Thomas Mertens:
Keeping a manual fresh through 11 editions

• More molecular genetics, a field of rapid development.
• New lab techniques. "We've left some older labs, but added a molecular aspect to them. It shows how recent developments build on older ones," he said.
• More illustrations, especially photos.

"It's vital to keep up-to-date with current developments," he said. "I enjoy working with Bob (Hammersmith). It keeps me current with what going on in the field. It's important to strike a balance between basic, classical things and current, cutting edge things. Bob has helped me do that, and I think I did the same thing for Gardner."

Mertens says by bringing in co-authors, you create a book with longevity: "Co-authors bring in new ideas. They're current on new developments in the field. That's important, especially in genetics, which is a rapidly growing field."

Mertens said he got started writing textbooks because he wanted to improve his teaching. He co-authored his first book, Human Genetics, after being asked by Merrill Publishing to review it. "I reviewed it and made suggestions, and Merrill said 'why don't you just do them, become a co-author' and so I did," he said. When Merrill was sold to another publisher, though, he said, it got lost in the merger.

"What I enjoy most about writing is getting something I can use," he said. "I like to see it work in the classroom, see how students react to it and learn from it, and how that makes my teaching results more effective."

Now retired, Mertens said he "enjoys taking it a little easier." He figures he'll be handing over Genetics to a new co-author soon.

He and his wife Bea enjoy traveling. They have two children.

— reported by Kim Pawlak, 1999