Ion-Sensitive Intracellular Microelectrodes. How to Make and Use Them

the techniques can easily make effective use of the most sophisticated of these methods." This admirable goal is partially achieved in this multiple-author collection. The chapters on velocity sedimentation (by D. Ridge), zonal rotors (by J.M. Graham), and isopycnic centrifugation (by G.D. Birnie and D. Rickwood) take the novice up to the point where he can apply the methods discussed in an intelligent manner. Practical considerations are emphasized and detailed experimental examples are included. The chapter by J. Steensgaard, N.P.H. M0ller, and L. Funding on quantitative aspects of velocity sedimentation is restricted to discussion of a FORTRAN program to calculate sedimentation coefficients for a BXIV zonal rotor. This chapter would seem to be somewhat too specialized for a book of this sort. The main disappointments in this collection are the theoretical introduction to ultracentrifugation (by S.P. Spragg) and the chapter on analytical ultracentrifugation (by R. Eason and A.M. Campbell). The former appears to be a list of stated theoretical results or partial solutions to key problems without any attempt to derive or explain the motivation for a given mathematical approach. The non-specialist will gain little insight and the expert will find nothing new from this chapter. The treatmeit of analytical ultracentrifugation is a bit more detailed and lucid in its exposition of theory, but falls short in its practical aspects. For example, while multiple-cell operations are discussed, at no point is the use wedge (prismatic) windows metioned. For the biologist with a sample and an analytical ultracentrifuge, this book would not suffice. As a supplementary reference for a course in physical biochemistry, this book appears to fill a need. Selected chapters will be of use to the student who needs practical information on rotor speeds, tube characteristics, gradient components, etc. For theoretical background, he will have to turn elsewhere. Although the body of the book is sound, the economy paper binding would seem to be a mistake, especially on a volume which is intended for use as a laboratory reference.