Bioinformatics For Dummies 2nd Edition

I am a couple years into a PhD in bioinformatics, but this is the book I started with. I knew some biology and some computer science, but I still found a lot of the databases, etc. confusing and the field has a decided lack of simplified documentation (though it is getting better).Of course, bioinformatics is a pretty broad topic and no book could possibly cover everything.If you do not know any biology at all you probably should also get a basic text on genetics/molecular biology (or read thema at the NCBI web site books section for free). You don't need anything in depth to read the dummies book, just at the level of an introductory biology book. Hint: DNA to RNA, RNA to Protein. And you want to know why proteins are similar because proteins with similar amino acid sequences often have similar chemical properties and therefore similar functions, so if you know what one protein does you can guess what a protein like it probably does.:-)And despite the name of the book the authors are REAL bioinformaticists (T-Coffee rocks!)

The content of the book is fine, it is an easy to read beginners introduction to the basic tools of the trade. However, the content is already hopelessly out of date. All online resources referenced in the book have had SIGNIFICANT modifications to their user interface, making the screenshots and detailed step-by-step instructions more confusing than helpful. Not sure there is a practical way around that difficulty. With a bit of understanding how these databases work and what you are actually trying to do you can figure it out.

I'm SO pleased with this book. I've done some bioinformatics (classes and workshops), but this book really helped me get a grasp on the things I was missing. There's a lot of info and tutorial styles writing in it. They use a few examples all throughout the book and you can easily follow along or use your own information. I'm a mid level user who wants to do more, and this has given me lots of ideas I didn't know were out there. This field moves so fast, that it's nice to get a quick start. I highly recommend this book.

I am a molecular biologist who is familiar with many parts covered in the book but wanted a more conprehensive, easy to understand, overview of bioinformatics. I loved reading this book and have asked my research student to read it as well.

I like this product. It helped me refresh for my oral comprehensives when my committee asked me about the bioinformatics component of my research. Language is very down-to-earth. This would make a good book for high school students or even freshman-level bioinformatic courses. Very basic...like a "Cliff's Notes" version of bioinformatics, but still a good resource for "dummies" like me that need things explained on a basic level.

Incredible information. Big help for a masters student!

I bought this for a class and the guide itself is great if you want a real short introduction to things like multi-sequence alignments and navigating around NCBI but that's about all. Poor job getting any new bioinformatics person into the realm of programming (especially in Python). I suppose it's a starting point for anyone who knows nothing about the world of bioinformatics but you will definitely want to buy other guides to complement it.

As a Phd student in biology, this book offers great reference for bioinformatics in a clear and smooth manner. it explains briefly the concept behind few notions and then shows you how to search, interpret the data you receive. no previous knowledge of bioinformatics is necessary to have this book. the only problem is that several websites either change/close their website or change the application format and it becomes hard to follow the book instructions. however it is a very important tool for researchers.