Basic Biochemistry, A Visual Approach for College and University Students J. Edelman and J. M Chapman, Heinemann Education Books. Inc., London. 1979. v 136 pp. Figs. and tables. 24.5 X 19 cm. $7.50.
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T h e realization that some familiarity with and understanding of biochemistry are essential for students whose interests in the life science range from home economics to medicine has resulted in a spate of simplified biochemistry texts targeted a t the various segments of the student spectrum. This paperback book by Edelman and Chapman represents a n attempt a t applying a much more visual and symbolic approach t a a description af certain basics of the structure and function of living systems. T h e hook uses only minimal textual material, relying far about 60% or 70% of its descriptive coverage upon illustrations which resemble cartoon or blackboard drawings, including handwritten balloon captions on arrow8 painting a t portions of the illustrations. It is also very brief and eclectic and makes no pretense to completeness of treatment or even to any depth in much of its selective coverage. T h e book is engagingly written, but because of the multitude of organizational styles of the illustrations and the several type fonts used, in addition to the hand-drawn labels, it is somewhat confusing upon first acquaintance. Careful study is demanded, therefore, hut the material itself is bath clear and logically organized and deals successfully with many of the broad principles of biochemistry. T h e sections on the catabolic reactions of intermediary metabolism and their subsequent energy yield are especially well presented. Sophisticated concepts are interestingly depicted h u t much important basic information is neglected so that, by
conventional standards, there is some lack of balance. For example, there is significant coverage of the reactions of photosynthesis, requiring 32 pages, while the modern concepts of molecular biology are outlined in only 7 pages. Such topics as membranes, h o r ~ moms, and transport are not disscussed a t all. T h e text is divided into three parts; the first 25% being devoted to a description of the structures of biamolecules. T h e second section discusses enzymes very briefly. Thus, about 60% of the text is utilized in outlining certain processes of metabolism itself. Finally, there is a brief glossary of the structures and chemical groups found in the text. The production of the volume is excellent, with a freedom from typographical and other errors surprising in a first edition. This book will not succeed completely in satisfying the needs of the wide spectrum of students for which it was designed. I t would seem that it might be most suitable as supplementary reading far an undergraduate botany or b i o l o ~course. I t is, as noted above, well written, but its format renders it somewhat difficult to understand without c o w siderable effort.
Melvin Fried Professor of Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology College of Medicine Gainesville. FL 32610 Exercises in Organic and Biochemistry DavidE. Newton, J. Weston Valch, Portland, Oregon. 1979. xii 50 pp. Figs, and tables 8.5 X 11 cm. $16.75.
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This set of exercises has as its goal the suoolementation of ~ r o b l e m sin nomencla. ture, formula writing, equation writing, and reaction re diction found in most organic and biochemistry textbooks. These are intended
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primarily for advanced level high schml chemistry students and also for the second half of the typical two semester sequence in general, organic, and hirrchemistry fur health sciences majors. These exercises consist of a honed set of
nizing families of compounds, and also on naming, writing formulas, and predicting reaction products on the hasis of functional group properties. The usual families of compounds are emphasiaed, including alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, diems, aromatics, alcohols, phenols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, nitmgenous compounds, and carbuxylic acids and their derivatives. T h e organic section concludes with practice sheets on stereoisomerism. T h e much briefer biochemistry section includes general questions on carbuhydrates, lipids, amino acids and proteins, and nucleic acids. Approximately 25% of the material is hiochemistry. Most of the stated aims of the theauthors appear to have been met. The exercises are pitched a t an average level of difficulty ronsistent with a typical freshman level health sciences chemistry course. They vary eonsiderahlv in diflieultv from easy to advanced.
point in their favor. The organicsection is a strung one, but the biochemistry is somewhat of a disappointment. Aside from an occasional misspelling, misinterpretation, or other ermr (e.g., choline is said to be a derivative of phosphatidic acid), there is no material included on intermediary metabolism. There is nothing on
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Reviewed in this Issue J. Edelman and J. M. Chapman, Basic Biochemistry, A Visual Approach for College and University Students DavidE. Newton and J. Weston Valch, Exercises in Organic and Biochemistry Addison Ault, Techniques and Experiments for Organic Chemistry David S. Eisenberg and Donald M. Crothers, Physical Chemistry with Applications to the Life Sciences Per-Olov Lowdin, Jean-Louis Calais, and Osvaldo Goscinski, Editors, Quantum Chemistry-A Scientific Melting Pot MichaelR. L'Annunziata, Radiotracers in Agricultural Chemistry Thomas G. Spiro, Editor, Nucleic Acid-Metal Ion Interactions Volume I. "Metal Ions in Biology" 0. Olabisi, L. M. Robeson, and M. T. Shaw, Polymer-Polymer Miscibility
Alan S. Foust, Leonard A. Wenzel, Curtis W Clump. Louis Maus, and L. Bryce Andersen, Principles of Unit Operations, 2nd Edition Erwin N. Hiebert, A. J. Ihde, and R. E. Schofield, Joseph Priestley: Scientist, Theologian and Metaphysician John A. Bowden and Colin J. Rix, Mass and Volume Measurement: Basic Laboratory Skills, 2nd Edition Volume 58
Reviewer Melvin Fried
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Allan G. Splittgerber Paul R. Jones Leslie S. Forster
A151 A152 A152
Don R. McLaughiin
A153
L. B. Church Michael J. Clarke
A153 A153
David A. Brant Donald Vives
A154 A154
Derek A. Davenport
A155
C. Patrick Dunne
A155
Number 4
April 1981
A151
