BOOK REVIEWS One would hope that t,he Editors of Life might direct t,heir talents and at,tention to other areas of chemistry, which are equally important but less obviously related to daily life. One book in li is somewhat disproportionate. KENNETH F . O'DRISCOLL
Stale University of hrew York Rufalo
Biochemistry: An Introdortion to Dynamic Biology
Ernest R . M . Kay, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York. Macmillan Co., New York, 1066. ix 374 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 24 cm. $7.95.
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As an introductory tent baok in biochemistry which starts from a. knowledge of chemistry and show3 how this is applicable to hiochemistry, this text baok is excellent. The examples are numerous and widely dispersed over the subject matter. This should have the effect of allowing the student to see the relationship between chemistry and biochemistry. The subject matter which has been included is in general, treated elesrly and concisely for a beginning student. There are a number of typographical errors in the text., far example on page 184,the source of lactate is not clearly indicated, on page
185: phosphofnmtokina~o is shown producmg ATP. There are some errors, omissions, etc., in the text; for example on p. 194 one finds in the context of the reversihility of glycolysis that, "The decarboxylation of phosphoenoel pyruvrtte is also not considered reversible." In addition there is no ment,ion of the solutions achieved by cells l o overcome the irreversibility of glucokinase and phosphofnw,tokinase. In the discussion of the stereochemistry of the amino acids and the carbohydrates no mention of the relationships between >amino acids and D-glyceraldehyde is made nor of the importance of bnmino acids in the a-helix. The section on metabolism of amino acids deals only with the metabolism of amino acids nonessential i n animals. In this section one is told that the importance of glutmnic acid dehydrogena~elisq in its role in breaking down amino acids. I t s equally important role in synthesis of glutamic acid as a portal of entry of ammonia into amino acids is not disonrsed. There are also s. numher of ambiguous st,atementsfor example, "Many legumes are able to fix nitrogen for further use by means of symbintic organisms like Rhizobium" on page 31. The selection of the subject matter to be inchlded in the book is heavily biased t,oward animals. This selection of m a t e rial prevents the book from truly covering dynamic biology. An attempt hits been m d e to indicate that biochemistry is the exclusive basis of biology and while this
had not yet made any significant contrih~ltian had been indicated. Kay's book is, however, a, well-priced test which can be used recommended for introdnctory courses of biochemistry provided the teacher is prepared to monitor the text carefully. DONALD K . UOUGAI.L
Ohio Agrieulluml Research and Druelopm n t Center Wooster
Inorganic Chemistry. Volume 1, Principles a n d Non-Metals. Volume 2,Metals
C . S . G . Phillips and R. J. P . Williams, Oxford University. Oxford University Press, New York, 1965, 1966. Val. 1, 683 pp. xiii 685 pp; Vol. 2, x Figs. and tables. 16 X 24 cm. $8 each volume.
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"The Trouble with Chemists," said Albert Einstein, " is that chemistry is too hard for them." I n nu discipline of chemistry is this better illustrated than inorganic, whichisin the position of attempting t o cover almost the whole range of the s n b ject. Yet this is the chemistry we choose to teach to the freshmen. The need to codify the subject into a tight dogma of simple rules for these beginning stndent,~ has left an unfortunate mark against inorganic chemistry as a science, which it is
(Cmtin~rerlon paGe .17fi)
Volume 44, Number 1, January 1967
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