book reviews ence b o k for the student who is interested in pursuing a career in theoretical chemistry or experimental chemical physics. However, the exceptionally dear and pedagogical style in which the material is presented makes this s hook that students will appreciate. Jack Simons u n i v ~ ~ ~of t lUtah y Sa# Lake CHv. Utah 84 i i2
Synthesis of Llfe, Benchmark Papers In Organlc Chemistry Edited hv' Charles C. Price. Universitv of Pennsylvania. 1)owden. Hutchinson & Ross. Inr. Stroudsberg, Pennsylwnia. 1974. xiii + 391 pp. 18 X 26rm. 522.M). ~
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This book is the first in the series "Benchmark Papers in Organic Chemistry" edited by C. A. Vanderwerf. I welcomed this review since i t allowed me the rare anportunity to cumbine my interests in chemistry and roology and remedy what one eolleague has termed my "profeaaonal schinuphrenia!" I t also gave me the opportunity t o catch up on the developments of the last ten years in molecular genetics. For, despite its title, the hook deals not only with the origins of life, but also with the present mechanics of life with respect to transcription a t the molecular level. The book is divided into seven sections dealing with the topics (1) the natural [prebiotic] synthesis of hiomonomers, (2) the synthesis of living systems, (3) the synthesis of proteins, (4) replication of RNA and DNA, (5)problems associated with the origin of structure in primitive systems, (6) the structure of ribosomes, and (7) an overview of life and the potential of living systems. Many of the articles will not he of interest to organic chemists; biochemists and molecular biologists will find it more t o their liking. However, the volume can well he read by all chemists interested in understanding the bridge between biology and chemistry. The authors form an all-star class with articles by Anfinsen, Calvin, Fox, Khorana, Komherg, Miller, Ponnamperuma, Spiegelman, and Wald. I found the choice of articles excellent. I have given the indexes in "Benchmark Papers" mired reviews (THISJOURNAL,52, A485, A562 (1975)), and I find the practice followed in the present author index regretable. Instead of directing the reader t o the reference where i t appears in the teat (multiply, if necessary) the index lists the page number of the Literature Cited section a t the end of each article. If the former method had been used. a reader interested in knowing if the work and views of Smith are contained in the present volume can find them readily in the text and if he wishes to consult the originals, the text references lead directly to the Literature Cited. In the present volume the reader can readily find Smith in the Literature Cited. He now has the ehancev ioh of findine reference 97 in a long (up t o i 9 pages) ar&le. If the author has further complicated life by alphabetiz~~~
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ing his references, the reader is looking for the proverbial needle. Furthermore, an page 24 some work of Cyril Ponnamperuma is mentioned, hut the reader could never find it from the index no matter how diligently he tried beause i t is simply not there. I was pleasantly surprised t o find the universal acceptance of natural selection ("Darwinian evolution") operating on the earliest forms of life and its precursors, as well as on relatively small differences in later forms. Under one name or another, the "neutralists" have been comhatting Darwin for over one hundred years, constantly diminishing the difference between two forms and challinging the "selectionist" t o respond. Obviously, as the difference between the traits approaches zero, the difficulty in showing selection apnroaches infinitv. Since the advent of molecular hiology, the "neutralist" school has been ahle to focus on differences as small as a single amino aeid in a polypeptide sequence (cf. Kimura, Nature, 217. 624 (1968) and King aild Jukes, Science, 164. 788 (1969) and, for the seleetianist response, Uzzell and Corhin, Science, 172, 1089 (1971), Crowson, J. Mol. Eool., 2. 28 (1972), and Van Valen, ibid., 3, 89 (1974)). There is a strong seleetionist thread throughout this entire volume. Wald, in concluding his discussion of optical activity, states the selectionist principle succinctly: "We are the products of editing, rather than of authorship." One unfortunate error was encountered with annoying frequency. If a biologist spoke of titrating muriatic aeid with sodium hydrate, his usage would (correctly) he scoffed a t by chemists. Yet some of these same chemists think nothing of using such abominations as homo sopiens (pp. 285, 286) or E. Coli (p. 288). The erring biologist can a t least claim he is only a hundred years or so out of date; the above examples of "scientific" names have never been eorrect. All scientific names must be set off by a different type-face (usually italics) from surrounding material. Generic names are always capitalized. Specific epithets should he lower case (some older botanists capitalized patronyms but this practice is discuuraged) To claim that lhere may be e r n m ol editorship rather than authorship only compounds the problem. Journal editors should he at least as literate as authors! I have discussed the pros and cons of remint volumes of the "Benchmark" series in previous reviews, and I have followed with interest bath the favorable and unfawrable reviews of "Benchmarks" in other purnals. The volumes previously reviewed consisted mainly of original research papers on various subjects. In contrast, the present book comprises, in addition t o original literature, review articles and general, semi-specialist discussions as illustrated hy some of the sources: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Chemical and Engineering News, Chemical Reviews, Endeauaur, Science, and Scientific American. One source is another book! As a result, the intended audience appears t o he somewhat different from that of the oreviouslv reviewed volumes. I doubt very much that either Sol Spiegelman or Arthur Kornberg ran right
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book reviews out and ordered a copy for his research-library. On the other hand, I have mentioned the interest I found in this biochemical bridge, and I can envision a bright young undergraduate finding the volume on a library shelf and avidly devouring its contents. As with all books of this type, each chemist and librarian will have to judge the usefulness of each volume in his own particular context. James E. Huheey UniyBnW of Mawand College Park. 20742
Radlatlon Physics and Chemistry of Polymers
F. A. Makhlis, Russia. Keter Publishing House, Jerusalem, 1975. xi 287 pp. Figures and tables. 24 X 17 cm.
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In spite of its importance in theory and practice, there is too little information available in polymer textbooks on the effect of high energy radiation on polymers. Hence, it is of interest t o note that this treatise on radiation science of polymers published in Russian in 1972 has been translated into English by the Israel Program for Scientific translations. This relatively comprehensive and practically ori-
ented review is remarkedly complete for Russian publications through about 1970. High energy radiation from electron beams, neutrons, or from alpha, beta or gamma ray8 initiates ionization and free radical formation. This process may result in chain scission or crosslink in^ deoendine ~=~ on the d a ~ rate e and the polymer rrrurttrre. The crosslinking of pulyethylme hy irradiation is a well known commercial process used to increase the heat resistance of film and wire coatings and to provide heat shrinkable tubing. Unfortunately, there are no references to polyethylene nor to other polymers in the index. The radiation process has also been used to polymerize vinyl monomers impregnated in wood and for the curing of rubber. Radiation has also been used for grafting monomers on cellulose and wool. Equally important, in this atomic age, are polymers that are resistant to high energy radiation. This list includes aromatic compounds whieh are characterized by low ionization potentials and the presence of Low level excitation states. For example, polyimidazopyrrolones called pyrrones, which are not discussed in this book, are of interest in space technology because of their resistance to radiation. Highly effective orotectine additives such as sulfhvdrvl compounds h&e donor acceptor prop;rti& with respect t o the hydrogen atom. Polymers used for the secondary shielding against neutrons should have a high hydrogen content. Thus, polyethylene films are used as radiation shields. Since 1 ton of polyethylene is equivalent in neutron shielding ability to 12.5 tons of lead, it has .7
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been used on nuclear powered surface ships and submarines. Polyethylene has also been proposed for use in space vehicles as a protective screen against cosmic radiation. Seven chapters are devoted to discussions of important radiation reactions such as: erosslinking, degradation, dosimeter values, radiation sources, temperature dependence, prevention of radiation resetions, property changes during radiolysis and nuclear engineering applications of polymers. A comprehensive bibliography with many English language references aecompanies each chapter. However, there is no author index a t the end of the book. Most of the translation is well done. However, in the extensive discussion of Fricke dosimeter, the name is given a s "Frike". The letters L.E.L. instead of L.E.T. are used for Linear energy transfer and the expression "threshold" concentration is used rather than the "limiting" concentration of free radicals. Also the word "overcharge" is used instead of "superexcitation" to describe a non-ionization process. This hook would be a valuable addition t o the library of every polymer radiation chemist. Because of its practical orientation which is probably essential for Soviet reaearch and reviews, this book should he of particular value to space and nuclear engineers. Raymond 0. Seymour University of Houston Houston. Texas 77004
The Osmotlc Pressure of Biological Macromolecules
M. P. Tombs, Unilever Research Laboratories, Colworth House, and A. R. Peoeoeke, Clare College, Cambridge. Clarendon Press, New York, 1975. vii + 143 p. Figures and tables. 16 X 24 cm. $22.50 This volume on osrnometry is the fifth in the series of monographs on Physical Biochemistry edited by W. F. Harrington and A. R. Peacacke and published by Oxford University Press. The four chapters of the book have devoted roughly equal space to theory and practical matters related to the phenomenon and use of osmotic pressure for the study and characterization of bioloeical macromolecules in solution. The first rhapwr is part~cularlyuseful in that it introduce. the unmtt~arcdstudenr and mtewstrd render to the general pwhlem of the thermodynamics of macromolecules in solution and t o the theory of threecomponent and multicomponent solutions that has application not only to osmotic pressure but also to ultracentrifugation and light scattering methods. Both the Scatchard and the Cassassa-Eisenberg formalisms and notations used in the study of charged macromolecules in the presence of two or more diffusible components across membranes are described in this chapter. The latter theories are important for the understandine- and descriotian ofbioloeieal systems at usmutic rquihbrium or constant chemical potential in the presence uf r r n ~ l l diffusible components, rinrr r h q reduce
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