"underlying concepts!' Tntum questions some popular assumptions in analyses of the type that occasionally precedes revolutionssv revisions in thinkinr. The srrrion or, I-:vduthmiry Parlnvry., ~ 1111r0witz.Y(,pd, nlwh, prwents P H P Pby and Grmick. Iluruwitz review.. hic xrgw ments for, and implications from, the concept of the hyperhetemtrophie nature of the first organism. I n the other papers and theses, mostly based on observations by the authors, Vogel proposes that pathways of synthesis of lyeine can he used as a phylogenetie tracer. Bloch shows how the emergence of certain lipid molecules were decisive events in evolution. Granick describes his own beautiful work on evolution of porphyrin biosynthesis. He uses words similar to Tatnm's in stating that we do not know whether proteins or genes came first, nor whether pathways evolved forward or backward (as Horowita proposm). I n the section on evolution of proteins, Zuckerkandl and Pauling discuss evolutionary divergence and convergence in protein molecules. "It is more important to understand the general than the particular, hut the fimt is aohieved only through the second." This paper is indeed a brilliant example of the integrative view based on much fact. BuettnerJanusch and Hill treat hemoglobin in primates as an approach to "molecularorganismal evolution!' Braunitzer and co-workers discuss sequence gaps in protein molecules. Handler and associates have shown how kinetic analysis of mechanism may be employed to assess similarities and differences between phosphoglucomutases of various species. When kinetic analyses are employed in conjunction with sequence analyses, differentiation a t the molecult~r level may prove to he of unprecedented sensitivity for enzymic proteins. Margoliash and Smith state that "only a thoroughgoing knowledge of function in the context of the complete biological unit e m make out of the molecular evolntion of proteins a respectable branch of science." Kaplan treats comparative enzymology by focnsing on the varions properties, and the structure. of dehvdmeensses. Rutter .. helps to define the fundamental, but difficult, problem of homology among the enzymes. While chairing the find session on proteins, Abelson presented data on amino acid contents of shell protein of molluscs. These were compared with phylogenetic position. The correlations were not cheering, and this stat,e often characterizes attempts to clsssify organisms by any single type of contained protein. The paper by (the late David) Bonner, De Moss, and Mills deals with the role of polypeptide interactions in the evolution of enzymes. In a paper on bioluminescence, McElroy, Seliger, and DeLuca have shown how the wavelength of light emitted by firefly systems o m be related to the species. In a paper bridging to evolving genes in a later section, Freese and Yoshide reach provocative inferences on base pair change.?. This paper offers promise of being very fundamental. I n a short paper, Luria presents aninteresting suggestion on the function of permease in evolntian. In the last paper in this
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section, Fox condenses s treatment of experiments suggesting evolution leading to preorganismic protein, with an emphasis on the need far understanding the evolutionary continuum spanning prelife and life. Sonneborn explains the significance of degeneracy of the genetic code. For example, he points to Nirenherg's finding that families of amino acids tend to have families of similar codons, and that this recalls to biology the widely disoarded hypothesis of orthogenesis, that is, the built-in limitations of the possible paths of evolution. From his studies of enzymic synthesis of DNA-like polymers in v&o, Kornherg suggests that reiterative events in the synthesis of a single DNA molecule in viuo might have distinct mutational value in the evolution of DNA. Bmtz explains how high helix stability in DNA woldd he selected far, and how the G C content would affect this trend. Suhbaiah, Goldthwaite, and Marmur report on the nature of bacteriophages induced in Bacillus aubtilis, the virus particles resembling closely the DNA of the bast cell. Rich's paper on evolutionary problems in the synthesis of proteins nicely summarizes 1964 understanding of ribosomal processes in the synthesis of protein. Rich infers the possibility that the role of nueleic acids in early protein synthesizing systems was a greater one than i t is currently. Harris writes on shortlived RNA in the cell nuclew. In Sueoka's paper on the evolution of informational macmmolecules, data and inferences on variation of DNA base composition are found. The next paper, by Demerec, is on homology and divergence in genetic material. This paper concerns primarily genetics, with overtones in molecular biology. With the aid of 22 graphs of experiments, Moses and Calvin explore molecular regulation and its possible evolutionmy significance. Building their studies on the platform constructed by Jacob and Monod, these workers have studied especially the inducibility of 8-galactosidase. Spiegelman and Yankofsky present a long paper on the relation of ribosomal RNA to the genome, a n informative chapter in their study of transcription processes. The evolotion of polynucleotides is treated by Hoyer, Bolton, McCmthy, and Roberts. They construct a time table of the evolutionary divergence of polynucleotides for seven species including fish, bird, armadillo, and man. The concluding paper by Sager is titled On the Evolution of Genetic Systems. This paper is one of the broadest and most integrativein the volume. Some of the chairmen's remarks, which are recorded in this volume, are of interest. Examples are Hotchkiss' humorous introduction of Moses and Calvin, and Ahelson's presentation of data from his laboratory. While the discussion is quite fully recorded, the symposium was too tightly packed for adequate pursuit of many points; The printed discussion has been changed but not edited for logical flow. The reviewer. for instance. finds some of hw own p n ~ t t r drcrnnrkq n.,t r o l,e et.rirrly rrln:mt to thlls?of :I!. rnrlicr speaker, wII., snwrnlrrl 1.i.; ~ f 1 8 . l ~ l O~P : , r~ prwwtatiwl.
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Editors of such volumes should be prepared to edit fully, should record discussion verbatim, or should not record i t a t all. Perhaps the most adverse statement that can be made about this book is that it is not as suitable for students as i t might be, but rather constitutes a flood of significant detail for experts in molecular biology, the latter being its proper audience. One other principal criticism is the absence of a division on the evolution of cells and of membranes. Several speakers, however, spoke to each of these perspectives. The penetrating student can find these perspectives and other integrating views by careful reading. Such criticisms aside, the symposium and its printed record are cause to congratulate the organizer-editors and the detail is an impressive court m o r d of the early stages of reduction of evolutionary theory to the molecular level.
Miami, Florida
Molecular Pholochernirtry Xichola~J . Turro, Columbia University. W. A. Benjamin, Inc., New York, 1965. Frontiers in Chemistry series. xiii 286 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 23.5 em. 812.50.
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This hook is an enormously valuable and especially timely addition to the chemical literature. It is the first significant volume to appear on "modern" organic photochemistry (although followed by only a few months by Calvert and Pitts). The hook is considerably overpriced, but nevertheless a must for the library of every photochemist, and indeed, any organic chemist that is in any way concerned with the vast proliferation of the field of photochemistry. I t consists of ten chapters, beginning with a brief discussion of fundamental concepts of quantum mechanics and molecular orbital theory. The reader is then led through an excellent disoussion of electronic excitation and the nature of excited states, followed by an authoritative treatment of energy transfer. The remainder of the book is devoted to a comprehensive review of photochemical reactions of organic molecules, and, where possible or appropriate, their mechanisms. There is a short section on photochemical techniques. Problems accompany all of the chapters. (Some of the problems, unfortnnately, me rather trivial.) I have heard some criticism that the book begins a t too fundamental a level, but this is precisely where it should begin if it is used as a textbook, and a lexthook is really what this book is. There are a few typographical errors; most importantly: equation (3-5), p. 23, is a transmission equation instead of an ahsorption equation and should be I. = (Continued on pare A548)
ing the reducing atmosphere as the starting paint for chemical biogenesis. Cansequently, Dauvillier's alternative may he worth consideration. Both Oparin and Uauvillier consider the many related facets of the problem, from cosmology, chemistry, and biology. Unfortunately, "The Photochemical Origin of Life" compares very unfavorably with Oparin's book in terms of organiaation, writing, and PETERA. LEERMAKERS scientific accuracy. Weskyan University The treatment of photochemistry, imM i d d l e l m , Cmneelieul plied by the title, oocupies only about 23 pages, including the question of the origin of optical activity. The author places the The Photochemical Origin of Life first photochemical asymmetric synthesis of molecules "at the edge of some briny A. Dauuillier, Laborstoire de Physique shallow lagoon, surrounded by quartz or Cosmique, Bagnbres-de-Bigorre, France. calcite crystals, a t the foot of some tropical Translated by Scripta Technica, Inc. ocean volcano." Thin, as well as many Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1965. other assertions, will doubtless he chalix l93pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X lenged hy ot,hars engaged in t,his specula23.5 c ~ n . $7.50. tive field. More disturbing to the general reader Oparin ("Life, It's Nature, Origin, and will he the numerous scientific errors and Development," Oliver and Boyd, Ltd., poor usage of scientific terms. One reads, Edinburgh, 1961), proposed that the far example, that adenosine triphosphate synthesis of the organic compounds reis a "constituent of ribonueleic acid," quired for the eventual development of "utilizes the unique phelmmenon of the life began with hydrocarbons. This view abundant free energy of pentavalent phoshas been reinforced by laboratory experiphorus," and is able t o "give up a phosments demonstrating synthesis of biophorus radical to a glucose molecule." genic eompounds from methane, amOrganic eompounds (rather than their monia, water, etc., under assumed formation from inorganic compounds) are "natural" conditions. referred to as heing endothermic. I n Dauvillier assumes most of the carbon fact,, the reviewer (a biochemist) suggests to have been in the form of carbon dithat readers skip d l the sections an the oxide, and proposes routes, many of them characteristics of living matter. I t may photochemical, from carbon dioxide to he that astronomers will be equally organic compounds. There appear to he critical of other sections, such as t,hose in no conclusive scientific reasons for accept-
Ia ( 1 - e-ectl), and on p. 45, figure (4-2),
the curves in ethanol and cyclohexane are mislabled (the dotted line should be ethanol). The other errors are mostly trivial. I n summary, for those of us in the field the book is s. tremendously valuable source of up-ta-date literature; for those teaching the subject, i t is the text.
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Journol of Chemicol Education
whmh i t is asserted that the surface of Venus is covered with frozen oceans, or that the solar system bed its origin in the collision of two s t a m This book can a t best be recommended only for those slready familiar with the subject who are interested m the conflicting point of view.
J. A. B n s s ~ ~ z Universily of California Berkeley The Countess
March Cost. Vanguard Press, New York, 1963. xiii 233 pp. 13.5 X 20.5 cm. $4.50.
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"Life with Father" would he a n excellent subt,it,lefor this unusual novel, which deals with the years that Sarah Thompson spent in Eurape with her famous father, Sir Benjamin Thompson (1753-1814). A native of Msssaehusetts, he is better known as Count llumford, a title canferred by the Elector of Bavaria far conspicuous services to that country. Thompwn, a Brit,i~hsympathimr and spy, ahadoned his wife and their infant daughter and fled to London, where he soon made his way upward. He returned to America as colonel of a British regiment, but made no effort to see his family. After t h e war, he entered the service of the Bavarians, reformed their army, and launched programs designed to convert the host of Munich beggars intouseful citizens. Rumford invited Sarah to live with him after her mother died, and in 1796 they met
(Continued on page A6601
