevolution has occurred, I object to her characterization of creationism as unscientific. Mader is bold enough to actually state in Chapter 1 (in a connecting concepts box)"When faith is involved, a hypothesis cannont be tested in a purely objective way." She neglects to consider the exorbinant amount of faith it takes to believe in macroevolution. This is a theory which in all actuality is untestable. Furthermore, her statement which was quoted above would be considered by many to be "bad science"! She makes no reference to any studies which support her hypothesis. And I don't believe I've ever heard of any. In the fields of genetics and molecular biology, as we come to understand the complexity of living organisms, the theory of evolution just becomes more and more untenable. It's fine if Dr. Mader believes in evolution. That's her choice. But to go out of her way to rip the growing number of scientists who disagree with her was gratuitous and mean-spirited. This caused me to question HER objectivity throughout the rest of the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Great for Indiependent Learning
Review: I used this text for a course that I took from Cal Berkeley Extension - online. That is an internet course. I am considering a career change from physical sciences to biotech and need to come up to speed rapidly.The course covered only the first 2 units (first 17 chapters) so I will only speak to that. This text, with CD ROM (2) and internet learning center is GREAT! Looking at the entire package this is a great way to learn biology. The material covered in those first 17 chapters are exactly what one needs to know - elementary biochem; cell structure; genetics; gene expression; biotech. The illustrations are great and consistent (eg., phosphate groups are always orange-yellow) throughout the text. Actually, I would say that it is about the best illustrated text I have ever seen in my life. The on-line quizes (about 64 questions/chapter) let you know if you have really mastered the material or not. Independent questions at the end of every chapter all have answers in the appendix - so again you can check your understanding. The web site has shockwave art match the parts of the cell to the labels all as part of a package to independently learn biology. I would say it would be helpful to have a year of college chemistry before plunging into this course - but the chemistry is not too sophisticated. The focus is on essentials - but with understanding. For people considering a switch into biology and want to study independently, I reccomend this book highly. I do not easily give 5 stars - but this book earns it.
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