Book Description

This book reviews current understanding of the biological roles of extracellular molecular chaperones. It provides an overview of the structure and function of molecular chaperones, their role in the cellular response to stress and their disposition within the cell. It also questions the basic paradigm of molecular chaperone biology - that these proteins are first-and-foremost protein-folding molecules. The current paradigms of protein secretion are reviewed and the evolving concept of proteins (such as molecular chaperones) as multi-functional molecules for which the term 'moonlighting proteins' has been introduced is discussed. The role of exogenous molecular chaperones as cell regulators is examined and the physiological and pathophysiological role that molecular chaperones play is described. In the final section, the potential therapeutic use of molecular chaperones is described and the final chapter asks the question - what does the future hold for the extracellular biology of molecular chaperones? ... Read more

Book Description

During the past four decades, molecular biology has dominated thelife sciences. Curiously, no participant in this scientific revolution haspreviously attempted a book-length history of the development of this powerfulscience. Harrison ("Hatch") Echols provides such an account in Operators andPromoters. A gifted molecular biologist and talented raconteur, Echols relatesthe intellectual history of the most influential discoveries in molecularbiology from his own experiences.

Echols joins his vast knowledge of biology with personal interviews of theprincipal operators and promoters in the field to convey a captivating side ofscience--specifically, how the personalities of scientists and their competitiveand collaborative relations affect new ideas and discoveries. The author revealshow logic and order often arise only in hindsight from the chaos of discovery;eventual solutions often come from experiments performed for entirely differentreasons. Echols also shares his deep-seated feelings for the science itself,communicating his admiration, even awe, for the purity and simplicity with whichlife systems are organized. This gripping insider's account of the first fiftyyears of molecular biology ties together the biological questions with thescientific solutions of the people who established the field. It will appeal notonly to students and those interested in the development of the discipline, butto anyone intrigued by the human side of science and the process of scientificinquiry and discovery. ... Read more

Book Description

Contends that race is a biologically real phenomenon with important consequences, contrary to widespread and politically correct views that race doesn't matter--or doesn't even exist.

When the head of the Human Genome Project and a former President of the United States both assure us that we are all, regardless of race, genetically 99.9% the same, the clear implication is that racial differences among us are superficial. The concept of race, many would argue, is an inadequate map of the physical reality of human variation. In short, human races are not biologically valid categories, and the very ideas of race and racial difference are morally suspect in that they support racism. In Race, Vincent Sarich and Frank Miele argue strongly against received academic wisdom, contending that human racial differences are both real and significant. Relying on the latest findings in nuclear, mitochondrial, and Y-chromosome DNA research, Sarich and Miele demonstrate that the recent origin of racial differences among modern humans provides powerful evidence of the significance, not the triviality, of those differences. They place the "99.9% the same" figure in context by showing that racial differences in humans exceed the differences that separate subspecies or even species in such other primates as gorillas and chimpanzees. The authors conclude with the paradox that, while, scientific honesty requires forthright recognition of racial differences, public policy should not recognize racial-group membership. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Long overdue
I agree with Dr. Ralph L. Holloway, Professor of Anthropology, at Columbia University. He states that "Miele is exactly that antidote to the pernicious loss of respect for our own evolutionarily-derived biological diversity, and it will hopefully reach all who are ready and willing to think more clearly and empirically about our diversity and celebrate it. This reader has been very favorably struck by the careful and non-sarcastic exposure of some of our most common chestnuts regarding racial diversity, and in particular some of the sillier pronouncements regarding within- and between-group differences in genetic frequencies that have abounded in all of the media, academic and non.

As more genetic research, particularly at the molecular level comes to our attention, it seems clear to this writer that this book will represent an important milestone in reducing the millstone of the myths that have accumulated denigrating and/or ignoring our genetic diversity. This book will certainly be a must for my students, and it is surely long overdue!"

Doubtful races
This book has the advantage that it is by a serious human geneticist and anthropologist(Sarich--Miele seems to be purely a journalist, helping Sarich write the prose and adding some minor points). Sarich knows about human evolution and explains it well, though professionals will have various quibbles. Previous racist books have been rendered worthless by ignorance of the simplest human genetic truths. Sarich is aware that "race" is only 15% of the variance between any two distant-origin individuals, and, more important, that one can recognize any number of "races" by making finer and finer distinctions--there could be thousands of "races" in Europe alone. (Anthropologists abandoned "race" not because they don't believe in human differences, but because the number of different populations they could recognize got unmanageably large--we work with thousands now.) Sarich reasonably critiques the claims that "race does not exist," but seems not to realize that this claim, when seriously made, refers to the ridiculous "races" of American folk speech--Mexican, Latino, Asian-Pacific, Irish, Arab, and other non-biological categories. (Even "African-American" refers not to a biological population, but to a gradient from basically African to almost pure white--remember, "one drop of African blood" makes you African-American in the US.)
The book points out that human races differ enough biochemically to necessitate some differences in medical treatment. True enough (though the differences are very minor and merely statistical). But Sarich and Miele don't emphasize enough the point that this is true only of actual biological populations (Europeans vs Sub-Saharan Africans, for instance), not of folk or social races. American doctors treating African-Americans who are 98% White as if they were "Africans" are doing no one a favor.
The serious problem with this book concerns IQ differences. Here, Sarich does not control the relevant psychological and behavioral-genetic literature so well. Intelligence is now known to be affected by countless genes and environmental factors, and they do not work together in some neat, harmonious system. If local populations differ in innate intellectual gifts, this could well involve a bunch of verbally superior people next to some not-so-verbal math geniuses, or a bunch of spatial-perception hotshots next to some who are weak in that area. Sarich buys the claims of a "g factor" that underlies intelligence; this "g" shakes out of factor analyses of IQ test performance, but remains impossible to ground in genetics or brain physiology, both of which indicate a much more complex reality. It is not demonstrated in psychological performance other than standard IQ tests, either; again the evidence is for more complexity. For instance, a unique gene found among certain Amish makes them more prone to bipolar disorder, which would surely screw up their performance on at least some tests. In any case, IQ testing has avoided like poison any attempts to control for malnutrition, illness, lead poisoning, lack of knowledge of tester's language (monolingual Spanish speakers are still tested in English in my area), etc.
The worst thing in the book is that Sarich accepts the guesstimate of 70 as the IQ of Sub-Saharan Africans, which is ridiculous in view of the high levels of education and performance seen in those African cities and regions that have anything like a functioning educational system (to say nothing of adequate nutrition). An adult with a 70 IQ can barely walk or talk; African nations now produce physicists and biologists and poets. To their credit, Sarich and Miele present a lot of evidence that Africans are perfectly sharp people, but don't really know what to do with it and wind up unconvincingly trying to explain it away. (And, just to prove that African-American IQ testing problems aren't genetic, those 98% White "African-Americans" test the same as the 100% African ones.)
The other really silly thing in the book is comparing human races with breeds of dogs. Dog breeds have been artificially selected for differences in behavior and ability. Human groups have not. They are more comparable to wild subspecies of animals. If there are any demonstrated differences in intelligence and behavior between naturally evolved subspecies of any species of animal, I don't know about it.
I think this book will be valuable in that it will teach racists something about actual human evolution and variability. Above all, it will teach them that real races are, as Sarich says, "fuzzy sets"--loosely defined regional populations--not ironclad and utterly different creatures, and not the ridiculous "races" of American folk speech. It will teach them something about actual human evolution and genetics. However, psychologists and psychological anthropologists will cut it to pieces when it trespasses on their turf. (See e.g. U. Neisser, ed., THE RISING CURVE; Jencks and Phillips, ed., THE BLACK-WHITE TEST SCORE GAP.)

Excellent, but goes on too long...
This book should be must reading for everyone, especially for those who have been telling us (for many years) that "there is no such thing as race."

Well, some salient facts to consider, as Sarich presents them: first, race is a real concept directly related to DNA. You can send a DNA sample to the lab and the lab can tell you that the DNA came from a person who is 85 percent African-American and 15% Native American. Really! This sort of information can be invaluable to police trying to find a dangerous murderer.

Next up is the fact that collies cannot be given heartworm vaccine. So what? Well, reactions to medicine vary with the genes, and we are now learning that the different races sometimes tolerate various medicines differently. Life and death decisions may hinge on your race, and your doctor's awareness of such issues. It is hard to imagine how a medicial instuction such as "Xaprofill is poorly tolerated by some Japanese and Chinese" could be regarded as racism.

I won't go any further than that. Sarich upset the whole world of paleontology with his discovery of the molecular clock, and now he's doing his very best to upset the whole world of chat-show "intellectuals," and their silly idea that race is just a figment of our imagination.

By the way, there is one other very startling number in this book! Sarich estimates that modern man (homo sap sap) arose just 50,000 years ago -- not 150,000 or 250,000!! When this man talks about prehistoric dates, it's probably a good idea to listen!

Honesty about race
After years of non-stop media and academia misrepresentations, suppressions, and outright lies about race, it is wonderful to have another famous scientist break free of Politically Correct (PC) conformity and tell the public the truth.

This book was written to refute the highly PC Public Broadcast System (PBS) television program, "Race: The Power of an Illusion." That program laid out 10 points about race, of which the authors say 8 are "facts" that they refute and the remaining two they reject "for economic and ethical reasons." The book carefully and convincingly shows that evolution requires variation and that variation carries across racial groups, even, or especially, in the highly-charged area of IQ. There is even a frank discussion of the most politically incorrect fact anywhere - that the average IQ of sub-Saharan Africans is only 70.

I have only two quibbles about this excellent book. First, they make this fascinating statement, "As we have shown, the morphological differences between human races can exceed those found between subspecies [i.e., races] or even species of our nearest relatives, the chimps and gorillas, and other nondomesticated animals." In particular, the racial distance between the common chimpanzee and the bonobo chimpanzee is 14.6%, which exceeds the racial distance between some human races. An explanation of why the two chimpanzees groups are different species but the human groups are only different races seems to be needed here, but is not supplied.

My second quibble is that the authors accept the Out-of-Africa theory of human origins based on DNA, mtDNA, and Y chromosome data. While they do show how that data supports Out-of-Africa, I don't think the debate is quite over yet. As an example of another view see: www.rafonda.com.

An Argument Well Presented Were it 1980
Vincent Sarich and Frank Miele construct here a great case for the reality of race were it not for their selective use of evidence and their inability to answer one crucial question: how does one create meaningful and accurate racial groupings if more than eight-five percent of the genetic variation amongst individuals is the result of other genetic factors? Thus, Sarich and Miele are forced to rely on meaningless studies on such scientifically irrelevant phenomena as skull size variation (which interestingly Franz Boas destroyed a century ago as a persuasive argument) to bolster their case and to present alternative subjective classification schemes based on "fuzzy sets" rather than the commonly accepted and objective metric of genetic variation. Indeed, the authors do their best to ignore facts like the black males of the Lemba tribe of Central Africa thanks to migration are more significantly related from a genetic disease standpoint to male white Israelis than to the contiguous tribes of Cameroon--only illustrating the problems that a genuine, science-based racial classification scheme would run into. Yet, preconceived notions die hard and Sarich and Miele come from a physical anthropology school uncomfortable with the reams of new evidence from the Human Genome Project, etc. that have overturned cherished theories. To anyone genuinely interested in the topic, Mapping Human History by Steve Olson, a former science writer for the Economist, provides a more realistic account of what conclusions modern science has reached. For more advanced readers, anything by Luca Cavalli-Sforza should give one a more technical grasp of how studies into race, genetics and human evolution are progressing. ... Read more

Book Description

There are 650 articles with the word permutation in the title whose primary classification is combinatorics, but, until now, there have been no books addressing the topic. The very first book to be published on the subject, Combinatorics of Permutations contains a comprehensive, up to date treatment of the subject. Covering both enumerative and external combinatorics, this book can be used as either a graduate text or as a reference for professional mathematicians. The book includes many applications from computer science, molecular biology, probabilistic methods, and pattern avoidance, and the numerous exercises show readers a fairly comprehensive list of recent results from the field. ... Read more

Book Description

The study of areas in the cerebral cortex has a long history, bringing empirical data into close relation with fundamental conceptual issues about the cortex. The subject is currently being revitalized with the advent of new experimental methods and this book brings a modern perspective to the study of these areas. Cortical Areas: Unity and Diversity explores the correspondence of different methods of mapping areas, the correlation between connectivity and areas, interspecies variations and the developmental origin of areal differences.
Cortical areas are also discussed in relation to functional evidence, discussing for instance similarities in cybernetic function between different sensory areas. The book also considers morphological substrates for integration between areas before exploring fundamental questions often asked in neurobiology and brain theory. ... Read more

Book Description

The functional properties of any molecule are directly related to, and affected by, its structure.This is especially true for DNA, the molecular that carries the code for all life on earth.

The third edition of Understanding DNA has been entirely revised and updated, and expanded to cover new advances in our understanding.It explains, step by step, how DNA forms specific structures, the nature of these structures and how they fundamentally affect the biological processes of transcription and replication.

Written in a clear, concise and lively fashion, Understanding DNA is essential reading for all molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics students, to newcomers to the field from other areas such as chemistry or physics, and even for seasoned researchers, who really want to understand DNA.

* Describes the basic units of DNA and how these form the double helix, and the various types of DNA double helix
* Outlines the methods used to study DNA structure
* Contains over 130 illustrations, some in full color, as well as exercises and further readings to stimulate student comprehension ... Read more

Book Description

Cell Movements is a synthetic account of cell shape and motility (the fascinating mechanisms by which cells move, divide, and organise their internal contents).This second edition is updated throughout with recent advances in the field and has a completely revised and redrawn artwork program. The text is suitable for advanced undergraduates and graduates as well as for professionals wishing for an overview of this field. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent
This is an excellent and balanced overview of cell motility and the cytoskeleton.Thankfully there is a sense of perspective applied to the material, and the reader is spared the gory details of every last molecule or putative signalling pathway. There are copious elegant photomicrographs and line drawings.It is a pleasure to read.

cell motility in a nutshell
This is an introductory text to the field of cell motility and the cytoskeleton. It is written so that anyone who has taken some basic undergrad courses in biology should be able to pick it up and start learning. Because it is more of an introduction than an in-depth review of the entire field, it is mostly useful for getting a general idea of what is known and not known in cell biology, without going into excessive detail. The book is well written and fun to read, with tons of illustrations. ... Read more

Book Description

This book gives a profound overview on the relevant biochemical techniques. Moreover, it refers to laboratory equipment and safety aspects and explains how to obtain relevant biochemical information. It provides an introduction into physical-chemical processes and mathematical methods required for the interpretation of data. Principles of expensive instrumental analysis are also explained and a presentation of safety considerations and regulatory issues according to international requirements is given.
With its practical approach the book is not only highly useful for professionals - laboratory technicians and scientists - but also for students.
Special feature: a CD-ROM on quantitative analysis of biochemical experiments!

"... An ideal how-to for those working in biochemistry."
CHEMIE in unserer Zeit

"... and anyone working in a biochemical laboratory will find it useful. Strongly recommended."
Laboratory News ... Read more

Book Description

Recent developments in molecular biology, genomics, proteomics, and other areas have produced a wealth of experimental data on sequences and three-dimensional structures of biological macromolecules. As a result, the employment of various computational methods of analysis to obtain useful information is now a major new discipline: bioinformatics.
The Dictionary of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology provides a vital reference for important terms, offering students and researchers a convenient summary of the core knowledge of the field. With concise and accurate definitions of over 600 words, phrases, and concepts, this volume:
* Offers thorough A-Z coverage
* Lists references and Internet links
* Incorporates cross-referencing throughout
* Features a comprehensive index of topics
Anyone working in basic sciences and clinical research today will find the Dictionary of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology to be an essential companion. ... Read more

Book Description

This new edition is almost a completely new text, with eight of the ten chapters written by new authors. It presents the most reliable methods for the major procedures such as one-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, preparative gel electrophoresis, and peptide mapping, complete with the latest refinements. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

a great resource book
Although there has been many books on gel electophroresis, this book seems to stand out the most. Being a novice in this field, I greatly appreciated Hames' and Rickwoods' practical procedures and methods. I srtongly recommend this book to all scientists and upcoming scientists. ... Read more

Book Description

This exceptional laboratory manual describes thirty-seven procedures most likely to be used in the next decade for molecular, biochemical, and cellular studies on Drosophila.They were selected after extensive consultation with the research community and rigorously edited for clarity, uniformity, and conciseness.

The outstanding features of this protocol collection are:

- Scope: The methods included permit investigation of chromosomes, cell biology, molecular biology, genomes, biochemistry, and development

- Depth: Each protocol includes the basic information needed by novices, with sufficient detail to be valuable to experienced investigators.

- Format: Each method is carefully introduced and illustrated with figures, tables, illustrations, and examples of the data obtainable.

- Added value: The book’s appendices include key aspects of Drosophila biology, essential solutions, buffers, and recipes.

An evolution of Michael Ashburner’s 1989 classic Drosophila: A Laboratory Manual, this book is an essential addition to the personal library of Drosophila investigators and an incomparable resource for other research groups with goals likely to require fly-based technical approaches. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Comprehensive in scope, not quite enough detail.
This book is very impressive in scope, and (as other reviewers have said) IS indispensable for any Drosophila laboratory. It is a very valuable addition to every Drosophila laboratory. The book covers virtually every area of Drosophila work. Many of the topics discussed are cutting edge, such as the chapter on RNA interference, targeted cell ablation, and biochemical preparations from Drosophila (such as soluble nuclear extracts and membrane proteins). Overall I am very pleased with the book, and glad I bought it! One section of the book I find particularly useful is the beginners guide to the Drosophila genome project. This section overviews the information available from the recently completed Drosophila genome project. It tell us what kinds of information are available about the fly genome, how this information was collected, and where we can download it from the internet (complete with internet web site addresses)!

My only criticism of the book is a criticism which applies to ALL manuals published by the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press: the protocols are too superficial, and not dealt with in sufficient detail to allow a novice to carry out these techniques (which is what a manual ideally SHOULD do). This has been true of all the CSHLP manuals I have seen. Conspicuously absent from the CSHL publications is a TROUBLESHOOTING section, which can be referred to if the researcher runs into problems. As we all know, there are many small (and seemingly trivial) details to any protocol which, if not carried out properly, can make or break an experiment. Some steps in a protocol are always more fastidious than others, and it is critical for us to know which steps can be done with a bucket and which steps require an eyedropper.

For my money, the best and most comprehensive manual is the CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY manual (Wiley and Sons), which is updated regularly, and has extensive troubleshooting sections attached to each protocol. (They have recently come out with a companion manual dealing exclusively with protein techniques.) Also, I highly recommend the METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY series (Humana Press) for its concise protocols and supplementary troubleshooting sections. If the researcher is familiar with the techniques the troubleshooting sections need not be consulted, but if the researcher is a novice the troubleshooting sections are invaluable. Unfortunately a Drosophila manual is not available from either of these publishers, but this CSHL manual makes a good substitute. I recommend this book for all Drosophilists!

The complete index of DROSOPHILA PROTOCOLS (CSHLP) is available at the publishers website given below...

A must have for any Drosophila lab
This latest edition by Sullivan et al. is the best protocols manual for Drosophila that I've seen. It should be a staple for any fly lab. It provides the most up-to-date protocols for common techniques (ie staining, dissections, cytology) as well as more recent additions (i.e. DNA microarrays, neuroactive drugs, GFP reporters). Moreover, the protocols are clear, detailed, and easy to follow. ... Read more

Book Description

This volume offers a broad collection of college-level experiments that provides students with a hands-on understanding of biotechnology and molecular biology, including applications and practical uses.

The inquiry-based activities, chosen for their safety, reliability, and flexibility, are designed to pique the students' interest and provide them with opportunities for independent study.The clear, readable text makes concepts readily understandable and the user-friendly format allows students to easily follow protocols.

Each investigation includes suggested reading, laboratory language, and analysis questions that help direct student thinking.Side bar comments offer special hints and detailed information to ensure success, but keep the protocols themselves easy to follow. Comprehensive laboratory safety guidelines are also included. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Lab Resource
I use this book in my molecular biology course and it is well put together, with easy to follow procedures. The manual starts out with the basics (safety, keeping a lab journal, using equipment, measuring, plus some simple experiments),and progress to more complex experiments (cloning, RFLP analysis, western blotting, PCR, for example). The early lab activities can be used to give students a basic grounding in molecular techniques,and the later ones can be used as mini-research projects. The sidebars explain details that help students understand the "whys" of the experiments.The labs pretty much stand on their own, so instructors can pick and choose as needed. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Explaining Life at the Molecular Level
_Caenorhabditis elegans_, happily better known as _C. elegans_ and affectionately known by the researchers who study it as "the worm," would not seem to have potential for being the focus of groundbreaking biological studies. It is only a half a millimeter long, for instance, and is a lowly nematode, living on bacteria and slime mold in temperate regions all around the world. It does, however, display rapid growth and production of subsequent generations, which made it perfect for genetic studies, and transparency, which made it perfect for microscopic analysis. But even the original researchers on the worm would have been surprised at all the work that has been done in the last forty years. _C. elegans_ is now "the most completely understood animal in history." That assessment comes in _In the Beginning Was the Worm: Finding the Secrets of Life in a Tiny Hermaphrodite_ (Columbia University Press) by Andrew Brown. In fact, the worm looms even larger in biological research; work on its genetic map grew directly into the human genome mapping project. So its story is worth telling, and Brown, a science journalist, has told it largely through descriptions of the personalities and work of the main researchers. There is little technical detail here about the worm itself, but much interesting history about how the researchers came to understand it so well.

Chief of the characters is Sydney Brenner, who designated the worm as a fit source of research in the mid-1960s. Not everyone thought that the worm was the way to go, or even that trying to understand it at the molecular level was a promising avenue of research. There was more glamorous work and ostensibly more productive work going on researching fruit flies, for instance, but Brenner's team showed astonishing dedication. Almost everyone who worked in the lab came away happy, and Brenner and his main colleagues came away with Nobels. One of the most pleasing aspects of the research was how public it was. The researchers were in favor of free trade in ideas within the team, of course, but there was a high streak of idealism in sharing results with the outside world. They truly believed that the unfettered exercise of their talents was for the benefit of humanity. They insisted that sharing results (rather than, say, copyrighting or licensing them) meant it was more likely that someone would latch on to something interesting which needed further work. No one owned the genetic map they produced, and it was from the beginning available to all takers (although it is now much more accessible since biologists can log into it on the web). It is not just that free release is generous and right, but it works. John Sulston, one of the Nobel winners, said, "It was not a theoretical concept, it was a pragmatic way of moving forward."

The importance of the worm in all subsequent genetic research cannot be overstated, and so this is a welcome volume to recount how the worm got to be so well understood. There have been distinct effects on the research on humans themselves. Vertebrates like humans are not descended from nematodes, but we are distant cousins with an ancient common ancestor which eight hundred million years ago solved the problems of living as a multicellular organism, and every animal ever since has inherited those solutions. In a real sense, looking at the worm is a way of looking at ourselves, with all the potential for practical knowledge that this brings. But Brown's book is an inspirational story about researchers who gambled all on the detailed understanding of a humble worm not for practicality, or for riches, but for the sake of knowledge alone. ... Read more

Book Description

In the last few years, the functional divergence of GTPases has attracted the attention of many researchers in structural biology, cell biology, cell growth and differentiation and developmental biology. Numerous studies have contributed important data on the biochemical features, intracellular localization, and functions of these proteins. This book is a summation of the discoveries made so far; nearly 150 GTPases are identified and cataloged in an easy-to-consult format. Established scientists in the field will benefit greatly from the information at hand. ... Read more

Book Description

Why do living things and physical phenomena take the form they do? D'Arcy Thompson's classic On Growth and Form looks at the way things grow and the shapes they take. Analysing biological processes in their mathematical and physical aspects, this historic work, first published in 1917, has also become renowned for the sheer poetry of its descriptions. A great scientist sensitive to the fascinations and beauty of the natural world tells of jumping fleas and slipper limpets; of buds and seeds; of bees' cells and rain drops; of the potter's thumb and the spider's web; of a film of soap and a bubble of oil; of a splash of a pebble in a pond. D'Arcy Thompson's writing, hailed as 'good literature as well as good science; a discourse on science as though it were a humanity', is now made available for a wider readership, with a foreword by one of today's great populisers of science, explaining the importance of the work for a new generation of readers. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

On Growth and Form
On Growth and Form written by D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson is a classic and should be found on the bookshelf of any well read person.

This book sets our mind up for an education in physics, chemistry, mathematics, and physiology with form and function. Language skills are needed for reading this book as the author uses the original Greek in places for explaination and emphsis. Aristotle comes to mind and German is used for emphsis.

If you want to get the full extent of the text and you are not up to speed on the subjects mentioned or you'll find it hard to read this book. This could be read by a junior or senior in high school. But, I think it would be more appropriate for college.

This book is the study of organic form using methods found in the physical sciences. This book is a challenge to read, but it is very logical and straight forward.

A misunderstood classic
A great book, to be read by all biophysicists-to-be.

The modern follow-up to this book is Thom's Structural Stability, which shows that the logical conclusion of Thompson's ideas is both exciting and dubious. We probably can't just 'look' at stuff, we need to make (useful) predictions or the theory won't last. The interested reader should also pick up, if briefly, Mandelbrot's Fractal Geometry of Nature.

Two notes of interest. 1) Morphology has indeed proven successful in proving physical theory: in the aggregation of dust particals, measuring the gross fractal dimension allows you to predict the type of noise involved in creating it. 2) The logarithmic spiral, together with the fibonnaci sequence and the golden ratio, show up quite surprisingly in synchronized chaotic loops.

a quantitatiave approach to biology
This book is a classic, no two ways about it. It is really the first credible attempt to start taking a quantitative approach to biology, and despite the developments of the past century (molecular biology, etc), the problems raised in this book are just as pressing as they were when thompson wrote it. Anyone working in cell biology nowadays will immediately see applications of the ideas in this book, for example to organelle morphogenesis. The genius and erudition of thompson shine through on every page, making the book inspiring to read.

simply a marvellous exposition of ideas
I heard about this marvellous book as I was reading in the typical popular science literature years ago now but its almost impossible to avoid contact with this tome of the archetypal polymath D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson. A remarkable man with a wonderful open view of science and the, what's now called, interdisciplinarian approach to the world. Refreshingly full of new ideas especially for his day and even now where conservatism as usual is the norm in scientific circles. I hope many scientists read this book and see not just a curiosity but a representation of a whole approach to the world of nature. I will never forget the first time I read the chapter on coordinate transformations in animal shapes, today's schools simply do not inspire in this way and its time this changed. The prescence of this book, well read, on any person's bookshelf is a must.

Illuminates the essence of understanding - Classic Overview
It's about so much more than the limits our minds create from standard reviews & categorizations. Shows how to organize your thinking to tackle something new. On the surface, it's a turn of the century survey & application of physical scientific knowledge. On a higher level it communicates how to effectively organize knowledge as a tool & pathway to inner understanding as only the CLASSICS can do. I was required to read it for my Brandeis Ph.D. in Biophysics, but have recommended it to home schoolers as the best single book to inform a teenager about physics, chemistry, biology, & practical thinking. The Latin roots of the title words, Form & Function, are utilized, rather than specialized contemporary jargon. ... Read more

Book Description

Despite the transformation in biological practice and theory brought about by discoveries in molecular biology, until recently philosophy of biology continued to focus on evolutionary biology. When the Human Genome Project got underway in the late 1980s and early 1990s, philosophers of biology -- unlike historians and social scientists -- had little to add to the debate. In this landmark collection of essays, Sahotra Sarkar broadens the scope of current discussions of the philosophy of biology, viewing molecular biology as a unifying perspective on life that complements that of evolutionary biology. His focus is on molecular biology, but the overriding question behind these papers is what molecular biology contributes to all traditional areas of biological research.

Molecular biology -- described with some foresight in a 1938 Rockefeller Foundation report as a branch of science in which "delicate modern techniques are being used to investigate ever more minute details" -- and its modeling strategies apparently argue in favor of physical reductionism. Sarkar's first three chapters explore reductionism -- defending it, but cautioning that reduction to molecular interactions is not necessarily a reduction to genetics (and does not support the claims of either heriditarianism or environmentalism). The next sections of the book discuss function, exploring how functional explanations pose a problem for reductionism; the informational interpretation of biology and how it interacts with reductionism; and the tension between the unifying framework of molecular biology and the received framework of evolutionary theory. The concluding chapter is an essay in the emerging field of developmental evolution, exploring what molecular biology may contribute to the transformation of evolutionary theory as evolutionary theory takes into account morphogenetic development. ... Read more

Book Description

Designed to fill the existing gap between introductory texts and very advanced reviews of major virus families, Principles of Virology introduces upper-level undergraduates, graduate students, and medical students to all aspects of virology.Written in an engagingly readable style and generously illustrated with over 400 full-color illustrations, this approachable volume offers detailed examples that illustrate common principles, specific strategies adopted by different viruses to ensure their reproduction, and the current state of virology research.

It presents a principles-based discussion of virology, emphasizing the common reactions that must be completed by all viruses for successful reproduction within a host cell and survival and spread within a host population.The molecular basis of alternative reproductive cycles, the interactions of viruses with host organisms, and how these lead to disease are presented with examples drawn from a set of representative animal viruses.

Divided into chapters focusing on specific topics rather than individual viruses, the book allows the student to visualize common themes that cut across virus families, emphasizing the shared features of different viruses.Drawing on the extensive teaching experience of each of its distinguished authors, it illustrates the why and how animal viruses are studied, taking well-known systems and demonstrating how the knowledge gained from these model virus can be used to study viral systems about which our knowledge is still quite limited.

A discussion of viruses in early human cultures, how viruses were discovered, and how the discipline of virology came to be is also provided. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great book, great class!
Having used this book for my Virology class at Princeton (taught by Lynn W. Enquist), it was probably the best accompanying text to this sort of introductory survey virology course. The book can be read through, skipped around or used as a reference - it shines in all three uses. A great categorization of viruses, explanation of all the myriad replication methods they employ, the book is more than an intro text - the references at the end of each chapter point you toward very very good sources for further research. Highly recommended!!

The best in 30 years of Molecular Virology
Watson & Crick take a backseat to the finest virology text in the history of science. The 20th Century has seen no scientist/editor like Jane Flint. Her incisive, detailed investigations into the genesis of Adenovirus study will likely not be equalled in the next millenium.

Newcomers will be happy to know that this book is highly readable and I found that with a glass of Cognac and a cigarette after dinner created just the atmosphere needed to further a keen interest in Influenza virus, HIV. and the immense body of work that has gone into peeling back the layers of the actions of these killers and their close relations.

Field's Virology completely misses the boat the Jane Flint sails, DiCaprio-like into the Atlantic. We all toast her and her comrades in this undertaking . FIVE STARS!

A very good and up-to-date book in virology
This textbook of virology provides a significant background of many kinds of virus that we now know much about. A few textbooks in virology available in the market such as Field's Virology or Fundamental Virology are often too complicated for a beginner and they are also quite expensive for a student. This book comes out as an excellent supplement that is ideal for both undergradaute and graduate courses. Written by very well known experts, you can be assured that you will get a very accurate concept in this book. For example, Jane Flint is an expert in Adenovirus and Robert Krug is a well-known pioneer in influenza and many more.... All of the writers do the great job exploring their expertise that is evident in this book...Try it and you will see. ... Read more