Rene Fester Kratz - Molecular and Cell Biology For Dummies

Molecular & Cell Biology For Dummies

Ren Fester Kratz, PhD

Molecular & Cell Biology For Dummies

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2009926359

ISBN: 978-0-470-43066-8

Manufactured in the United States of America

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About the Author

Ren Fester Kratz, PhD, grew up near the ocean in Rhode Island. From a young age, she wanted to be a teacher (because she loved her teachers at school) and a biologist (because her dad was one). She graduated from Warwick Veterans Memorial High School and then went on to major in biology at Boston University. As a freshman and sophomore at BU, Ren got excited by subjects other than biology and even considered changing her major. Then, she met and studied under Lynn Margulis, who reignited Rens love of biology and introduced her to the world of microbes. Ren graduated with a bachelors degree in Biology from BU and then went on to get a masters and a doctorate degree in botany from the University of Washington. At UW, Ren studied reproductive onset in Acetabularia acetabulum, a marine green alga that grows as single cells big enough to pick up with your fingers.

Ren currently teaches biology and general science classes at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. Ren spends most of her time introducing students to the wonders of cells and microbes as she teaches cellular biology and microbiology. Ren also has a strong interest in science education and science literacy for everyone. As a member of the North Cascades and Olympic Science Partnership, she helped create inquiry-based science courses for future teachers that are based on research on human learning. Ren loves teaching these courses because they make science accessible for all kinds of people. In the summer, Ren enjoys working with K12 teachers on the improvement of science education in the public schools. Ren also enjoys writing about science and is the author of Microbiology The Easy Way for Barrons Educational Press.

Ren loves living in the Pacific Northwest because she is near the ocean and her daffodils start blooming in February (when her family back East is still shoveling snow). She doesnt mind the rain and thinks the San Juan Islands are one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Her husband, two sons, and two very bad dogs help her remember what is truly important and her sisters help keep her sane. Ren loves to scrapbook, quilt, stitch, and read.

Dedication

To my husband, Dan, and my sons, Hueston and Dashiel. You are the center of my world.

To my mom, Annette. It may be corny, but you are the wind beneath my wings.

To my dad, James. I wanted to be a biologist because of you.

To Lynn: Thank you for inspiring a lifelong love of learning and microbes.

Authors Acknowledgments

Thanks to Matt Wagner of Fresh Books, Inc., for helping me find the opportunity to write this book. And thanks to all the great people at Wiley who made it happen: my editor, Kelly Ewing, who was always helpful and upbeat; the acquisitions editor, Stacy Kennedy, who helped get me started on the project; Alicia South, who coordinated the art; and Barry Ludvik, my technical reviewer. Thanks also to Patrick Redmond, the project coordinator, and those who worked on the art: Kitty Auble, Kathryn Born, Ana Carillo, Rhonda David-Burroughs, Brooke Graczyk, Gary Hunt, Ashley Layfield, Shelley Lea, Beth Morgan, Andew Recher, Heidi Richter, Simon Shak, Melissa K. Smith, Alicia South, Ron Terry, Janet Wahlfeldt, and Tobin Wilkerson.

On the home front, thanks to my husband, Dan, for all his love and support. To Hueston and Dashiel for once again being patient when Mommy was glued to her computer. To my sister, Alyson, and my friend, Julie, for reading chapters and sharing their nonscientist perspectives. To Staci, for helping me walk off some stress. And a big thanks always to my mother, Annette, for just being so supportive of everything I do.