Introduction to Biometrical Genetics by K. Mather; J. L. JinksReview by: Martin E. SenzonThe American Biology Teacher, Vol. 41, No. 5 (May, 1979), p. 314Published by: University of California Press on behalf of the National Association of BiologyTeachersStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4446608 .

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whole series of sinister things which can be said about them." He thinks that these evolutionarily advanced flowers are representatives of the wave of a "1984"-type future. His prediction may be correct, but the premise is wrong, as dandelions do sometimes reproduce by sex, no doubt with a maximum of vegeta- ble love, and certainly adding diversity to the gene pool, which is one of the biologi- cal functions of sex.

The introduction by Edward Abbey, whose writings and lectures have with sensitivity, wit, hellfire, and profanity done much to make clear the ludicrous depravity of commercial and consuming humanity's attitudes toward nature, is a cheerful bit of writing that of itself makes this paperback worth having on your bookshelf.

Uri Lanham University of Colorado

Boulder

LIFE ON EARTH by Edward 0. Wilson, Thomas Eisner, Winslow R. Briggs, Richard E. Dickerson, Robert L. Metzenberg, Richard D. O'Brien, Millard Susman and William E. Boggs. 2nd ed., 1978. Sinauer Associates, Inc. (Sunderland, Massachusetts 01375). 846 p. $15.95. Study Guide, 282 p. $4.95.

Life on Earth is an attempt by a group of outstanding scientists to share their excitement in attempting to understand biology by assembling a textbook that emphasizes experimental biology. This analytical approach will hopefully carry over to the student. The authors have turned to a group of 18 users along with their own experiences in improving the second edition. These improvements include the revision of ten different areas by updating reflecting the rapid progress and by adding, deleting, or drastically altering several sections and chapters. The content alone was not only reworked in this version, but the pub- lisher has also made a commitment to improving the presentation through larger type and better illustrations.

The value of the Study Guide at all lev- els of learning is immeasurable. The Guide reinforces the text and classroom and allows a student to become familiar with the type of questions s/he may encounter on exams. Questions marked with an asterisk in the test file that accompanies the text, are also found in the Study Guide. If the instructor chooses to use the test file questions, students will find a reward in being con- scientious towards the Study Guide. The Guide is more than a listing of sample test questions but an extension of the

textbook complete with suggested study directions to be followed before, during and after reading the text.

For each of the 36 chapters in the text, two sets of questions are prepared in a Supplementary Test File. The level of dif- ficulty of each question set appears to be comparable. This allows instructors, depending on their teaching methods, to measure mastery of the objectives on test 1 and to retest students if the first test indicates poor mastery. Unit exams are also provided with alternative forms. Text references to each answer are a sig- nificant help for students in learning from their mistakes.

Although generally well conceived, written, and coherent the book is not without disappointment. The greatest disappointment is related to organization of the material. As an example, I would have liked to see a more expanded treat- ment of the cell following Chapter 5. Membrane structure is best served when included with a discussion of the cell in contrast to a discussion of lipids. The book attempts to be encyclopedic and can be used in most undergraduate courses. There is good treatment of introductory zoology and botany for courses with this emphasis.

Robert W. Naismith Pennsyluania State University

Scranton

Genetics

INTRODUCTION TO BIOMETRICAL GENETICS

by K. Mather and J. L. Jinks. 3rd ed., 1978. Cornell University Press (124 Roberts Place, Ithaca, New York 14850). 231 p. $16.50.

The book deals with the topic of con- tinous genetic variation, such as the variation Mendel observed in the 6-to-7- foot-tall pea plants he designated Pure Tall. Other examples of variation, such as hair color in humans, are familiar to all of us. ers the number of sternopleural chaetae on Drosophila. The experiment was designed using pure lines and eliminating environmental factors. It has been deter- mined that the difference in the number of chaetaer are due to genes transmitted by the chromosomes in typical Mende- lian fashions. The phenotype, however, is due to polygenic effects that lead to a discussion of statistical methods used to determine the degree of variation observed. Numerous other examples are used to illustrate how to analyze the variations normally encountered.

A good understanding of basic statis- tics is needed by the reader of this text.

The authors use first degree (the mean) and second degree (the variance and covariance) statistics to analyze the examples. Other statistical methods used include degrees of freedom, devia- tions, joint scalling, and least squares. In addition, the above methods are used to explain phenomena such as linkage, inbreeding, twins, and environmemtal factors.

I would recommend this book for the advanced college student or graduate student who has an avid interest in both genetics and statistics.

Martin E. Senzon Seaford High School Seaford, New York.

Health

FISH PROTEIN CONCENTRATE: by Ernest R. Pariser, Christopher J. Corkery, Mitchel B. Wallerstein, and Norman L. Brown. 1978. The Massa- chusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Press (28 Carlton Street, Cam- bridge, Massachusetts 02142). 296 p. $17.50. This publication is the third volume in

the MIT International Nutrition Policy Series. This volume is an outgrowth of a lecture titled "FPC: The One That Got Away" by Ray Pariser and Norman Brown,'given in a course in Nutrition Planning at MIT in 1974.

The book traces the -history of the use of fish as food by humans. It also points out the history of FPC'development in various countries, such as Canada, Sweden, Chile, and Morocco. The authors consider in some detail the con- flict between the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries and The Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. in the devel- opment of FPC.

This book should be useful as a supple- mentary text in a college-level nutrition course. The authors conclude that FPC is a "sophisticated and capital-intensive technological solution in search of a problem to which it can be applied."

Allen Isaacson William Paterson College

Wayne, New Jersey ROBERTS' NUTRITION WORK WITH CHILDREN

by Ethel Austin Martin and Virginia A. Beal. 4th ed., 1978. University of Chi- cago Press (5801 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637). 289 p. $16.

This book is the fourth edition of a classic in the area of child nutrition and growth. It is an update of recent develop- ments in the area while maintaining the concepts of previous editions. It is intended to be used as a textbook or sup- plementary reference for a student with a basic knowledge of the principles of nutrition at either the graduate or the

314 THE AMERICAN BIOLOGY TEACHER, VOLUME 41, NO. 5, MAY 1979

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