Essential Bioinformatics * Jin Xiong * Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 0-521-60082-0; 339pp.; 2006; * {pound}65.00 (hardcover); {pound}29.00 (paperback).

Few would argue the need for today's college biology majorsto have basic skills in bioinformatics. Yet, their undergraduatefaculty faces several challenges in providing these skills,particularly at smaller colleges. First, faculty members whoteach bioinformatics have usually been trained in molecularbiology, genetics or biochemistry. Therefore, most do not haveextensive applied mathematics experience beyond statistics.Second, bioinformatics textbooks for undergraduate biology majorsare rare. Most bioinformatics books are geared to researchers,computer programmers or graduate students. Others are simpleuser manuals, with little coverage of critical evaluation ofthe output. Third, most students today have great ‘point-and-click’computing skills, but minimal understanding or patience forcommand-line computing or programming. In light of these challenges to introducing undergraduate studentsto bioinformatics, it was quite a joy to read and review ProfessorJin Xiong's recent book, Essential Bioinformatics. This compact,economical, first edition of     

Plant biotechnology: the genetic manipulation of plants. * Slater A, Scott N, Fowler M. 2003 Oxford: Oxford University Press. {pound}19.99 (softback). 346 pp.

Few areas of science have progressed as rapidly, or have hadsuch an impact on public consciousness and governments, as recentadvances in plant biotechnology. These exciting scientific discoveriesand their increasing application are continuing to generateconsiderable economic, social and ethical considerations. Particularconcerns have been expressed, however, about potential ‘foodsafety’ and ‘environmental impact’ implications,in particular, of this ‘revolution in biology’ inagriculture and the food     

Aquatic Food Webs: An Ecosystem Approach. Edited by Belgrano A., Scharler U. M., Dunne J. and Ulanowicz R. E. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2005. 272 pp. ISBN 0198564821 (hardback). {pound}85.00.

Communicating editor: K.J. Flynn This well-produced and useful book is split into three sectionscontaining in total some 15 chapters authored by a range ofexperts in their respective areas. The book starts with a section on ‘structure and function’and a chapter (Elser and Hessen) concerning the importance ofstoichiometry in food webs; this is like most of the book wellwritten. However, the relative importance of such automaticlinks in multinutrient models may be called into question consideringthe contents of subsequent chapters which point out the significanceof the development of antigrazing mechanisms (which may oftenbe associated with changes in stoichiometry in phototrophs).Chapter 2 (Melián et al.) considers spatial structureand dynamics in marine food webs; this is a brief and, to mymind, the least satisfying of the chapters. Chapter 3 (Christianet al.) looks at the     

The ecology of seeds. * Fenner M, Thompson K. 2005. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. {pound}26 (softback) {pound}55 (hardback) 260 pp.

This volume is a timely updateand considerable expansion of the small book Seed Ecology, publishedby the first author twenty years ago, and long out of print. Is it useful to separate a particular branch of study such as‘seed ecology’ from the wider field of plant ecology?Aren't seeds just a particular packaged form of the sporophyte,at a certain stage in its life cycle? While some may ask thosequestions, a major strength of this book is the care that theauthors take throughout to set their review in the context ofcurrent ecological