Book Reviews

BOOK REVIEWS ENDOCYTOBIOLOGY Endosymbiosis and Cell Biology: A Synthesis of Recent Research W. Schwemmler and H.E. Schenk, editors (Proceedings of the International Colloquium on Endo symbiosis and Cell Research, Tiibingen, Germany, April1980) Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, New York. 1060 pp. 1980 One of the most significant events in biological evolution was undoubtedly the transition from primitive prokaryotic cells to advanced eukaryotic cells. Data concerning this important step are unfortunately lacking and it constitutes one of the greatest "discontinuities" in evolution. There are two main schools of thought concerning the origin of eukaryotic organelles: (1) that they evolved by the compartmentalization of DNA within the cytoplasm of an evolving protoeukaryote, (2) that they developed from free-living prokaryotic organisms which invaded (or were taken up by endocytosis, i.e. endosymbiosis) host cells and established symbiotic relationships. This symbiotic model proposes, for example, that the chloroplasts and mitochondria were originally free-living blue-green algae and aerobic bacteria, respectively, which turned into cellular organelles. There are also symbiotic relationships in which lower unicellular organisms (e.g. bacteria and algae) share a habitat with eukaryotic organisms. Endocytobiology deals with symbiotic phenomena in modem biology. Emphasis is on symbiosis and the nonsymbiotic scheme of evolution is barely treated. The volume contains much evolutionary biology, the heroes of the drama being time and some organisms of unknown taxonomic position. However, it should be remembered that the transition from pro- to eukBryota took place a few billion years ago and therefore most evolutionary conclusions following the discussions are only of a speculative nature. Most of the papers are well presented. They are grouped into six sections, from prokaryotes, protozoa, fungi and insects to higher animals and plants, all dealing with symbiotic phenomena as explored by modem tools of research (labelling, sequencing, electrophoresis and electronmicro scopy). The chloroplasts, mitochondria, endocyanoses and a new world of partners living together endosymbiotically are of major interest in the book. Examples of questions often asked are: Are cynalles or their DNA analogous to chloroplast DNA? What are the interrelationships of organelle DNA and nucleo-cytoplasm? What was the endocytobiotic mechanism? Although the issue of organelle origin and endocytobiosis is not new (it was proposed about a century ago), we see in Endocytobiology a good attempt at presenting the symbiotic view of the structure of organelle DNA, gene expression and DNA plasmids. Despite the fact that the symbiosis hypothesis is becoming more and more popular among scientists both within and outside this specific evolu tionary field, there are points which are still unanswered or are contradictory. This volume provides additional information (e.g. about the green hydra, algae in flat worms, in medusa, marine sponges and Mullusca) and data to allow the theory a better understanding. It also contains accounts of various symbiotic associations within the biological world, e.g. nitrogen-fixing bacteria in higher plant tissues. The book is well organized, with a supplemehtary index (subject and species), and is well produced. It can be recommended as a source of reference for current research in the field. Those wishing to enlarge their knowledge of this field are also referred to the proceedings of a conference held in New York a few months prior to the TUbingen colloquium (Origins and Evolution of Eukaryotic Intracellular Organelles- Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 361 (ed. J.F. Fredrick)). Joreph Seckbach Jerutllllem 174 Vol. 32, 1983 BOOK REVIEWS 175 HISTORY OF BOTANICAL SCIENCES A.G.Morton ACtldemic Pren, London. XII+ 474 pp. 1981. Paperback £8.80 ''The property of history", said Polybius, "is first, to ascertain what was actually said or done, and second, to discover the causes of success or failure. It is the study of causes which makes history fruitful and a basis for estimating the future ...."These concluding words to Professor Morton's History of Botanical Science acted as his guideline in writing the book. The history of botany from its earUest beginning in the ancient world (Old and New) and up to 1912 is comprehensive, very weD written and interesting. However, the 20th century since 1912 (the year when Eduard Strasburger died) receives but sketchy treatment and, unfortunately, cannot serve as a basis for estimating the future of botanical sciences. The estabUshment of botany as a science in western Europe during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries is presented by the author as a profound analysis of the events occurring during those years and with a deep understanding of the leading botanists (Chapters 6-10). Hence, one tends to aaree with the author (pp. 459--460) that ''the many-.ided growth of plant ph)'liology since the 1930's may well be regarded as the biggest advance in modern botany, yet the outlook which guided it and the methods of investigation employed would have been perfectly comprehensible to Naegeli and Sachs and other plant physiologists of the last century ...." Admiring as he does the 19th-century botanists, he attributes the discovery of photoperiodism to Garner and Allard (p. 463 & note 63, p. 54), without a mention of the pioneers who paved the way to the fmal demonstration. The history of photoperiodism has already been recounted by L.T. Evans in The Induction of Flowering (Ithaca, N.Y., 1969). The achievements of the great agricultural civilization in the Fertile Crescent are outlined (Chapter 1) and the matchless contributions of the Greeks (Aristotle, Theophrastus) and their Roman followers (Pliny and others) are very thoroughly described (Chapters 2 & 3). In this connection one wonders why the knowledge of plants, their medicinal value and the approach to agriculture as depicted In the Bible, the Misbna and the Talmud, which was made available to European science by Loew in Die Flora der Juden (4 volumes, Vienna, 1924-1934) was omitted. Even If this contribution is considered by some to be peripheral to that of other civilizations of the Near East and the Mediterranean it deserves at least a mention. While reading of the traditional botany of India and East Asia (Chapters 1 & 3) I could not help wondering what happened when these cultures were exposed to the science of the western world. Morton (note no. 1, p. 464) states that the traditional knowledge of India, China and Japan fused with modern science, but such an important statement is unfortunately not followed by a reference. This criticism is of general importance since the bibliography in the book is far from comprehensive, a disadvantage to those who want to study further the history of botany. The notes are generally very useful, but in several cases the same information is given both in the text and in the notes. In other cases the reasons for one item being in the text and another in a note are not clear. For example, DeBary's contributions to plant anatomy are divided between the text (the discovery of the endodermis, p. 429) and a note (the defming of the pericycle, no. 28, p. 444). The index is rather Umited in its coverage; the notes, it seems, were not even included in the indexing. All these, however, are but minor criticisms of a mlijor contribution. M.Negbi Rehovot .

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