Professional Documents
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Bioquimica Humana (Curso Basico) So, it is a pleasure to welcome an up to date and imaginatively
conceived textbook written in the Spanish Language rather than
b y J M M a c a r u l l a a n d F M Gofii. p p 516. E d i t o r i a l a straight translation of one of the popular American texts.
R e v e r t e , B a r c e l o n a , Spain. 1984. £9.50 G Medina
ISBN 84-291-5549-X Readings in Tumor Virology
This basic course in Human Biochemistry (in Spanish) starts E d i t e d by H V a r m u s a n d A J L e v i n e . p p 903. C o l d Spring
from very first principles of the relevant chemistry and goes on to H a r b o r L a b o r a t o r y . 1983. $39.50 ISBN 0-87969-157-3
give an up-to-date and very readable account of modern
biochemistry. The first principles mentioned include not only This book consists of a collection of reprinted papers chosen by
such things as information on the elements, properties of water, the editors to represent key references in the development of the
pH, diffusion, electrolytes and so on, but also a very basic burgeoning field of tumour virology. Although one may be
description of the laboratory apparatus and how to use it (eg how surprised by the inclusion of some papers and the omission of
to read the meniscus in a pipette or burette). Indeed one double- others, the editors have brought together a comprehensive group
page spread gives diagrams and names of all the apparatus, of papers on replication of, and transformation by retroviruses,
including test tubes: however modern automatic pipettes are not herpesviruses, adenoviruses, papovaviruses and hepatitis B
mentioned. As would be expected in a book on human viruses. Succinct and useful introductions to groups of papers are
biochemistry, most chapters have something on the clinical provided, although these introductions cannot substitute for
aspects. Photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation are mentioned, longer treatments to be found in standard textbooks on tumour
albeit briefly. virology. The book could be especially appropriate in teaching
The book is very attractively produced, with imaginative advanced topics in biochemistry or molecular biology where
diagrams and extensive use of a second colour. Digressions are library facilities are restricted. G E Blair