Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 177 views

    Biophysics An Introduction

    Uploaded by

    manhasminakshi490

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Biophysics An Introduction

    Uploaded by

    manhasminakshi490
    177 views1 page

    Original Title

    Biophysics an Introduction (1)

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    177 views1 page

    Biophysics An Introduction

    Uploaded by

    manhasminakshi490

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    You are on page 1of 1

    236 Book reviews

    Biophysics: An Introduction. By A Dictionary of Genetics, Sixth


    Rodney M.J. Cotterill. Hoboken, New Edition. By Robert C. King and William
    Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2002. D. Stansfield. Oxford, United Kingdom:
    408 pp. $115.00, hardcover; $39.95, Oxford University Press, 2002, 530
    paperback. pp., $29.95.
    This instructional book is based on a For some, the release of a new
    course in biophysics taught by Rodney Dictionary of Genetics may seem a some-
    Cotterill at the Danish Technical Institute. what underwhelming event. For me, how-
    Cotterrill begins by providing perspective to ever, the sixth edition of this venerable ref-
    the burgeoning field of biophysics. The reader erence arrived just in time to be of
    is then taken through the developments in absolutely paramount use.
    physics that made it possible for physicists to This fall, I was hard at work preparing
    contribute to biology. The author then pro- for my departmental qualifying exam, where-
    ceeds to concepts of increasing complexity, in students are examined on all aspects of
    from atoms to molecules, structures, systems, two research proposals and any more gen-
    and finally the behavior of organisms. eral areas tangential to these. To succeed at
    Each subject is dealt in two ways: an such a test, it is necessary to have a broad
    intuitive qualitative description of concepts - though not always exhaustive - grasp
    and a rigorous quantitative picture of the of the multidisciplinary landscape in
    same. The benefit of such a structure is a which your chosen field resides. For stu-
    qualitative understanding that helps one to dents or professionals seeking this type of
    place the mathematical equations in context high-altitude understanding, the Dictionary
    easily. The author is very skilled in simpli- of Genetics is, in my view, in a class by
    fying complex concepts like atomic structure itself.
    and probabilistic distribution of electrons As its title implies, this book is a ref-
    into intuitive logical notions. As a biologist, erence volume, and a relatively slim one.
    with a love for mathematics, this book was Inexpensive, highly readable, and concise,
    perfect for my initial grasp of biophysical the Dictionary of Genetics now boasts
    concepts. A supplementary website, http:// some 7,000 definitions and nearly 400
    info.fysik.dtu.dk/Brainscience/rodney.html, illustrations. Predictably, these concepts
    provides additional color images, simula- cover not only genetics, but also the
    tions, and solutions to problems. The book increasingly intertwined areas of biochem-
    has appendices that serve as primers on istry, immunology, molecular biology, and
    abstract concepts like quantum mechanics. microbiology; in addition, we are offered
    The text is useful for students comfort- appendices of taxonomies, genome statis-
    able with the mathematical rigor of physics tics, online references, and a quaint time-
    seeking the physical underpinnings of biol- line of genetic research and discovery.
    ogy and for the biologist who seeks to While these supplemental resources offer a
    obtain a qualitative and conceptual under- unique and often intriguingly distracting
    standing of biophysics. diversion, do not be misled: the true heart
    of this reference is its core of definitions.
    Antony Jose During my exam preparation, no other
    Yale University reference came close to matching the utili-
    ty of this clear, concise little volume for
    immediately quenching the urgent thirst
    for knowledge so peculiar to frantic study-
    ing. The vast resources of the Internet have
    conditioned us to expect instant gratifica-
    tion in our searches for information; rather
    than reading a textbook in a linear fashion,

    You might also like