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framework of this research. A thorough review of the most important advances in the area would have added some historical perspective which is lacking in this volume.

The collection of articles on cell-cell recognition in various systems contains some of the most interesting, but also the most frustrating, presentations in the volume. In most of the articles, carbohydrates and lectins are implicated in recognition processes but the lectins are rarely isolated or characterized. The most intriguing system involves the interaction of the nitrogen-fixing bacter- ial symbiont Rhizobium trifolii with clover root hairs (Dazzo and Hollings- worth), a problem of obvious com- mercial value in agriculture. In this case a lectin, trifoliin A, has been isolated from the clover and shown to agglutin- ate the bacteria. Polysaccharides of the bacteria are being investigated, and there is hope that genetic analysis will aid in elucidating the mechanisms for attachment of bacteria to the root hairs. Bacteria also bind to mammalian cells. The specificity of this binding by various species and strains of bacteria can distinguish various classes of lympho- cytes (Teodorescu). Bacterial adherence is known to occur through carbo- hydrate-binding components on the bacterial fimbriae (pili). However, other bacterial surface regions may contain lectins and participate in the association of bacteria with eukaryotic cells (Eshdat and Sharon). Moreover, mammalian cells, such as macrophages, contain carbohydrate-binding proteins which can recognize bacteria, yeast and ery- throcytes (Sharon). Whether these all differ from the receptors involved in endocytosis remains to be determined.

Like most conference volumes of this type, this volume will be of greatest interest to those working directly in the field. A cursory reading provides an interesting overview of the different systems and types of studies which are in progress, but aside from the two lead articles and the review on Rhizobium, the articles are too pointed and brief to be of great interest to a general audience. Fortunately, the volume ap- peared quickly enough to make it a use- ful contribution to the research litera- ture. For this, the editor should be congratulated.

K E R M I T L. C A R R A W A Y is in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, U S A .

Molecular 0 ncology Today Oncogenes and Viral Genes. 1984. Edited by G. F. V. WOUDE, A. J. LEVINE, W. C. TOPP and J. D. WATSON. Cancer Cells, Volume 2. Pp. 564. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. $65 ($78 outside US). By Tom Curran Historically, Cold Spring Harbour Lab- oratory has played a major role as a meetings center for the Biological Scien- ces. While the precise subject-matter, and to some degree the scientific quality, of the meetings are dictated by the predilections of current fashion, there has always been an attempt to organize gatherings coincident with minor scien- tific revolutions or at least with the reassessment of basic paradigms. Onco- genes and Viral Genes, together with the companion volume, The Transformed Phenotype, provides a comprehensive account of such a meeting. This is the first in the new Cancer Cells series, which supersedes the Cold Spring Harbor Conferences on Cell Prolifera- tion held over the previous ten years. The theme of this inaugural meeting, as stated by the editors, is that an overall understanding of the cancer cell requires unified application of both cellular and molecular biology, and that these disciplines are now interdependent. Although this concept is perhaps self- evident to most investigators, it is underscored by many of the more sig- nificant presentations. It is particu- larly apparent in papers dealing with the relationships of oncogenes and growth factors and in those concerned with transformation of primary cells by the concerted action of oncogenes.

The first volume, The Transformed Phenotype, stresses biological aspects of the cancer cell, although there are two papers discussing the relationship of platelet-derived growth factor and the sis oncogene. Volume 2, Oncogenes and Viral Genes, continues with the molecular analyses of oncogenes, emph- asizing the structural and functional relationship between viral oncogenes (v-onc) and cellular proto-oncogenes (c-onc). In addition, some attempts are made to address the role of oncogenes in growth processes.

The volume is divided into ten chapters, following the organization of the meeting’s sessions. Two are devoted to src, one to ras, and a selection of the remaining retroviral oncogenes share two chapters. There are sections on polyoma virus, adenovirus, SV40 (focus- ing mainly on the T-binding tumor

antigen p53) and chromosomal rear- rangements, and one chapter which con- centrates on the in uitro transformation of non-established cultures of embryo cells. To comment on particular papers would be to display a personal bias; however, certain highlights deserve special mention. Much excitement was generated last year by the demonstra- tion of malignant conversion of primary cells by the concerted action of two on- cogenes. Analyses of the interactions between the myc and ras, SV40 large T and small t, adenovirus EIA and ras, and adenovirus EIA and EIB genes are presented. A role for oncogenes in human neoplasia is implicated in discus- sions of chromosomal rearrangements such as c-myc in Burkitts lymphoma and c-abl in chronic myelogenous leukemia. Furthermore, there are a total of six manuscripts dealing with the activation of various ras genes in human and animal tumors. In addition, this volume contains a great deal of information on the comparative structures of viral and cellular oncogenes. Although not all oncogenes are represented, data on the src, myc, myb, fos, erb, abl, fes, fms, re1 and p53 genes are presented. The section on adenovirus, in which various effects of the EIA gene on transcription are discussed, comes closest to a direct analysis of oncogene function.

Publications such as this, in which the proceedings of a meeting are reported, are often a mixed bag. Papers often bear little relationship to the substance of the actual presentations and may indeed represent material unfit for publication elsewhere. Some investigators take the

--epportunity to present a biased histori- cal treatise, of archival interest at best. Fortunately, the present volume does not suffer from these ills to any great extent, Although in this field manu- scripts can become outdated before the ink is dry, Oncogenes and Viral Genes will find a niche: first, as a relatively concise presentation of the ideas and concepts which are molding the direc- tion of research at a crucial time, and second, as a collection of raw data of immediate consequence to those working in the field.

On the negative side, not everyone will find their pet oncogene represented. However, there are difficulties involved in making such a volume all-inclusive. A great deal of space is devoted to the src oncogene. While this may be warranted by the wealth of available data, it is not necessarily a reflection of progress. In terms of overall construction, it would not have been amiss if the editors had

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taken time to introduce each chapter, perhaps by explaining its significance or by outlining the questions being addressed.

In general, the manuscripts are well written and provided with sufficient introduction to make the experimental approaches relevant. I would not rec- ommend this book to those wishing to gain a broad but superficial knowledge of oncogenes. Rather, I would describe this volume as the meat and potatoes of molecular oncology, of specific use to active investigators in the area or to graduate students and new investigators in the process of getting their feet wet.

I I TOM C U R R A N is at the Deparfment of Molecular Oncology and Developmental Biology, Roche Research Center, Nutley, New Jersey 07110, USA.

I I

Preservation of Plant Germ Plasm for Agriculture Crop Genetic Resources: Conservation and Evaluation. Edited by J. H. W. HOLDEN and J . T. WILLIAMS. George Allen and Unwin, 1984. Pp. 296. Hardcover €20.00; paperback: €9.95. By Harold W. Woolhouse This book was produced to mark the tenth year of operations of the Inter- national Board for Plant Genetic Re- sources; it is primarily concerned with issues in the conservation, multiplication and evaluation of genetic resources,

which are thought likely to be important in the next ten years.

The book begins with a survey of the last ten years of genetic resources research (a dry but useful account of how the effort has been organized) and concludes with a discussion of what is to be done in the next ten. This last chapter includes some useful suggestions for coping with the deluge of material that has been collected over the past ten years.

Sandwiched between these two administratively focused statements are twenty-two chapters, ranging from seed deterioration in storage to the impact of molecular biology on genetic resources.

Roberts et al. provide three chapters on seed storage life, deterioration, and the problem of recalcitrant species; their research is good and is central to the maintenance of germ-plasm collections, but one feels they must grow weary of writing over similar ground yet again.

Gale and Lawrence contribute an investigation of the decline in genetic variability over successive generations of a program of genetic conservation. The importance of their subject is clear, but their heavy theoretical treatment is not, and one is left wondering whether their common-sense conclusions could not have been arrived at in advance of all the mathematics. The use of mathe- matical models is seen to more obvious advantage in Chapman’s article on the relationship between the size of a collection and the proportion of the total genetic variation contained therein. L. A. Withers provides an up-to-date

and practical account of in vitro tech- niques for the conservation of germ plasm.

There are chapters devoted to the special problems of handling germ plasm of topical fruits, rice and cross- pollinated forage crops and several articles on ‘evaluation’ of different germ plasms; these are little more than trite accounts of what is being done in different centres.

In the two penultimate chapters, Scowcroft et al. and Peacock consider the impact of somaclonal variation and recombinant DNA technology on crop genetic resources. This reviewer is inclined to share the optimism of these authors that these new technologies will revolutionize our approach to the creation and conservation of germ plasm. In the meantime, however, we had better settle for the more cautious line that this is too serious a matter to be decided on the enthusiastic advocacy of as-yet unproven methods.

A reading of this book conveys a sense of solid achievement which it is useful to have on record. As one encounters the community of collectors, conservators and evaluators of germ plasm, one is often struck by their energy and enthusiasm for their work; it is regrettable that so little of this sense of mission and dynamic enthusiasm comes through in this worthy but ultimately somewhat dull compendium.

John Innes Institute, Colney Lane, Norwich NRY IUH, UK.