With a loose structure that allows for fast and easy coding, the Perl programming language is the most widely used scripting language in bioinformatics. Working on the assumption that the reader has never had any formal training in programming, and using examples geared toward real problems faced by biologists, Perl Programming for Biologists serves as an accessible, introductory reference for teaching Perl programming. Curtis Jamison’s innovative text introduces basi c elements of computer science and software engineering in an abbreviated format, building toward a bioinformatics users’s guide for Perl. Each chapter opens with a set of learning objectives, provides numerous review questions and self–study exercises, and concludes with a bulleted summary of key points. Jamison incorporates numerous real–life examples throughout to illustrate how Perl is used to solve biological problems, offering valuable code fragments that the current practitioner can recycle into his or...