Davidson's the biochemistry of the nucleic acids. Eighth edition

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Statistical devices cannot convey the instructor's personal reaction to the course. Frequently, students in the hallway, in the library and in the laboratory spontaneously offered comments relating to the course material and engaged the instructor in spirited discussion. Student relations in and out of the class were free and easy. Attitude was good. Previous experience as 'lecturer' in more conventional methods, made the diff,~fice in attitude and atmosphere striking and positive. The effort required to plan and execute this teaching programme would have been impossible without the input of many concerned individuals. The advice and constant encouragement of Dr. Metvyn Soloff is gratefully acknowledged. The course described here built upon Dr. Soloffs pioneering efforts of the previous year. The Chairman of the Biochemistry department, Dr. Murray Saffran, was always available and willingiy shared his expertise on many occasions. Drs. James McCorquodale and Erwin Reimann were readily available for consultation. Dr. Frank Koen, of the Medical Education Department of Wayne State University, offered advice on the technical aspects of the project. The development of the course was greatly enhanced by the participation of A.F.P. as a Fellow of the Faculty Educational Development programme offered at Wayne State University Medical School by Dr. Koen in the spring of 1974.

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REFERENCES I Saffran, M., RULeof Biochemistry in the Three Year Integrated Curriculum at the Medical Coliege of Ohio. Biockem/cd Education I: 50-52, 1973.

RATING

Rgure 1. Distribution of Student Responses to the Questionnaire entitled 'Student Evaluation of Instructional Techniques' The arrow indicates the mean for each question, Scale used: 1, not helpful, to 5, very helpful.

Dsvidmn's "I'ae Bloehemletry of the Nucleic Adds. Eighth Editlen Revised by R. L. P. A d a m s , R. H. B u r d o n , A. M. C a m p b e l l a n d R. M . S. Smellie. Pp. 420. C h a p m a n a n d Hall, London, 1976. £4.00.

The first edition of the late J. N. Davidson's book on Nucleic Acids was published as a short Methuen Monograph in 1950. New editions of this popular final-year undergraduate text were prepared by Davidson at approximately three-year intervals until his death in 1972. During that time he expanded and modified the book as the subject grew but retained his own personal emphasis on nucleic acid chemistry. These books were particularly valuable because, unlike most books on molecular biology, the intermediary metabolism of nucleotide interconversions was included and related to maeromolecular biosynthesis. This eishth edition continues the style and layout of the earlier books. It is a sound treatment of the subject with many references and is good value compared with many modern textbooks. However, I was left with a feeling that there is something missing from it. Nucleic acid research has not mealy expanded in size and scope during the past fifteen years; it has become one of the most exciting branches of scientific scholarship. It is the excitement which the book fails to convey. If the book is to be rated as a main teaching text (and it is sufficiently comprehensive to recommend it as such), students should also be referred to books such as Kornberg's text on DNA biosynthesis which more succesdully capture the true flavour of molecular biology. The first seven chapters deal with subcellular localization of

= Maser, R. F., Preparin& Instructional Objectives. California, Fearon Publishers, 1962.

Belmont,

3 Hubbard, J. P. and W. V. Cicmans, Multiple.Choice Examinations in Medicine Philadelphia, Lea and Febiger, 1961, p. 27.

nucleic acids, nucieotide and nucleic acid structure including secondary and tertiary structure. The differences between A, B and C helices are well summarized. The tertiary structure of tRNA could have been more interesting by emphasising the unusual types of H-bondin8 in the molecule. The remaining seven chapters deal with nucleic acid metabolism and its control. Chapter 8 is a comprehensive review of nucleases. It is unfortunate that nowhere in the book is there a systematic account of nucleic acid sequencing and the "plus-minus method" of Sanger and Coulson is not mentioned at all. This is a sorry omission, not really excused by the publication schedule of the book. Chapter 9 deals with DNA function and replication including RNA-dependent DNA biesyntheeis. Chapter 12 is about RNA biosynthesis and chapter 11 covers protein biosynthesis. Ribosome biogenesis and topology are too sketchily covered in these chapters. The last chapter (number 14) is concerned with control. It is less satisfactory that the rest of the book. The only bacterial system discussed in any detail is the lac operon and examples of positive control are missing. There is no proper account of control of gene expression in phage lambda in the whole book. Chapter 14 also introduces mamallan chromatin structure. The late Professor Davidson was a pioneer of nucleic acid biochemistry who contributed to the classical background of modern molecular biology. It is a fine tribute to his work to keep alive this textbook. However, I should like to see future editions incorporating a more radical revision of the structure of the book to give more emphasis to molecular bioloSy, molecular saneti~ and genetic manipulation, which are the edifices built upon the foundations of nucleic acid biochemistry and which have made the earlier studies by Davidson and others so uniquely important. L H. Parish