In the first edition of Genome Stability: DNA Repair and Recombination, the author provides a detailed summary of the mechanisms behind DNA repair, facilitating genome maintenance, and cancer suppression. Although a novel and relevant text, the author circuitously navigates the reader through the world of DNA repair and recombination, occasionally making it difficult to follow the progression from one chapter to the next. That being said, this text is a very useful tool for understanding the complexity and importance of the process of recombination. Beginning with the stalled replication fork, the author addresses sources of DNA damage and the repair of double-strand breaks. Although the majority of this text discusses the importance and function of homologous recombination, non-homologous end-joining is briefly presented in Chapter 15. In addition to repair, there is also significant analysis of the role of recombination as it pertains to meiosis. Finally, the author makes interesting connections to therapeutic uses for homologous recombination, devoting an entire chapter to the understanding of gene targeting.
Genome Stability: DNA Repair and Recombination is targeted for a more advanced audience as it assumes a basic understanding of DNA replication and meiosis. Senior undergraduate students or graduate students would benefit from this text to improve their molecular understanding of recombination. It would also be a useful reference tool for research scientists and clinicians working in this field. This text is well written and provides useful schematics to help the reader get a better understanding of the molecular processes being described. Due to the advanced nature of this book, the text is a bit dense at times; however, this is often clarified by corresponding figures. Each chapter begins with a short introductory paragraph and concludes with a summary. At the end of each chapter, a list of suggested additional reading is provided for the reader to further his or her understanding of the subject being described. Overall, this text is a comprehensive exploration of the mechanisms involved in maintaining genome stability and is a useful resource for students and researchers alike.