Reddit reviews Molecular Biology of the Cell (Sixth Edition)

Due to non-existent biology background, you could start by reading Campbell Biology and Alberts Molecular Biology of the Cell.

Campell Biology is generally the number one go to for intro bio. My AP class, and intro class in college used it.

https://www.amazon.com/Campbell-Biology-10th-Jane-Reece/dp/0321775651

For more molecular stuff, molecular biology of the cell is fairly popular:

https://www.amazon.com/Molecular-Biology-Cell-Bruce-Alberts/dp/0815344325/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=D9ZRY4BKB4ECZ2PMQRRJ

You're already on the right track getting started with Python, it is the most popular language currently. I would also highly recommend getting experience working in a linux environment, so either macOS or Linux, and getting comfortable working through the terminal. To round off your computational skills, I think that R would be a very good second language to learn. I'm currently using R more than Python for my work, it's much better to use when performing statistical analysis.

You should also try and get a good understanding of the biology behind the data you'll be working with. I think that THIS BOOK does a very good job at covering most concepts you're like to encounter in the field. It's what much of the biology portion of my graduate program was based upon.

Google around, find websites for university degree programs in biology, biochemistry, genetics, etc., and mine the syllabi for textbooks that are used. That would probably give you a decent seed list.

Read popular books for lay-people on biohacking and related topics, like Biopunk, Frankenstein's Cat, Regenesis, Life at the Speed of Light, A Crack in Creation, etc., and then use Google / Wikipedia to drill down on the topics you find discussed there.

One other book that has been recommended to me by actual experts from our local biohacking group is Molecular Biology of the Cell

Also.. It's fully possible for humans to create a mix that stops aging in whatever age someone is in? In theory?

I don't think anybody knows the answer to that yet.

I would start with a basic biology book like Campbell's Biology. It will hit the basic level for most topics in biology, give a base knowledge of the biochemistry and metabolism as well as an overview. For systems, depending on what specifically you're interested in, I would start with The Molecular Biology of the Cell by Alberts and Johnson. It will give you a really good overview of cell biology and cell signaling. I know a lot of systems people are working on cell signaling and pathway modeling. Is there something specifically that you're interested in? I may be able to recommend more specific books for you.

> biologically pre-disposed (for lack of a better phrase) to be good candidates for therapies like cbt and dbt?

Basically, yes. It appears the majority of people it is very helpful. However, some people do not respond at all. There (currently) appears to be no rhyme or reason behind that. But we (more or less) know there is no physiological reason (fMRI or something can't tell us someone wont respond).

>Could you suggest an introductory text for someone with a basic understanding of the brain?

Honestly, not really. I don't pick the textbooks the undergrads/1st years read :P Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry is good for getting a firm footing for the biochemical pathways and such.
Basic Clinical Neuroscience is a good foundation textbook, but I can't remember how much biochem you need to understand it. Molecular Biology of the Cell is another good intro text to molecular biology, if that's what you're in to.
I've been a research assistant, not a teaching assistant for the past decade (oh my god, I'm old lol).

edit: Also if you didn't see it before, see also the edit in my previous post.

Read this and get back to me.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0815344325/ref=dp_ob_neva_mobile

Best book ever on the subject.

I kept them (the engineering ones at least). At great personal cost though.

Every now and then I hit one or two of the key upper level books specially within heat transfer, fluids, thermo, and process design. I even had to break out a math book once or twice. But, I work a design job where such references will pop up. If I was running a process or running a plant I doubt I would have had the need.

Also, your text books aren't worth NEARLY what you think they are... new editions pop up all the times, and even a year or two will render their value on the market to "pretty low" despite the content of course being super useful.

Anyways... I kept mine, and my wife made me build a large built in bookshelf to house them and then put me on a book in/book out diet because I have so many god damn books. I actually have two degrees (Biochemistry too) and I had all my biochem books. Even though I have ZERO need for them, getting rid of MOST of them was REALLY hard, despite the information not even being accurate anymore (degree was in 2003).

Now my Lehninger's Biochemistry book (https://www.amazon.com/Lehninger-Principles-Biochemistry-David-Nelson/dp/1464126119/) and Albert's The Cell (https://www.amazon.com/Molecular-Biology-Sixth-Bruce-Alberts/dp/0815344325/) are used as "rug flatteners" for our area rugs because they are so heavy.

She's a vet... and one of the first things she did was part with all her vet books except for a few.

For which one? CRISPR? Well you won't be able to understand the details until you have a good grasp of molecular biology. But molecular biology itself is a huge area. I would like to give you recommendations but it's really hard with your interests so broad.

It is like asking for book recommendations on Linear Algebra: there are tons and some focus on numerical methods, others on eigenvalues, others on decomposition methods like SVD, others on applications in machine learning, etc.

Maybe start with something like this:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0815344325/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1/187-9306447-5023949?pf_rd_m=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_r=0A3FAK9C4CRAFZQTEQ4H&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1977604502&pf_rd_i=0815341059

or this

https://www.amazon.com/Molecular-Biology-Robert-Weaver/dp/0073525324/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1479421339&sr=8-2&keywords=Molecular+Biology%3A+Robert+Weaver

for molecular biology.

For introductory genetics, pretty much any undergraduate level biology or biochemistry textbook will help you understand the basics of transcription, translation, genes, heredity, etc. Once you have a thorough understanding of what a gene is, what a regulatory region is, what epigenetics is, what types of mutations occur etc. then you'll have a good idea of which specific questions to ask to explore a certain topic in more detail.

I would also spend time on the wikipedia pages and other sources reading about the different sequencing methods that are central to genetics. Look up Sanger sequencing and explore some of the next-generation-sequencing (NGS) techniques now available. Fully understanding these will also require knowledge of biochemistry, such as phosphodiester bonds, and basic biology techniques and physics such as electrophoresis and fluorescence.

Understanding and diving into CRISPR, genetic engineering, synthetic biology, etc. will require a thorough understanding of the above, and then more detailed knowledge on gene expression, how it is manipulated, about things like plasmids, retroviruses and their molecular machinery, etc.

Then there are people who develop algorithms for bioinformatics that probably know little to none of the above and don't need to for their day to day work; the answer is in general "it depends".

Biology is nothing without chemistry so you need to know the basics of chemistry as well. My favourite book is the Color Atlas of Biochemistry by Jan Koolman, K. Rohm.

Another very useful book is Biochemistry (Lippincott Illustrated Reviews Series) by R. Harvey.

Many past participants recommend the Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, however, this book may be too detailed for olympiads.

GENETICS TEXTBOOKS|

Genetics: Analysis and Principles (WCB Cell & Molecular Biology) by Brooker presents an experimental approach to understanding genetics and what I like most is that there are plenty of problems with explanations and answers. Another good textbook for genetics is Genetics: From Genes to Genomes, 5th edition by Hartwell. Genetics: From Genes to Genomes is a cutting-edge, introductory genetics text authored by an unparalleled author team, including Nobel Prize winner, Leland Hartwell.

GENERAL BIOLOGY TEXTBOOKS|

It is not a secret that the Bible of Biology is Campbell Biology (11th Edition). It is a good book and it covers all fundamental biology topics, nevertheless, some topics are discussed only concisely so some good books in addition to Campbell’s could come in handy.

HUMAN ANATOMY |TEXTBOOKS

For human body anatomy and physiology great books are Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach (7th Edition) by Dee Unglaub Silverthorn or  Vander’s Human Physiology. 

MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY|TEXTBOOKS

My top choice for molecular biology is Molecular Biology of the Cell by Bruce Alberts, et al. This is book is a big one, a hard one, an interesting one, a useful one. From my point of view, current and upcoming IBOs are focusing on molecular and cell biology because these fields are developing so rapidly and thus these branches of biology are perfect source for olympiad problems. So try to read it and understand it. If you want something cheaper than Alberts but equally useful, try Molecular Biology of the Cell, Fifth Edition: The Problems Book

PLANT BIOLOGY|TEXTBOOKS

Many past biology olympiad questions contain quite a lot of problems about plant anatomy and physiology. Thus, I suggest to read Stern’s Introductory Plant Biology.  Another amazing book for plant biology is Biology of Plants by Peter H. Raven, Ray F. Evert, Susan E. Eichhorn.

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TEXTBOOKS FOR AND PROBLEM SOLVING|TECHNIQUES

Science competitions test a student’s level of knowledge, power of scientific reasoning, and analytical thinking outside of the regular school curriculum. A systematic approach and smart study regimen are both required to get good results in science competitions. This is where my book How To Prepare for the Biology Olympiad And Science Competitions by Martyna Petrulyte comes into the picture.