Which Alberts book for Cell Biology?

[dr seuss]

My teacher gives us the option of using Molecular Biology of the Cell or Essential Cell Biology. I'm taking the class mainly to help with the MCAT so I was wondering which one would be better.

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[Katatonic]

I've only used Alberts but I love it, so I recommend that.

 

[dr seuss]

I wasn't clear in my first post, both of the texts are Alberts. Molecular Biology of the Cell is the big one and Essential Cell Biology is a condensed one specifically for undergrads.

 

[CarlATHF]

Maybe this will give you some insight into the detail of the books.

I took Cell Bio at my undergrad institution (Hopkins) and we used the gigantic (mol bio of the cell) Alberts book. It was a fantastic book, very informative and in-depth, and I would definitely recommend it to anybody who wants to gain a very specific understanding of molecules, interactions, and pathways in cells.

My roommate, who's Biomedical Engineering, used the smaller Alberts book in his "Molecules and Cells" class. He said they used it only so they could gain enough knowledge of the cell to begin applying mathematical formulae to them.

So in a sense, it's really up to you with how specific you want to go. As a Bio major, I just happened to love the gigantic Alberts book for its specificity.

 

[bodonid]

if you have to use Alberts, use big alberts.

But if you get the chance, Lodish et al's Molecular Cell Biology is much better, and is more up to date.

 

[dr seuss]

Thanks for your replies, I am probably going to get the big one.

 

[Law2Doc]

if you have to use Alberts, use big alberts.

I think you mean fat albert's.