Letter from the Author

I still remember the excitement I felt when I took my first genetics course. I was intrigued by the principles of heredity, which allow one to predict what offspring will look like even before they are born. I was fascinated to learn that these principles have their foundation in the chemistry of an elegant molecule called DNA. And I was captivated to find that genetics underlies the process of evolution, which is responsible for the endless diversity and beauty of life. These elements of genetics still impress and excite me today. One of the great things about teaching genetics is the chance to convey that excitement to students.

Twenty-three years ago, I set out to write a new genetics textbook. My vision was to create a book that conveys the excitement of genetics, that motivates students, and that focuses on concepts and problem solving. Those were the original objectives of the first edition of Genetics: A Conceptual Approach and they remain the core features of this new fifth edition of the book.

In this book, I’ve tried to share some of what I’ve learned in my 33 years of teaching genetics. I provide advice and encouragement at places where students often have difficulty, and I tell stories of the people, places, and experiments of genetics—past and present—to keep the subject relevant, interesting, and alive. My goal is to help you learn the necessary details, concepts, and problem-solving skills, while encouraging you to see the elegance and beauty of the larger landscape.

At Southwestern University my office door is always open, and my students often drop by to share their own approaches to learning, things that they have read about genetics, and their experiences, concerns, and triumphs. I learn as much from my students as they learn from me, and I would love to learn from you by email pierceb@southwestern.edu, by telephone (512–863-1974), or in person (Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas).

Ben Pierce

Professor of Biology and

Holder of the Lillian Nelson Pratt Chair

Southwestern University