The Genetics of Hand Malformations

General Virology is an excellent review of the biology of viruses with an emphasis on molecular biology. This field is concisely reviewed, permitting the non-expert to understand discussions on the molecular aspects of viral structure and function. After a review of current trends the authors present the story of eukaryotic viruses, stressing the interface between molecular and cellular biology. The first five chapters serve as an introduction to virology, from classical technique to new concepts in biochemistry. The next five chapters deal with bacteriophages and their life cycles. Animal viruses are discussed at length. Several viruses (Polio Virus, Sindbis Virus, Influenza, SV40, Herpes Virus, and Rous Sarcoma Virus) are used as representatives of a class; these are examined in depth. Plant and insect viruses are discussed briefly. A final chapter deals with viral origin; viruses might be parts of cells, but only independent enough to move from one cell to another. Viral cell transformation may be mediated by viral proteins. This seems to be the case with Rous Sarcoma Virus infected cells, and if this is proven to be a general phenomenon it would raise many questions about current models of transformation and carcinogenesis. The authors examine these new ideas in a chapter on oncogenic viruses. Since the second edition of General Virology was printed in 1967 enough has happened in virology to make this third edition a must.