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Biotechnology: Microbes and the environment
TIBTECH - JANUARY 1991 [Vol. 9]
35 Wessler, S. and Hake, S. (1990) Plant 9631-9635 Cell 2, 495-499 41 Wienand, U., Weydemann, U., Nies36 O'Reilly, C., Shepherd, N. S., Pereira, bach-Klosgen, U., Peterson, P. A. and A., Schwarz-Sommer, Zs., Bertram, I., Saedler, H. (1986) Mol. Gen. Genet. Robertson, D. S., Peterson, P. A. and 203, 202-207 Saedler, H. (1985) EMBOJ. 4,877-882 42 Lechelt, C., Peterson, To, Laird, A., 37 Dooner, H. K., Weck, E., Adams, S., Chen, J., Dellaporta, S., Dennis, E., Peacock, W. J. and Starlinger, P. Ralston, E. J., Favreau, M. and (1989) MoL Gen. Goner. 219,225-234 English, J. (1985) Mol. Gen. Goner. 43 Dellaporta, S. L., Greenblatt, I., 200, 240-246 38 McLaughlin, M. and Walbot, V. Kermicle, J. L., Hicks, J. B. and Wessler, S. R. (1988) in Chromosome (1987) Genetics 117, 771-776 Structure and Function: Impact of 39 Paz-Ares, J. U., Wienand, U., Peterson, New Concepts (Gustafson, J. P. and P. A. and Saedler, H. (1986) EMBOJ. Appels, R., eds), pp. 263-282, Plenum 5, 829-833 Press 40 Cone, K. C., Burr, F. A. and Bu~rr, B. (1986) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 83, 44 McCarty, D. R., Carson, C. B., Stinard,
Space shuttles in the microcosmos epigrammatic phrases that catch the eye and convey their message, while in fact being rather obscure if by Steven C. Witt, Center for Science examined too closely: 'Biotechnology Information, 1990. US$19.50 (vi + is the space shuttle not of the cos219 pages) ISBN 0 912005 04 1 mos, but of the microcosmos'. The style and format, therefore, are In its style, format and stated objective this is no ordinary scientific perhaps more reminiscent of the Readers Digest than of a conventext. The Center for Science Infor- tional scientific monograph, and the mation (CSI) is a 'non-profit organ- questions that must be asked are: isation with the goal of improving Does this increase, rather than dedecisionmakers' basic level of crease, one's attention and concenscience understanding', and this is tration? Is it compatible with scienthe third of a series of Briefbooks on tific accuracy? Does it enable the biotechnology which are clearly author to present the scientific basis written with a mission very much in of the argument in such a way as mind. While the subject is universal, will inform and influence the nonas indeed is its treatment in this specialist decisionmaker? Once any volume, the market aimed at is un- initial scepticism is overcome, for ashamedly American. The factual this reviewer at least the answer to information given and the con- each of these questions is a clear clusions drawn are presented in what affirmative. In the early chapters microbiology could only be described as a very racy style supported by a plethora of and biotechnology are introduced in cartoons, most original but others the context of their historical develreprinted from The Far Side, Time opment and with particular referMagazine or The New Yorker. There ence to their environmental signifiis extensive use of quotations, with a cance. This ,difficult task is made definite fondness for the one-liner. easier for both the author and his The material in each chapter is pre- readers by much of the detailed sented in a series of short sections, information being given in an exteneach one with a snappy heading: sive appendix, glossary and refer'So what are cells?', 'Bacteria re,xlly ence list. Particularly important is get around', 'Loophole: microbes the stress put on the specificity and for money only'. There are many control offered by recombinant DNA BIOTECHNOLOGY: MICROBES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
37
45 46
47 48 49
P. S. and Robertson, D. S. (1989) Plant Cell 1,523-532 Hake, S., Vollbrecht, E. V. and Freeling, M. (1989) EMBO J. 8, 15-22 Motto, M., Maddaloni, M., Ponziani, G., Brembilla, M., Marrotta, R., Di Fonzo, N., Soave, C., Thompson, R. D. and Salamini, F. (1988) Mol. Gen. Genet. 2121, 488-494 Schmidt, R. J., Burr, F. A. and Burr, B. (1987) Science 228, 960-963 Martienssen, R. A., Barkan, A., Freeling, M. and Taylor, W. C. (1989) EMBOJ. 8, 1633-1639 Martin, C., Carpenter, R., Sommer, H., Saedler, H. and Coen, E. (1986) EMBOJ. 4, 1625-1630
technology, as opposed to random mutagenesis; or, for that matter, plant- and animal-breeding programmes. In considering the progress of the controlled release of microbes, genetically modified or not, and the arguments surrounding such work, the author is at pains to point out the weakness of opposition based on the process involved in producing the organism rather than on the organism itself: the product. He also draws out the very much greater importance of the microbial interactions in natural environments and the current paucity of information on microbial ecology. The cause c~l~bre of the ice minus bacterium is dealt with in some depth, and the current status of the world debate, including aspects of national chauvinism, is also discussed. In these, and all other aspects, the presentation is highly informative, up-to-the-minute and timely in its publication, and carries with it a clear positive message which, hopefully, will not go unnoticed by the decisionmakers. Equally, and for the self-same reasons, thi~ short, pithy text should also be an ideal vehicle for introducing students to microbes and environmental biotechnology, dealing as it does with both the technology and the socio-economic implications of a rapidly advancing field. W. ALLAN HAMILTON
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Aberdeen, Marischal College, Aberdeen AB9 1AS, UK.
35 Wessler, S. and Hake, S. (1990) Plant 9631-9635 Cell 2, 495-499 41 Wienand, U., Weydemann, U., Nies36 O'Reilly, C., Shepherd, N. S., Pereira, bach-Klosgen, U., Peterson, P. A. and A., Schwarz-Sommer, Zs., Bertram, I., Saedler, H. (1986) Mol. Gen. Genet. Robertson, D. S., Peterson, P. A. and 203, 202-207 Saedler, H. (1985) EMBOJ. 4,877-882 42 Lechelt, C., Peterson, To, Laird, A., 37 Dooner, H. K., Weck, E., Adams, S., Chen, J., Dellaporta, S., Dennis, E., Peacock, W. J. and Starlinger, P. Ralston, E. J., Favreau, M. and (1989) MoL Gen. Goner. 219,225-234 English, J. (1985) Mol. Gen. Goner. 43 Dellaporta, S. L., Greenblatt, I., 200, 240-246 38 McLaughlin, M. and Walbot, V. Kermicle, J. L., Hicks, J. B. and Wessler, S. R. (1988) in Chromosome (1987) Genetics 117, 771-776 Structure and Function: Impact of 39 Paz-Ares, J. U., Wienand, U., Peterson, New Concepts (Gustafson, J. P. and P. A. and Saedler, H. (1986) EMBOJ. Appels, R., eds), pp. 263-282, Plenum 5, 829-833 Press 40 Cone, K. C., Burr, F. A. and Bu~rr, B. (1986) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 83, 44 McCarty, D. R., Carson, C. B., Stinard,
Space shuttles in the microcosmos epigrammatic phrases that catch the eye and convey their message, while in fact being rather obscure if by Steven C. Witt, Center for Science examined too closely: 'Biotechnology Information, 1990. US$19.50 (vi + is the space shuttle not of the cos219 pages) ISBN 0 912005 04 1 mos, but of the microcosmos'. The style and format, therefore, are In its style, format and stated objective this is no ordinary scientific perhaps more reminiscent of the Readers Digest than of a conventext. The Center for Science Infor- tional scientific monograph, and the mation (CSI) is a 'non-profit organ- questions that must be asked are: isation with the goal of improving Does this increase, rather than dedecisionmakers' basic level of crease, one's attention and concenscience understanding', and this is tration? Is it compatible with scienthe third of a series of Briefbooks on tific accuracy? Does it enable the biotechnology which are clearly author to present the scientific basis written with a mission very much in of the argument in such a way as mind. While the subject is universal, will inform and influence the nonas indeed is its treatment in this specialist decisionmaker? Once any volume, the market aimed at is un- initial scepticism is overcome, for ashamedly American. The factual this reviewer at least the answer to information given and the con- each of these questions is a clear clusions drawn are presented in what affirmative. In the early chapters microbiology could only be described as a very racy style supported by a plethora of and biotechnology are introduced in cartoons, most original but others the context of their historical develreprinted from The Far Side, Time opment and with particular referMagazine or The New Yorker. There ence to their environmental signifiis extensive use of quotations, with a cance. This ,difficult task is made definite fondness for the one-liner. easier for both the author and his The material in each chapter is pre- readers by much of the detailed sented in a series of short sections, information being given in an exteneach one with a snappy heading: sive appendix, glossary and refer'So what are cells?', 'Bacteria re,xlly ence list. Particularly important is get around', 'Loophole: microbes the stress put on the specificity and for money only'. There are many control offered by recombinant DNA BIOTECHNOLOGY: MICROBES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
37
45 46
47 48 49
P. S. and Robertson, D. S. (1989) Plant Cell 1,523-532 Hake, S., Vollbrecht, E. V. and Freeling, M. (1989) EMBO J. 8, 15-22 Motto, M., Maddaloni, M., Ponziani, G., Brembilla, M., Marrotta, R., Di Fonzo, N., Soave, C., Thompson, R. D. and Salamini, F. (1988) Mol. Gen. Genet. 2121, 488-494 Schmidt, R. J., Burr, F. A. and Burr, B. (1987) Science 228, 960-963 Martienssen, R. A., Barkan, A., Freeling, M. and Taylor, W. C. (1989) EMBOJ. 8, 1633-1639 Martin, C., Carpenter, R., Sommer, H., Saedler, H. and Coen, E. (1986) EMBOJ. 4, 1625-1630
technology, as opposed to random mutagenesis; or, for that matter, plant- and animal-breeding programmes. In considering the progress of the controlled release of microbes, genetically modified or not, and the arguments surrounding such work, the author is at pains to point out the weakness of opposition based on the process involved in producing the organism rather than on the organism itself: the product. He also draws out the very much greater importance of the microbial interactions in natural environments and the current paucity of information on microbial ecology. The cause c~l~bre of the ice minus bacterium is dealt with in some depth, and the current status of the world debate, including aspects of national chauvinism, is also discussed. In these, and all other aspects, the presentation is highly informative, up-to-the-minute and timely in its publication, and carries with it a clear positive message which, hopefully, will not go unnoticed by the decisionmakers. Equally, and for the self-same reasons, thi~ short, pithy text should also be an ideal vehicle for introducing students to microbes and environmental biotechnology, dealing as it does with both the technology and the socio-economic implications of a rapidly advancing field. W. ALLAN HAMILTON
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Aberdeen, Marischal College, Aberdeen AB9 1AS, UK.