Induced responses to herbivory by R. Karban and I.T. Baldwin

The University of Chicago Press, 1997. $44.00/￡35.25 hbk, $17.95/￡14.25 pbk (x+320 pages) ISBN 0 226 42495 2/0 226 42496 0.     

The origin of animal body plans: a study in evolutionary developmental biology, by w. Arthur, and cells, embryos and evolution, by j. Gerhart and m. Kirschner

Cambridge University Press, 1997. $64.95/￡45.00hbk (xii +338 pages) ISBN 0 521 55014 9 Blackwell Science, 1997. $49.50/￡29.50pbk (xi +642 pages) ISBN 0 865 42574 4.     

Haunted hypotheses

American Pronghorn: Social Adaptations and the Ghosts of Predators Past by J.A. Byers The University of Chicago Press, 1998. $70.00/￡55.95 hbk, $23.95/￡19.25 pbk (xviii+300 pages) ISBN 0 226 08698 4/0 226 08699 2.     

Tropical ecology in miniature

The Butterflies of Costa Rica and their Natural History. Volume II: Riodinidae. by P.J. DeVries Princeton University Press, 1997. $90.00/￡70.00 hbk, $29.95/￡23.95 pbk (xxvii+288 pages) ISBN 0 691 02890 7 / 0 691 02889 3.     

Wetland history

Wetlands of the American Midwest: A Historical Geography of Changing Attitudes by Hugh Prince The University of Chicago Press (University of Chicago Geography Research Papers), 1997. $21.00/￡16.75 pbk (xiii+395 pages) ISBN 0 226 68283 8.     

Two books in one: natural history and evolutionary theory

Evolutionary Ecology across Three Trophic Levels: Goldenrods, Gallmakers and Natural Enemies by W.G. Abrahamson and A.E. Weis Princeton University Press, Monographs in Population Biology, 1997. $29.95/￡24.95 hbk (xiii+456 pages) ISBN 0 691 01208 3.     

Designer snails

The Algorithmic Beauty of Sea Shells (2nd edn) by Hans Meinhardt Springer-Verlag, 1998. DM89.00/$54.95/￡34.00 hbk (xi+236 pages) ISBN 3 540 63919 5.     

The operational strategies of theoretical morphology

THEORETICAL MORPHOLOGY: THE CONCEPT AND ITS APPLICATIONS, by George R. McGhee, 1999. Columbia University Press, New York, 316 p. ISBN 0–231–10616–5 (hardback), $60.00; ISBN 0–231–10617–3 (paperback), $26.50     

The controversy continues

Function, Phylogeny and Fossils: Miocene Hominoid Evolution and Adaptations Begun, DG, Ward, CV, Rose, MD eds. (1997). New York: Plenum Press. xii + 424 pp. ISBN 0-306-45457-2. $120.00 (cloth). The Evolution of Western Eurasian Neogene Mammal Faunas Bernor, RL, Fahlbusch, V, Mittman, H (eds). (1996). New York: Columbia University Press. ix + 487 pp. ISBN 0-231-08246-0. $92.00 (cloth). © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Book Reviews

PALAEOBIOLOGY: A SYNTHESIS, Editors: D. E. G. Briggs and P. R. Crowther. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford 1990.608 pp. ISBN 0 632 025255. £89.50.

EVOLUTION AND THE FOSSIL RECORD, by K. Allen and D. Briggs (Eds). 265 pp. Belhaven Press, London 1989. £25.

THE EMERGENCE OF ANIMALS: THE CAMBRIAN BREAKTHROUGH, by M.A.S. McMenamin and D.L.S. McMenamin, Columbia University Press, ISBN 0–231–06646–5‐ISBN 0–231–06647–3 (paperback). $35 Hardback, $17 paperback.

ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION OF THE ANTARCTIC BIOTA, by JA. Crame (Ed.), Geological Soc. special publication n° 47, 322 pp. London. Price: £58.     

The medical complaints of the relatives of the psychotic,the alcoholic and the epileptic

EXPANDING GOALS OF GENETICS IN PSYCHIATRY: Franz J. Kallmann, Editor. Grune &; Stratton, New York, 1962. 275 pp., $6.75.

PHARMACOGENETICS. HEREDITY AND THE RESPONSE TO DRUGS: Werner Kalow. W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 1962. vi + 231 pp. $8.00.

POSTWAR POPULATION TRANSFERS, 1945–1955: Joseph B. Schechtman. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, 1962. 417 pp., $6.00.)

MENTAL HEALTH IN THE METROPOLIS: THE MIDTOWN MANHATTAN STUDY, VOLUME I: Leo Srole, Thomas S. Lang‐ner, Stanley T. Michael, Marvin K. Opler, and Thomas A. C. Rennie. McGraw‐Hill, New York, 1962. 428 pp., $9.95.     

Differential effects of EGF gradient profiles on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell chemotaxis

Chemotaxis, directed cell migration in a gradient of chemoattractant, is an important biological phenomenon that plays pivotal roles in cancer metastasis. Newly developed microfluidic chemotaxis chambers (MCC) were used to study chemotaxis of metastatic breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231, in EGF gradients of well-defined profiles. Migration behaviors of MDA-MB-231 cells in uniform concentrations of EGF (0, 25, 50, and 100 ng/ml) and EGF (0-25, 0-50, and 0-100 ng/ml) with linear and nonlinear polynomial profiles were investigated. MDA-MB-231 cells exhibited increased speed and directionality upon stimulation with uniform concentrations of EGF. The cells were viable and motile for over 24 h, confirming the compatibility of MCC with cancer cells. Linear concentration gradients of different ranges were not effective in inducing chemotactic movement as compared to nonlinear gradients. MDA-MB-231 cells migrating in EGF gradient of 0-50 ng/ml nonlinear polynomial profile exhibited marked directional movement toward higher EGF concentration. This result suggests that MDA-MB-231 cancer cell chemotaxis depends on the shape of gradient profile as well as on the range of EGF concentrations.     

Stable isotope and radiocarbon compositions of methane emitted from tropical rice paddies and swamps in Southern Thailand

Stable isotopes (¹³C, D) and radiocarbon weremeasured in methane bubbles emitted from rice paddies and swamps in southernThailand. Methane emitted from the Thai rice paddies was enriched in¹³C (mean ¹³C; –51.5 ±7.1 and–56.5 ± 4.6 for mineral soil and peat soil paddies,respectively)relative to the reported mean value of methane from temperate rice paddies(– 63 ± 5). Large seasonal variation was observed in¹³C(32) in the rice paddies, whereas variationinD was much more smaller (20), indicating that variation in¹³C is due mainly to changes in methane production pathways.Values of ¹³C were lower in swamps (–66.1 ±5.1)than in rice paddies. The calculated contribution of acetate fermentation from¹³C value was greater in rice paddies (mineral soils:62–81%, peat soils: 57–73%) than in swamps (27–42%). Din methane from Thai rice paddies (–324± 7 (n=46)) isrelativelyhigher than those from 14 stations in Japanese rice paddies ranging from–362 ± 5 (Mito: n=2) to –322 ± 8(Okinawa: n=3), due tohigher D in floodwaters. ¹⁴C content in methane produced fromThai rice paddies (127±1 pMC) show higher ¹⁴Cactivity compared with previous work in paddy fields and those from Thai swamps(110±2 pMC).     

Opioid and Cannabinoid Receptors Share a Common Pool of GTP-Binding Proteins in Cotransfected Cells, But Not in Cells Which Endogenously Coexpress the Receptors

1. Opioid (, , ) and cannabinoid (CB1, CB2) receptors are coupled mainly toG_i/G_o GTP-binding proteins. The goal of the present study was to determine whether different subtypes of opioid and cannabinoid receptors, when coexpressed in the same cell, share a common reservoir, or utilize different pools, of G proteins.2. The stimulation of [³⁵S]GTPS binding by selective opioid and cannabinoid agonists was tested in transiently transfected COS-7 cells, as well as in neuroblastoma cell lines. In COS-7 cells, cotransfection of - and -opioid receptors led to stimulation of [³⁵S]GTPS binding by either -selective (DAMGO) or -selective (DPDPE) agonists. The combined effect of the two agonists was similar to the effect of either DAMGO or DPDPE alone, suggesting the activation of a common G-protein reservoir by the two receptor subtypes.3. The same phenomenon was observed when COS-7 cells were cotransfected with CB1 cannabinoid receptors and either - or -opioid receptors.4. On the other hand, in N18TG2 neuroblastoma cells, which endogenously coexpress CB1 and -opioid receptors, as well as in SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells, which coexpress - and -opioid receptors, the combined effects of the various agonists (the selective cannabinoid DALN and the selective opioids DPDPE and DAMGO) were additive, implying the activation of different pools of G proteins by each receptorsubtype.5. These results suggest a fundamental difference between native and artificially transfected cells regarding the compartmentalization of receptors and GTP-binding proteins.     

Experiencing Experimentation and Project Design

Richardson, David Vanishing Lichens New York: Macmillan, 1975 231 pp., $12.00. Reviewed by Emanuel D. Rudolph

Van Emden, H. F. Ecology of Pest Control (The Institute of Biology's Studies in Biology No. 50) New York: Crane, Russak &; Co., 1975 59 pp., $2.75 paper. Reviewed by W. L. Gojmerac

Behrens, June Look at the Sea Animals (An Elk Grove Book) Chicago: Children's Press, 1975 38 pp., $4.50. Reviewed by Harriet S. Gussin

Bok, Bart J., and Bok, Priscilla F. The Milky Way, 4th ed. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1974 273 pp., $15.00. Reviewed by Arnold Heiser

Schneider, Herman, and Schneider, Nina Science Fun with a Flashlight New York: McGraw-Hill, 1975 42 pp., $5.72. Reviewed by Van E. Neie

Behrens, June True Book of Metric Measurement Chicago: Children's Press, 1975 46 pp., $3.95. Reviewed by Sue Hall     

Classification and characterization of the rice α-amylase multigene family

To establish the size and organization of the rice -amylase multigene family, we have isolated 30 -amylase clones from three independent genomic libraries. Partial characterization of these clones indicates that they fall into 5 hybridization groups containing a total of 10 genes. Two clones belonging to the Group 3 hybridization class have more than one gene per cloned fragment. The nucleotide sequence of one clone from Group 1, OSg2, was determined and compared to other known cereal -amylase sequences revealing that OSg2 is the genomic analog of the rice cDNA clone, pOS103. The rice -amylase genes in Group 1 are analogous to the -Amy1 genes in barley and wheat. OSg2 contains sequence motifs common to most actively transcribed genes in plants. Two consensus sequences, TAACA _G ^A A and TATCCAT, were found in the 5 flanking regions of -amylase genes of rice, barley and wheat. The former sequence may be specific to -amylase gene while the latter sequence may be related to a CATC box found in many plant genes. Another sequence called the pyrimidine box ( _T ^C CTTTT _T ^C ) was found in the -amylase genes as well as other genes regulated by gibberellic acid (GA). Comparisons based on amino acid sequence alignment revealed that the multigene families in rice, barley and wheat shared a common ancestor which contained three introns. Some of the descendants of the progenitor -amylase gene appear to have lost the middle intron while others maintain all three introns.     

Darwin’s Methodological Evolution

A necessary condition for having a revolution named after you is that you are an innovator in your field. I argue that if Charles Darwin meets this condition, it is as a philosopher and methodologist. In 1991, I made the case for Darwins innovative use of thought experiment in the Origin. Here I place this innovative practice in the context of Darwins methodological commitments, trace its origins back into Darwins notebooks, and pursue Darwins suggestion that it owes its inspiration to Charles Lyell.     

Activation of immunoglobulin control elements in trasgenic mice

To assess the role interleukins and mitogens play in regulating immunoglobulin (Ig) gene expression via the Ig enhancer and promoter, transgenic mice carrying two different Ig gene regulatory regions were generated. One, EkCAT, contains the Ig heavy chain enhancer (E) and the light chain promoter driving the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene. In the other, EkCAT, CAT is under the control of the promoter alone. E and relative activity were assessed by CAT assay. In EkCAT mice, low CAT expression was consistently found in spleen, bone marrow, mesenteric lymph node, and thymus but not in brain, lung, or kidney. In EkCAT mice, CAT expression was detectable just above background in lymphoid tissues, suggesting a basic level of tissue specificity in the absence of the enhancer. Whole spleen cell cultures prepared from the mice were treated with lymphokines and mitogens. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), concanavilin A (Con A), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interferon- (IFN-) increased CAT expression to varying extents in cells derived from EkCAT mice but not in spleen cells prepared from EkCAT mice. Thus, the presence of E, in addition to the promoter, is essential for the stimulation of CAT expression mediated by these factors. B cells from EkCAT mice were separated by density into populations of small and large cells. In untreated small B cells, no CAT expression was detected and only addition of LPS resulted in an increase in CAT expression. In large B cells, CAT was expressed at a low level without addition of exogenous factors. Incubation with LPS, IL-6, Con A and IFN- caused CAT expression to increase several-fold. This transgenic system provides a means to identify exogenous factors that activate Ig enhancers and promoters.This work has been submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the doctoral degree from the George Washington University.     

Sucrose in storage media and cultivar affects post-storage regrowth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> Hosta propagules

The goal of this research was to investigate if culturing in high sucrose (5%) liquid media during multiplication phase (stage II) would enhance endogenous sugar levels and dry matter sufficiently to allow storage of in vitro plants in sugar free media without adversely affecting post-storage recovery. Hosta tokudama Newberry Gold (NBG) and Hosta Striptease were cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) media containing 5% sucrose during stage II and transferred to rooting phase (stage III) in MS medium without (0%) sucrose or with 3% sucrose for 4weeks. At the end of stage III, cultures were stored, with the remaining media, at 10°C with 5molm^–2s^–1 photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) from cool white fluorescent lamps for 7 or 14weeks with or without a 2-week dark period prior to removal from storage. In both cultivars, stage III plants cultured in 3% sucrose media had higher soluble sugar levels and greater shoot and root biomass than those cultured in 0% sucrose media. Shoot and root soluble sugars decreased during storage. Shoot growth ceased during storage in both media. Root dry matter continued to increase in plants stored in 3% sucrose media but did not change in 0% sucrose media. Plants cultured in 3% sucrose media had less leaf chlorosis and less mortality after 7 or 14weeks of low temperature storage than the plantlets from sugar free media. Extending the storage period from 7 to 14weeks or introduction of 2-week dark period at the end of storage did not affect leaf chlorosis or plant mortality during acclimatization. Post-storage growth varied with the cultivar. Benefit of having sucrose in storage media was to develop a strong root system that aided the acclimatization and post-storage growth following 7 or 14week storage. Sucrose loading by culturing plants in liquid media containing 5% sucrose did not allow storage in sugar free media without adversely affecting post-storage growth in both cultivars.     

Unbalanced translocation between chromosomes 2 and 7 with de novo deletion of band 35 on the long arm of chromosme 2

Summary Clinical and cytogenetical findings are described in an infant with a de novo deletion of the long arm of chromosome 2. The boy's karyotype is 46,XY, rec(2)delq,t(2;7) (2pter2q34::7p217pter) (7qter7p21::2q362qter). He showed developmental retardation, low-set ears, micrognathia, short neck, abundant skin of the neck, tetralogy of Fallot, bipartite labialike scrotum, clitorislike penis, cryptorchism, and deformities of the hands and feet.