This textbook offers teachers a one-semester course in molecular genetics for use by life science majors (microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology or biology) or pre-med students. The book is the syllabus for a course in molecular gentics given by the author at the University of California at Los Angeles, USA, for several years. It adopts a case-study approach, based on analysis of classic and recent papers and discussion of the lives of the principal investigators concerned. The book contains introductory essays which review the key concept in each course unit, over 180 questions and answers which test factual knowledge derived from each unit, and over 140 problems, including scenarios from history, mythology, films and television, which test students' abilities to apply molecular genetic concepts. Solutions and strategies for working out these problems are provided in the companion book, "Solutions Manual and Workbook".