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• Book
• Website
• Educational Materials

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Reviews and Resources

BOOK

The RNA World (2nd ed.) 

Raymond F. Gesteland, Thomas R. Cech, and John F. Atkins (ed.). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1999, 709 p., $129.00 (hardcover). 

This simply super book covers the world of RNA from the origin of life, when RNA was present but DNA and ribosomes had yet to be invented, right up to the present, when RNA functions in essential roles for modern viruses and cells. In the early pages, a picture is drawn of the origin and early evolution of life, with it being accepted common knowledge that this was a world of RNA before DNA, modern proteins, or ribosomes appeared. The first chapter, “Before RNA and After SS,” gives an in depth view of the physical chemical conditions that existed during this prebiotic and early biotic time, premised on the perspective that RNA came first or early. The first four chapters describe the requirements for this world of RNA that existed prior to DNA replication and protein synthesis. There are 24 chapters. These are divided into sections on the origin of RNA and RNA at the origin of life, including articles by Leslie Orgel, who has long worked on this topic, and by Carl Woese and colleagues, who have made 16S rRNA sequences so central to phylogenetic studies of life on earth. Enzymes including ribozymes, RNA replicase, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, ribonucleases, and telomerase are handled with authority. The next section on RNA functions includes contributions by the editor, Thomas Cech, and other equally involved people. Chapter by chapter, RNA macromolecules are teased bit by bit to show how different elements and macromolecules interact with RNA to allow for its efficient functioning. Each aspect of RNA metabolism has been covered thoroughly with both historical and current perspectives. Then come nine chapters by such authors as Thomas Steitz, Joan Steitz, Philip Sharp, John Abelson, Larry Simpson, August Böck, Elizabeth Blackburn, and Raymond Gesteland, to drop just a few names. Each topic is handled definitively by the top contributors to modern understanding. Five appendices at the end contain essential chemistry and structures that ease understanding of preceding chapters. The book contains well-reproduced illustrations and color plates that greatly enhance the readability. This is typical of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press volumes, where cost is not a major issue. 

This definitive and authoritative volume belongs in the library of every quality research institution where molecular biology is done or taught. It is essential and interesting reading for peripheral researchers, such as ourselves, who undertake biochemical research that contains even a hint of RNA involvement, and that basically means all of us. The book could form the basis for an innovative course at the senior or graduate level that would be more novel than what is frequently done by teaching topics mainstream molecular biology.

For the in-depth understanding of topics covered in The RNA World, this book is the present-day standard reference. 

Amit Gupta
Simon Silver  
University of Illinois, Chicago 

WEBSITE 

Medical Microbiology (Neil Chamberlain's Look at the Microbial World)

This frequently visited website is coordinated by Neil Chamberlain of the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCOM). It contains extensive material of great quality for teaching microbiology and infectious diseases to medical students.

The site is organized into two large sections: teaching materials in infectious diseases, and teaching materials in immunology/medical microbiology. The infectious diseases section is subdivided into 18 segments. Here you can find an extensive photo gallery of pathogenic bacteria, infectious diseases lecture notes, clinical cases in infectious and other diseases (developed at KCOM and other institutions), exam questions, other microbiology courses online, medically important fungi, viral diseases and their etiological agents, and a brief laboratory notebook to teach the Gram stain technique.

Useful information can be found on this site in the form of summaries and tables, such as the common causes of various diseases, the top 10 causes of mortality in the United States, the Year 2000 recommended childhood immunization schedule, and a list of all approved vaccines in the United States. Another segment presents a list of all the microorganisms involved in several types of infections. One of the unique features of this website is the “bacterial pathogens pronunciation station,” to help students learn pronunciation of names of various microorganisms. A segment designated Suite 101 contains brief and easy-to-read microbiology articles written by the author. The ability for users to discuss the content of the articles and pose questions is another wonderful opportunity offered by this site. Favorite linkages are provided for other microbiology and infectious diseases sites, societies and governmental agencies concerned with microbiology, and sites providing information to medical students. 

The immunology/medical microbiology section includes lecture notes with excellent graphics, duplicate links of the photo gallery of pathogenic bacteria, and Chamberlain's favorite links. Additional features include several search engines and information on osteopathic medicine. 

The site is easy to navigate and frequently updated. It has received several awards for excellence, and should prove useful to anyone with an interest in microbiology, immunology, and infectious diseases including students, educators, and other health professionals. 

Liliana Rodriguez
University of Texas-Houston Medical School 

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS 

Penicillin: Discovering the Truth 

VHS videotape. Films for the Humanities and Sciences, Princeton, N.J., [(800) 257-5126, http://www.films.com ] 1998, 1 videocassette; $89.95. 

Target Audience: While no specific audience is indicated, this video is suitable for the general public. 

Description: This video recounts the history of penicillin from Alexander Fleming's discovery to Howard Florey's demonstration of its life-saving potential. Fleming's discovery is shown to be pure luck, followed by erroneous experimentation. Fleming's conclusion that penicillin would lose its antibiotic properties in blood resulted in a 10-year delay in its development. Florey's group would show penicillin's real potential. From there, the quest to obtain a sufficient quantity of penicillin for clinical trials and for World War II casualties led to the refinement and production of penicillin. 

Level of Presentation: The presentation is more historical than scientific; unencumbered by technical language, it is readily understandable. 

Strengths/Weaknesses: Through interviews with the scientists, who worked with Fleming and Florey, this video makes Florey the real hero of penicillin. Newsreel footage of the era and archival material such as Fleming's original isolate adds a historical time frame to the discussion and provides the backdrop for the role World War II played in the development of penicillin. A weakness with this video is its unflattering, almost biased, portrait of Fleming. 

Recommendations: This video is enlightening and entertaining. It would be worthwhile viewing by anyone with a general interest in scientific history and provides a good example of how science may or may not work. 

Charles H. Guymon
U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Fort Sam Houston, Tex.