Genomics in Endocrinology: DNA Microarray Analysis in Endocrine Health and Disease

Genomics in Endocrinology focuses on exciting new advances in endocrinology resulting from DNA microarray studies and includes a comprehensive introduction to the use of DNA microarrays in endocrinology. The text provides the basis for further understanding of the usefulness of microarray analyses in endocrinology research. Topics discussed include the methodology of DNA microarrays and general methods for the analysis of microarray data.

In recent years, the development of new technologies capable of monitoring genome function has resulted in fewer hopeful estimates and increasingly solid depictions of genome output from individual samples. Genomics in Endocrinology focuses on exciting new advances in endocrinology resulting from DNA microarray studies and includes a comprehensive introduction to the use of DNA microarrays in endocrinology. The volume provides the basis for further understanding of the usefulness of microarray analyses in endocrinology research. Topics discussed are the methodology of DNA microarrays and general methods for the analysis of microarray data, as well as studies of a wide variety of normal and abnormal endocrine cells.

In the introductory chapter, the volume’s editors describe several issues in hypothesis formulation, experimental design, data analysis, and follow-up studies that may corroborate, validate, and extend hypotheses gained through microarray analyses. The contributed chapters span a variety of applications that we have divided into the areas of (1) genomic insights into molecular mechanisms responsible for hormone action, (2) genomic characterizations of endocrine producing tissues, and (3) genomic manifestations of diseases of hormonal systems.

A volume on the cutting-edge of technology, Genomics in Endocrinology will provide researchers with an authoritative volume on the most recent advances in monitoring genome function.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Gene C Webb, Ph.D.(University of Chicago)
Description:This book is intended to introduce endocrinologists to the field of genomic analysis including both wet-bench and downstream analysis/interpretation. The work is nicely broken into application areas by field of endocrinology and therefore presents the material in a way that should be interesting to readers and applicable to their particular questions.
Purpose:This is a needed and worthwhile addition to the current bibliography. The material is presented at a level that is accessible to investigators considering entering the field, but has enough advanced topics to prove worthwhile to current principal investigators and trainees in this area. It includes discussions of the basic biochemistry of various genomic techniques and computer algorithms and informatics tools.
Audience:The material is presented across several levels and therefore different portions should be of use to trainees, starting at the graduate level, through experienced principal investigators.
Features:The book covers genomic analysis of hormone responsive tissues/organs, endocrine tissue, and disease states of both of these. Additional, helpful introductory material on genomic technology is included.
Assessment:The book compares relatively well with the large bibliography of genomics both in journals and books. It is, however, somewhat uneven in structure with some chapters appearing to be in journal/research manuscript form, while most are appropriately configured for book format. Overall, this should prove a good addition to the canon.