BOOK REVIEWS 445 MODERN THEORIES OF DEVELOPMENT: AN IN- Regeneration is suggested as the persistence of TRODUCTION TO THEORETICAL BIOLOGY, Ludwig individuation fields which respond to metabolic Von Bertalanffy,$1.50, Torch Books (paper- gradients. The last part dealing with genes is back) Harper and Brothers,New York, 1961. new. This book was first published in English by James M. Sanders the Oxford Press, 1933, and the present edition Chicago Teachers College is a reprint. The author proposes to synthesize Chicago, Illinois a biological system, based on physics and chemistry, which avoids vitalistic teleology as ON GROWTH AND FORM, Abridged Edition, well as simple purely mechanisticconcepts. The D'Arcy W. Thompson, J. T. Bonner, Ed., organism is greater than the sum of its parts, 346 pp., $5.95, Cambridge University Press, and organismic biology is presented as the sys- New York, 1961. to consider the tem-theory. Bertalanffy seems On growth and form, first published in 1917, Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/24/6/445/18516/4440035.pdf by guest on 28 September 2021 idea of organismic functions in biology as is still available in its author's 1942 revision equivalent to the central position in physics of ($18.50). For some purposes one should use the concepts of energy. the unabridged version. For most readers, cer- The fundamental character of a living thing tainly for the less sophisticated, Bonner's is its organization.The main problem in biology abridgement is not only less expensive but less is to discover the laws of physical systerns to likely to be misleading. It can hardly be recom- which the simpler physico-chemical phenomena mended (in any version) as light reading nor (ingredient parts) are subordinate.Experimental as suitable to any but the alert and enquiring embryology is used here as the starting point. student. The significance and value of this The synthesis is thorough and supports the treatise on the mathematics of biological form idea that the essence of an organism is the is confirmed by the fact that it is republished harmony and coordination of the individual after 45 years. process. From the germ cell onward it is a Sears Crowell unitary system- following epigenetic progress Department of Zoology according to two principles: Indiana University 1. The organic system tends to preserve itself. (Law of organic equilibrium) FROM FISH TO PHILOSOPHER, Homer W. Smiithl, 2. There is a hierarchical order of events 293 pp., $1.45, Doubleday and Company, both static and dynamic. (Organic systems Inc., Garden City, New York, 1961. have a tendency to develop the maximum First published in 1953, this edition is another organization) This reviewer could wish that revision might paperback in the new and exciting Natural have included some more recent work since History Library series of this publisher. The 1950.Recognition and acceptance af (organlismic well-known author traces the evolution of the principles seems to be more general among kidney throughout the animal kingdom. His than at the time the book main point is from Claude Bernard that the biologists at present liquid environment of the cell is the most im- was conceived. portant environmental factor to be concerned. James Sanders Smith's well-known thesis is that the kidneyr Chicago Teachers College determines this liquid environment. Therefore Chicago 21, Illinois the evolutionary history of animals, particularly the evolution of the kidney, is traced carefully How ANIMALS DEVELOP, C. H. Waddington, in this book in an entertaining way. He believes (Torchbook) Harper and Brothers, New that fish as primitive vertebrates began in fresh York, 1935, new edition 1962. water and gradually adapted to the salt-water. This book was written for people with little While this thesis is in dispute, the author or no background in biology. It presents in- presents it in a complete and entertaining wav. terestingly and clearly the story of development If the teacher is searching for interesting texts from egg and sperm, through formation of on evolution, this is it. A fine book for the germ layers, influence of organizers, secondary library. organization centers, and the final limitation of potentialities as development patterns restrict How LIFE GOES ON, Irving Zeichner, 122 pp., the earlier flexibility of cell masses. Their final $2.95, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, fate is determined by their loss of competency New Jersey, 1961. to respond to the influence of the earlier organ- The author has used much of the material, izers, as well as by new or changing compe- and some additional comments, on reproduction tencies, to new organizers and more local effects. and embryology found in most high school 446 THE AMERICAN BIOLOGY TEACHER biology texts to produce a book for junior covered in any detail in American texts on high and elementary pupils. The book is pre- immunology. A brief discussion of blood group sumably to be used as some type of introduction antigens can in no way be considered a substi- to sex training. The reviewer was disappointed tute for the book by Kabat. The discussion of in the treatment, some of the errors (trees Salmonella antigens is useful only if one cannot breathe), and the uneven vocabulary level. read the original German articles from which the work is derived. The last two chapters on LIFE AND ENERGY, Isaac Asimov, 380 pp., $4.95, thermodynamics and kinetics of antibody-anti- Doubleday and Company, Inc., New York 22, gen reactions, although apparently quite compli- 1962. cated, are really rather elementary applications Another quite excellent book from the type- of the laws of physical chemistry. It is ques- writer of a very prolific and capable scientist- tionable whether kinetics has made any contri- turned-writer. The list of titles by Dr. Asimov bution to our understanding of antibody-antigen is indeed impressive, and this book will rank reactions. Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/24/6/445/18516/4440035.pdf by guest on 28 September 2021 as an important one in the list. Because of its brevity and high price this One of the unusual characteristics of this book cannot be recommended as an introduc- book is the beautiful way in which biology tion to immunochemical specificity. and biochemistry are interwoven so that one- Thomas D. Brock hialf of the book is not on chemistry and one- Department of Bacteriology half on biology. The basic theme is the Indiana University relationships of life and energy. A great many historical allusions help in the unfolding of CHEMICALULTRASTRUCTURE IN LIVING TISSUES, the story. J. B. Finean, 131 pp., $6.00, Charles C. Thomas, While this review could deservedly be quite Publisher, Springfield, Illinois, 1961. long and detailed, its chief message is that This little volume starts with a survey of teachers interested in the biochemical approach methods which have contributed to knowledge to biology teaching-certainlv the BSCS Blue of submicroscopic structure, a section which version teachers-must have this book. It will might have been expanded and would have been make an invaluable book for teacher and improved by the inclusion of some illustrations. student. Other biology teachers should read The second section deals with the structural this for its amazing synthesis of biochemical chemistry of organic macromolecules in isola- concepts and modern biology. tion, and the third is concerned with their par- ticipation in cellular systems. The whole seems INTRODUCTION TO IMMUNOCHEMICAL SPECIFICITY, to be directed especially toward medical sci- William C. Boyd, 158 pp., $8.00, Interscience ences but is sufficiently complete and detailed Publishers, New York, 1962. to enlighten biologists of all specialties. The author states: "This little book is in- Charles W. Hagen, Jr. tended to introduce the reader to our present Department of Botany knowledge of immunochemical specificity. It Indiana University is aimed at the nonspecialist as well as the specialist. RESPIRATORY METABOLISM IN PLANTS, Harry This book can in no way be considered a Beevers, 232 pp., $3.85, Row, Peterson and substitute for a standard text on immunology. Company, Evanston, Illinois, 1961. It is a compilation of a series of lectures given In writing this monograph, Dr. Beevers has in Moscow, and the material presented is too performed a very fine favor for botanists,plant abbreviated to be of any use to the specialist biochemists, and plant physiologists. Investi- or the nonspecialist. The style of writing is gations concerned with the biochemistry of awkward and the book seems to contain a plant respiration in earlier days often were number of errors. For instance, even the non- sporadic ones; more recently numerous high- specialist would find an error in the following powered programs have been in existence, but statement: "Gram-negative bacteria are charac- publicationof results has been scattered through terized by the fact that, when they are dyed a great number of journals. Certainly much with a basic triphenylmethane dye such as effort must be required to integrate the infor- gentian violet, the color can be removed by mation into a clear picture of what is definitely washing with alcohol." known about the subject. Dr. Beevers obviously The most useful portions of this book deal has put forth the effort and has succeeded in with the author's own work on substances ex- preparing a very thoughtful and orderly pres- tracted from the seeds of many plants which entation expressed in delightfully clear and will specifically agglutinate particular types of simple English. human red cells. This work is usually not The author is first of all concerned with the .