The Science of Genetics: An Introduction to Heredity. Third Edition

Part A is concerned with more basic aspects of reticuloendothelial function ranging from lymphocyte kinetics to biochemical events in reticuloendothelial cells. A section entitled "The Phagocytic Event" is particularly concise and cogent. My major disappointment in this volume is with the photographs. For example, Meuret's elegant study on the geography of short and long-lived lymphocytes loses some clarity because of the fuzziness of the photographic reproductions. A more pleasant aspect of both volumes is inclusion of the workshops which though clearly less formal are highly informative. The second volume addresses clinical aspects of reticuloendothelial system function and, although it is as extensive as Part A, the coverage seems a bit spotty. The latest update by Good and Hansen on primary immunodeficiency diseases is fine as it stands, but has been done more thoroughly in several other publications. On the other hand, Yunis et al. have very succinctly summarized the latest information on immunogenetic aspects of allotransplantation. Given some good original studies, several topical reviews and a very good editing job, the question remains as to whom this book is addressed. In the two years since the conference took place much of what was presented has appeared in the journals. It is certainly convenient to have the conference papers collected in one place, but I wonder if a paperback edition might not make this a more accessible personal acquisition rather than volumes slated only for purchase by major libraries.