easy to read and is in places. sometimes due to errors, confusing. A more careful de- velopment would have been much easier to follow. This could have been achieved, without lengthening the book, by omitting some of the long series of maps of surname distributions over the UK. The book is certainly useful for its comprehensive bib- liography. This reviewer has doubts whether this very specialised corner of anthropology has a great deal to tell us about the genetic structure of populations. The topic de- scribed in this book is perhaps most fasci- nating in being so precisely defined and self-contained.

R. N. Curnow

Genome Multiplication in Growth and Development. Biology of Polyploid and Polytene Cells. By V. Ya. Brodskya and 1. V. Uryvaeva. Pp. 305. Cambridge University Press. 1985. f39.50 ($79.50).

The authors’ aims, achieved with a remark- able degree of success, are to explore ‘poly- ploidy and polyteny as phenomena of nor- mal development’ and ‘the modes of and reasons for genome multiplication’. After a brief introduction, which gives historical perspective and clarifies terminology. the authors present some of the 300 cases of polyploidy and polyteny known in animals. plants, and protozoa. The accounts have extraordinary precision and there is critical evaluation of technique. The emphasis is on function, rather than merely description, and on the search for unifying concepts. The section on the mechanisms for changing the number of genomes is broad and extends to DNA amplification and diminution; in addi- tion, biochemical and physiological informa- tion is woven into a satisfying, coherent account. The final chapters are devoted mainly to the quest for functional signi- ficance in polyploidy and polyteny. Structu- ral, biochemical, and genetic consequences of genome multiplication are considered; inevitably, in a partly speculative exercise; the arguments are not uniformly persuasive. but all are stimulating. The volume is well produced, and the authors have been served excellently by their translator. In its breadth, its 900 references. and its particu- lar approach. this book is likely to have enduring value for biologists who wish to see polyploidy and polyteny in a wide con- text.

J. A. Roper

A Dictionary of Genetic Engineering. By Stephen G. Oliver and John M. Ward. Pp. 153. Cambridge University Press. 1985. f 12.50 ($19.95).

The term ‘genetic engineering’ is a potent prod for stimulating the imagination. Impor- tant to realise, however, that today’s genetic engineers are still primitives - they have

invented their wheel and lever, but some development is needed before a man can step on the moon. And this dictionary is honest there: ‘genetic engineering’ is given as ‘a popular term for the use in virro techniques .‘_

Best perhaps to take this book rather lightly, as a source of sometimes illuminat- ing. sometimes amusing definitions and facts. It does not achieve the status of a systematic reference work. and indeed rather stumbles over thoroughness of cover- age. A significant omission: no mention of vaccinia. A really major shortfall: no treat- ment of synthesis and uses of oligonuc- leotides (which are real genetic cn- gineering).

The book’s target audience remains hazy to me. Although it is not comprehensive enough for serious professional use. it might be incomprehensible to anyone else. But this may be a limitation of the view from my desk. The potential, non-technical reader should remember that effort will be re- quired, and that one book is not enough. To this person, wishing to know about cutting and running, entrapment and enrichment, ARS elements and JUGFET, day-minus, freeze-squeeze, sex-factors, and dideox- ynucleoside triphosphates - read on, and remember, it really is another culture.

D. J. McGeoch

Environmental Regulation of Microbial Metabolism. Edited by 1. S. Kulav, A. E. Dawes, and 0. W. Tempest. Pp. 515. Academic P&s, Orlando, f/a. 1985. $49.00 (f49.00).

The Federation of European Microbiologic- al Societies held a symposium at Puschino (USSR) in June 1983 and the edited pro- ceedings of the meeting comprise this book. The fifty-two contributions include plenary lectures and research papers on the environ- mental regulation of metabolism in heterot- rophic and autotrophic microbes; the secre- tion of macromolecules; solute and metabo- lite transport in eukaryotes and prokary- otes; and the biogenesis of cell structure.

The contents are wide-ranging and in- elude numerous insights into microbial phy- siology and biochemistry. The impact of the environment on cell metabolism is not, however, always apparent. Much laboratory-based research on microbial ecophysiology and metabolism, as reviewed here. is traditionally performed with pure cultures, isolated by enrichment with high levels of the nutrient of interest. The im- portance of studying microbes isolated from nutrient-limited locations. which often pre- vail in natural environments, and their scavenging ability is emphasised.

Almost half of the contributions are from laboratories in the USSR and these, with their bibliographies, provide a useful and accessible record of research which is often overlooked by microbiologists elsewhere. The high cost of this rapid manuscript reproduction will deter many individuals but

it is recommended for purchase by micro- biology and biochemistry libraries.

G. A. Codd

Photodissociation and Photoionization. Edited by K. P. Lawley. Pp. 474. Wiley, Chichester. 1985. f47.50.

‘Advances in Chemical Physics’ and its sister journals are well established amongst the foremost of scientific reviews. They are written by specialists for specialists, but the present volume on Photodissociation and Photoionization should have wider appeal. As an atomic physicist. this is hardly my line, but I found the articles surprisingly comprehensible and succinct. At the same time they offer expert summaries, informed comment, and a host of references to the active researcher, and the contributors were drawn from as far apart as the USA, UK. USSR, Canada, and Israel.

Lasers. as everyone knows, acquired the tag of ‘a solution looking for a problem’. But if a general reader is inclined to wonder what use chemists are making of lasers. he could hardly do better than browse through this book; where he will discover that they are doing very well indeed.

Laser light is highly monochromatic and so (in a number of ingenious ways) it can resolve the fine vibrational, rotational. and electronic spectra of molecules with beauti- ful precision. The light may also be intense so that photons may be considered to arrive at a molecule or atom in rapid succession and so ionize it in successive stages. Or the photons may arrive ‘all at once’ so that their energies add together.

Many applications are described in these reviews. e.g. the production of deuterium to moderate a heavy water reactor or to sepa- rate isotopes of uranium for naughtier pur- poses. The book describes such a host of ingenious experimental and theoretical work that I found it fascinating. Which. I sup- pose, shows that chemistry really is a wonderful subject when it merges with phy- sics

Ken Dolder

Semi-empirical Methods of Quantum Chemistry. By Joanna Sadlej. Pp. 386. Ellis Hot-wood, Chichester. 1985. f42.50.

This book presents a comprehensive account of semi-empirical methods, and re- views a plethora of results of many kinds. Its stated aims are to popularize these methods as an additional research tool and to present them in a suitable manner for the non-theoretician.

The recent advances in computers and in a6 initio quantum chemical methods may call in question the timeliness of such a lengthy discussion of semi-empirical methods. However. in spite of some heroic calculations, ab inirio methods are still not routinely applied to molecules larger than IS atoms say. Also, a large number of ordinary chemists are still using ‘black-box’

52

semi-empirical programs. For those already involved, it would greatly benefit their understanding to study this book, including the earlier mathematical chapters (2-4). where the SCF method, the All-Valence Approximation. and Parameterization are presented nicely with the series of ‘approx- imations’ and ‘assumptions’ clearly iden- tified.

However, this book expects quite a high level of mathematical ability, including mat- rix notation. Anyone just entering the field might be advised to jump to the chapters discussing results (5-10) on Molecular Prop- erties, Conformational Analysis, Reactivity, Spectroscopy. Hydrogen-bonding, and Quantum Pharmacology. Has the secondary aim been achieved? This is doubtful, which raises some doubt that the main aim will be achieved.

Stephen Bell

Macromolecular Syntheses. Edited by J. A. Moore. Pp. 105. Wiley, Chichester, 1985. f43.35.

The held of polymers with special properties is one of the growth areas of polymer science and this series is potentially a very valuable source of information on their synthesis. However, the present format does not seem to me to promote this objective. In spite of the meticulous and classically presented chemistry (after the model of Organic Syntheses), I found my attention frequently distracted by the question ‘Why did the authors want to synthesise this polymer? Occasionally, intuition provides the answer; sometimes the answer is hidden away in the ‘notes’ at the end of each chapter. In some cases. however, there is no obvious reason, at least to this reader.

The series underlines the importance of technique and precision in polymer synth- esis which is often lacking in the current literature. From this point of view it should be valuable supplementary reading for po- lymer synthesists in universities and in in- dustrial research departments. However, the price would prohibit most researchers from buying it and in the present climate it would probably be considered something of a luxury in most university libraries.

G. Scott

Oscillations and Traveling Waves in Chemical Systems. Edited by R. J. Field and M. Burger. Pp. 681. Wiley, Chichester. 1985. f98.30.

In relation to the spectrum of science this topic has a relevance comparable with that of thermodynamics, and the increase in its intellectual status over the 30 years to 1982 matches that of thermodynamics to 1852. This unremarked coincidence is germane to the final chapter of the book. which analyses the development of the literature of liquid- phase chemical oscillators as an example of the Kuhnian ‘scientific revolution’. It sug- gests that 60 of the 1100 relevant papers are ‘at least important’.

The rest of the book is. on the whole.

The introduction is by Zhabotinskii and

successful in identifying. to the diligent reader, these 60 papers. Unsurprisingly, the

the Appendix is (gracefully) Belousov’s ori-

Belousov-Zhabotinskii reaction figures largely, along with the mechanism first

ginal. unpublished, paper. Good indexing

proposed (but not yet, I think. conclusively established) by Field, Koros, and Noyes.

and editing (repetitious detailing of the

and their paradigmatic model. the ‘Orego- nator’. Mathematical theory (not for the

Oregonator aside), and the IIOO-item bib-

faint-hearted) is thoroughly explored (300 pp), and gas evolution, isothermal gas-phase

liography, makes this book essential reading

oxidation, and ‘cool flame’ oscillators are adequately covered.

for the would-be sailor on the chemical waves.

A. J. B. Cruickshank

Inclusion Compounds. Vol. 1. Structural Aspects of Inclusion Compounds Formed by Organic and Organometallic Host Lattices. Pp. 420. Vol. 2. Structural Aspects of Inclusion Compounds Formed by Organic Host Lattices, Pp. 499. Vol. 3. Physical Properties and Applications, Pp. 669. Edited by J. L. Atwood, J. f. D. Davies and D. D. MacNicol. Academic Press, Orlando, Fla. 1984. Vol. 7 $70.00 (f48.00); Vol. 2, $72.00 (f49.50); Vol. 3, $98.00 (f65.00).

Since H. M. Powell laid the structural foundations of inclusion chemistry in the late 1940s and early 195Os, the subject has expanded considerably. These three volumes represent a brave attempt to survey the current state of development and health of this subject. The volumes deal respective- ly with structural aspects, thermodynamics and physical measurements, and industrial applications.

Although a fair amount of historical coverage is helpful, I feel that a disprop- ortionate amount of some of the chapters is devoted to describing work which has already been adequately reviewed. Signi- ficant space is devoted, for example, to describing the structures of urea. hydro- quinone. hydrate, and Werner- and Hoffmann-type inclusion compounds. There is, for example, a chapter that does not cite a reference post 1970 - hardly earth shatter- ing state-of-the-art science. The coverage of zeolites is useful, though this is now virtual- ly a subject in its own right and other detailed texts are already available.

Overall, it is surprising how few really new inclusion compound forming molecules have been developed over the last twenty years. A notable exception to this has been the dramatic growth in recent years of crown ether- and cryptand-type molecules. The coverage of this is quite good and up-to-date. Similarly, the analysis of struc- ture and development of uses of cyclodex-

trins has also been quite extensive and this is also adequately described.

The sections on physical measurements are again somewhat mixed, some describe imaginative application of modern techni- ques, others on the other hand are very ordinaire.

The high points of this trilogy are two excellent chapters in volume 3, one by J. Szejtli on the industrial applications of cyc- lodextrins and the other by I. Tabushi on

Despite their shortcomings, these volumes are still quite valuable references

the reactions of inclusion complexes formed

for those interested in investigating the scope for future development in an area of

by cyclodcxtrins and their derivatives.

chemistry with major undeveloped poten- tial.

D. J. Williams

Analytical Solution Calorimetry. Edited by J. Keith Grime. Pp. 401. Wiley, Chichester. 1985. f69.40.

‘To provide a comprehensive guide for the application of calorimentry to analytical chemistry’ is the stated objectives of this multi-authored volume. It certainly is a guide. However, the practising analyst will question its comprehensiveness, there being insufficient detail to make, purchase, or operate the equipment required. Also the last two chapters on applications, which are probably the most valuable contribution - constituting over half the book - emphasize post-1973 work. The reader is expected to consult former books and reviews for older work.

An introductory chapter, which classifies instrumental techniques and mistakenly de- fines the joule as the watt, is followed by chapters on theoretical aspects. instru- mentation, and data reduction. The most recent coupling of flow injection methodolo- gy with calorimetric detection is dealt with separately in an interesting chapter. There is a feeling of ‘deja vu’ about the next chapter on determination of thermodynamic prop- erties, but nevertheless it is a useful over- view.

One can only regret that the older litera- ture on calorimetry, such as White’s ‘The modern calorimeter’ published in 1928. is unfamiliar to the new generation of analysts who manage to rediscover old principles. However, traditional is followed needlessly with Wheatstone bridge detection when more modern bridges with linear outputs are available.

A. A. Woolf

Polymer Degradation and Stabilisation. By Norman Grassie and Gerald Scott. Pp. 222. Cambridge University Press. 1985. f27.50 ($54.50).

Polymer degradation and stabilisation cov- ers such a wide field that it would be difficult for a single writer to deal authorita- tively with the whole area. It is therefore

53