Suggested Textbooks
The texts listed below should cover substantial amounts, but not all, of Level 2 BMS teaching. Beyond these stages, emphasis shifts to source material such as journal articles. Prices are given as guides only – shop around.
Core Texts
| Medical Physiology (2nd Edition) Boron, W and Boulpaep, E. Publ. Saunders. ISBN 978-0-80898-2360-2 (£60-65) An in-depth cellular and molecular approach to human physiology. We will come back to use this in many modules throughout Levels 1 and 2, and possibly 3. It will, therefore, look quite daunting to you now. |
| Either: Molecular Biology of the Cell (5th Edition). Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K. and Walters, P. Publ. Garland. ISBN 0815341067. (£60). Very scary this one as it costs, and has too much depth for Level 1 students, but it is almost the cell and molecular biology bible so will keep you going for 2-3 years. A lot of lecturers use images from this book (e.g. in BMS151), but note that you can find them free at the NCBI Bookshelf : current site (but Google search for NCBI Bookshelf if you find a broken link): |
| Or: Cell Biology. Pollard, T.D. and Earnshaw. Publ. W.C. Saunders. Updated Edition. 3rd Edition ISBN 978-1-4160-2255-8. Not as scary for Level 1 as Alberts, but may lack depth for Levels 2 and 3. Some cell biology lecturers use images from here. (£50-60). |
| And: Practical Skills in Biomolecular Sciences (3nd Edition). Reed, R., Holmes, D., Weyers, J. and Jones, A. Publ. Longman Press. ISBN 013239115 (£30). Referred to quite a lot in practical modules such as BMS154, but not an essential purchase. |
| And: Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain. (3rd Edition). Bear, M., Connors, B., Paradiso, M. Publ. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins. ISBN 0781760038 (£34). Handy for e.g. BMS224. |
| And: Principles of Development. (4th Ed.) Wolpert, L. And Tickle C.. Publ. Oxford University Press. 2011. 978-0-19-954907-8. Recommended for Level 1 and 2 developmental biology modules. (£37) |
| And: Basic Pathology: An Introduction to the Mechanisms of Disease. (4th Edition). Lakhani, S., Dilly, S., Finlayson, C. and Dogan, A. Publ. Hodder Arnold, 2009. ISBN 9780340950036. (£30) Really well written book that will be the basis for Level 1 pathology. |
| And: Pharmacology (7th Edition) Rang H. et al Publ. Churchill Livingstone 2012. ISBN 978-0-7020-3471-8. (£40.00) This book is used in Level 1 and 2. |
NB Blackwells Bookshop have in the past negotiated a special deal whereby if you purchase both Boron and Boulpaep and Rang’s books you receive a 10% discount!
Level 2+ books
In addition, students with a particular interest in Neuroscience should consider purchasing the following in preparation for Level 2:
| Building Brains: An Introduction to Neural Development. By Price, D.J., Jarman, A.P., Mason, J.O. and Kind, P.C. Publ. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-0-470-71229-0. Used for BMS270 and should be useful for BMS381. (£35) |
| Background: Brain Architecture, Understanding the Basic Plan by Swanson L.W. OUP. ISBN 0195105052. (£26). This is an excellent background reader for neuroscience ranging from simple nervous systems to Man, with a historical perspective. |
In addition, the following books are good for the human anatomy but check with Drs. Sahal and Linehan before buying
| Essential Clinical Anatomy, Moore, K.L. and Agur, A.M. Publ. Williams and Wilkins. 4th Ed. ISBN 9780781799157 (£50). |
| And: Colour Atlas of the Brain and Spinal cord. (2nd Edition). England, M and Wakeley, J. Publ. Mosby. ISBN 0323036678. (£40) |
In addition to the above core texts, the following books are good for the physiology and pharmacology done in Level 2:
Cell Signalling (3rd Edition) Hancock, J. Publ. OUP. ISBN 978-0-19-923210-9 (£29) A good reader for BMS215.