Chemical evolution: Molecular evolutions towards the origin of living

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book reviews chapter is devded to zone electrophoresis. Chapter 1.5 covers miscellaneous methods and it is divided into five sections. The sect.ion on distilletion and evaporation covers organic elemental analysis, inorganic separations by dist,illat,ion from solutions, vacuwn fusion, and evaporation of metals s t high t,ernpersture. Theprinciples of zone refining and zone leveling are discussed in the next section. Inclusion compounds, such as, clathrates, channel inclusion compounds, and layer compounds are covered in the third section. Foam separations and thermal diffusion consbit,ut,e the last two sect,ions in this chapter. The author stat,es that the individual chapters are designed to stand alone, and, as a result, there iu considerable repetition of material. The Vau Deemter equation is presented and discussed in three different r.haot,ers: t,he Glueckauf d o t for inter-

be itn asset to the beginning student in t,he field of separations.

A. CULP ROBERT Piardw University la fay ell^, Indiana 47907 Chemical Evolution: Molecular Evolutions towards the Origin of Living Systems in the Earth and Elsewhere

Melvin Calvin, University of Cdifurnis, Berkeley. Oxford Universit,y Press, New York, 1969. vii 278 pp. Figs., tables, and color plates. 15 X 23 em. Hardbound, 89; sofl.ba~und,64.50.

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Here in one volume is s. unique colleetion of lectures given by Professor Calvin a t Oxford University. The int,imary of the lecture is preserved; the author is not afraid of the first person. The value of the book is that. it is much more than R. mere transcript with slides. I t is a welldeveloped narrat,ive, packed with information, execllcntly reprodwed photographs, ahnndant references to the original liberxt,me (both to bhe author's work and t o that. of others) and an adequate index. Part I provides The View fram t,he Present towards the P a t . The fossil record yields to molecolitr paleout~ology. Bath biosynt.hesis and possihle ahiogenic synthesis is explored and docnment,ed. Part I1 examines The View from the Past towards the Present. This is the elahoration of the title, chemienl evolution. I t comprehensively covers ihe subject fram prebiotic chemistry (the evolution of small molecules) through selection and growth of polymeric species, and informat.ion coupling to three dimensional, higher order structures. There is much for all but the specialist to learn from this lueid and honest discourse. Never does the author fail to make clear what is information and what is specdation. Even the summary, a convincing chronicle, is prosented as "% conceivable sequence.. . whet,her it is the ouly possible sequence is t,he problem." The reader hopes an addendum can be made in later printings to remove some of the speculation about, lunar exploration now that samples are on earth. The final short sectiou the rtut,har calls The View from the Present towards t,he Future. It, is his credo, given in strong personal terms in answer to the question of why man should pursue s search for. significance. I t is honest,, thoughtful, and hopeful. Let us hope t,hat future scientisbs read through to the end!

of column retention volume to the partition coefficient is discussed many times. These could have been presented in detail in the chapter on general principles and brief reference made to that discussion in later chspters. Two chapters have been devoted to ionexchange; the second chapter, covering specialized ion-exchange systems, is short and should have been included in the earlier chapter. I n the chapter on miscelleneous methods, organic elemental analysis is discussed under distilletion and evaporation, neither of which implies a chemical change of the sample. This topic should have been discused elsewhere, if a t d l . In the opinion of this reviewer, Professor Dean has composed a book that is comprehensive in chromatographic techniques and is well writ,ten. He WRS done an excellent job of introducing each subject before discussing it, therefore, making it easy to follow and understand. The chapter on gas chromatography is especially good, in t,hat a beginner in separations can gain considerable knowledge of the subject by reitding this chapter. Unfortunately, precipitation and distillntion are dealt with very little, if s t all. A book with a. title suggesting an all-inclusive text on sepsmtion techniques should include these topics in some detail even if, as Professor Dean states, they have bee11introduced in a first course on analytical chemistry. WFK The text is designed for n onesemester course consist,ing of t,hree lectures and one Chemical Applicationr of laboratory period per week a t the adRadioisotopes vanced undergraduat,e or first-year graduate level. There are numerous sample If. J . M . Bowen, University of Reading, calculstians to show how the formulas e m England. Methuen and Co., Ltd., be applied to praclieal cases, and there are London, 1969. Figs. and tables. 13 many problems and questions that would X 19cm. 55. be encountered in the course of Isborntory exercises. This book is a new addition to the series The format of the book is the same as its of "Methuen's Monographs on Chemical compmion volume on "I~~strumer~Lal Subjects." I t consists of seven chapters Methods of Analysis!' Professor dean'^ entitled: (1) Properties of Radioactive style of writing makes the book easy to read and understand. I t should prove t,o (Conlinued on page ,4400)

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