Mammalian Cytogenetics And Related Problems In Radiobiology

Mammalian Cytogenetics and Related Problems in Radiobiology covers the proceedings of a symposium held in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in October 1962. The book focuses on the processes, methodologies, and approaches involved in mammalian cytogenetics and radiobiology. The selection first offers information on the nutrition and metabolism of cultured mammalian cells, blood technique and human chromosomes, and DNA replication in human chromosomes. Discussions focus on replication of heterochromatin in the human male; difficulties involved in the study of DNA synthesis in human chromosomes; and perspectives for future research. The text then ponders on the progress in the utilization of cell culture techniques for studies in mammalian and human somatic cell genetics and modification of radiation effects in the Ehrlich ascites tumor by oxygen or sodium azide. The manuscript examines experimental studies on mammalian chromosome aberrations, chromosome breakage in vitro, and survival of human cells in tissue culture after irradiation with densely and sparsely ionizing radiation. The text then elaborates on the observations on the morphology and behavior of normal human chromosomes, human pachytene chromosomes, and abnormalities of autosomes. The selection is a vital reference for readers interested in mammalian cytogenetics and radiobiology.

Ten years ago a symposium on Cytotaxonomy 'was held in London (Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. 169:110, 1958) in which a first attempt was made to bring together various disciplines to discuss advances of mammalian cytogenetics and to put them into proper context with the sciences of evolution and taxonomy. The introductory remarks by \V. B. Turrill to that symposium, essentially an admonishment to be tolerant of the short comings of our respective disciplines, would be a most appropriate begin ning to this conference as ,,'ell. However, the meeting held at Hanover was conceived more along the lines of remarks made by R. B. Seymour Se,,'ell in his presidential address to the same society: "It has been said that scientists in this search for truth are nowadays too much concerned with the accumulation of facts, and make too little use of their imagina tion in their attempts to explain such facts as they have accumulated. " (In "The continental drift theory and the distribution of the Copepoda," ibid. 166:149, 1956. ) \\Tith this as a background, two years ago we held the first of a series of loosely-structured conferences on reproductive failure in the relaxing atmosphere of this small New England college community. The manu scripts of that meeting have been published (Comparative Aspects of Re productive Failure, Springer-Verlag New York Inc. , 1967).

First multi-year cumulation covers six years: 1965-70.

Advances in Radiation Biology, Volume 2, reflects a continuing effort to provide wide-ranging analyses of progress in various phases of radiation research. The articles cover a spectrum of topics varying from the initial physical events which allow us to discriminate color, to the chemical and biological processes which determine the extent and permanence of radiation damage, and finally to the role of genetic control and damage in determining the fate of irradiated cells. The basic emphasis of the articles also varies. In some, the main attempt is to review extensively the available data so as to evaluate the possible contributions of various mechanisms to a given phenomenon. One article is devoted an evaluation of one physical approach which appears to be a promising way of understanding color perception. These different treatments should be of value not only to the researcher but also to the student, inasmuch as each approach is invariably dictated by the state of the art in the area being covered.