Functional Biochemistry in Health and Disease. By Eric Newsholme and Anthony Leech.
1
Handbook of Epigenetics: The New Molecular and Medical Genetics Edited by Trygve Tollefsbol. Academic Press, San Diego 2011, XIII + 624 pp., hardcover $ 150.00.—ISBN 978-0-12- 375709-8 The Handbook of Epigenetics contains an impressive collection of 37 articles, mainly dealing with the biology of epi- genetics. Covered topics range from mo- lecular marks and mechanisms, over model systems, epidemiology, aging and the brain to diseases. The book is edited by Trygve Tollefsbol, a well-recognized expert in the field. Some chapters are very nicely written and highly informa- tive, but not all contributions are of the highest quality. In addition, smaller and larger mistakes, inaccuracies or some- how misleading presentations are found in many chapters, and sometimes one would have liked to see a more critical review of literature data and concepts. Another general problem of the book is that almost every article has its own in- troduction on epigenetics and epigenet- ic marks. Despite the book’s broad scope, important subjects are not cov- ered; these include the methods and re- sults related to next-generation sequenc- ing epigenomic analyses, the spectacular achievements of cellular reprogramming made during recent years, and the prom- ising clinical application of DNA methyla- tion inhibitors. In summary, the Handbook of Epigenet- ics provides a unique and useful combi- nation of information and it is a valuable addition to the bookshelf of scientists with experience in the field. I cannot, however, recommend it without reserva- tion for the nonspecialist aiming to enter the field or for students. Albert Jeltsch Jacobs-UniversitȨt Bremen (Germany) Functional Biochemistry in Health and Disease By Eric Newsholme and Anthony Leech. Wiley–Blackwell Oxford 2010, 560 pp., soft- cover $ 75.00.—ISBN 978-0-471-93165-2 As might be an- ticipated from such well-respect- ed authors, Eric Newsholme and Tony Leech have created much more than just another biochem- istry textbook. Not only is this text refreshingly easy to read, but they have also ap- proached things differently. A real strength of this work is that they have carefully put biochemistry into a physio- logical (and often medical) context. This brings the subject to life. This is further helped by the fact that the text is writ- ten with rare clarity and supporting tables and figures are very helpful. On many occasions, there is a description of relevant historical events and this is a very useful way to both understand seminal moments of discovery and to put current understanding into context. It is the careful positioning at the inter- face between biochemistry and physiolo- gy that allows this book to work so well. The text is logically set out with intro- ductory chapters dealing with some es- sential basic concepts before progress- ing onto a more detailed description of fundamental biochemical (and physio- logical) processes and systems. The later sections of the text deal with specific scenarios, systems or diseases. Through- out, there is a clear attempt to place in- formation into context (ranging from be- haviours such as physical activity and acute episodic events such as trauma through to chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis). There are also suppor- tive online resources in the form of fig- ures and tables in PowerPoint format. This text and resource will appeal to biochemists looking to better translate their knowledge and understanding into real situations. It will particularly appeal to physiologists and medical students hoping to unravel the biochemical pro- cesses that underpin the physiology of life. This work serves as an excellent in- troduction for a novice, but experts will appreciate having this on their shelf when they are looking to refresh their understanding or to track down informa- tion that would be otherwise difficult to locate. Dylan Thompson University of Bath (UK) DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201100008 Bringing the Subject to Life 970 www.chembiochem.org # 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH& Co. KGaA, Weinheim ChemBioChem 2011, 12, 970
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Transcript of Functional Biochemistry in Health and Disease. By Eric Newsholme and Anthony Leech.
Handbook of Epigenetics: TheNew Molecular and MedicalGeneticsEdited by Trygve Tollefsbol.
Academic Press, San Diego 2011, XIII +624 pp. , hardcover $ 150.00.—ISBN 978-0-12-375709-8
The Handbook of Epigenetics contains animpressive collection of 37 articles,mainly dealing with the biology of epi-genetics. Covered topics range from mo-lecular marks and mechanisms, overmodel systems, epidemiology, aging andthe brain to diseases. The book is editedby Trygve Tollefsbol, a well-recognizedexpert in the field. Some chapters arevery nicely written and highly informa-tive, but not all contributions are of thehighest quality. In addition, smaller andlarger mistakes, inaccuracies or some-how misleading presentations are foundin many chapters, and sometimes onewould have liked to see a more criticalreview of literature data and concepts.Another general problem of the book isthat almost every article has its own in-troduction on epigenetics and epigenet-ic marks. Despite the book’s broadscope, important subjects are not cov-ered; these include the methods and re-sults related to next-generation sequenc-ing epigenomic analyses, the spectacularachievements of cellular reprogrammingmade during recent years, and the prom-ising clinical application of DNA methyla-tion inhibitors.
In summary, the Handbook of Epigenet-ics provides a unique and useful combi-nation of information and it is a valuableaddition to the bookshelf of scientists
with experience in the field. I cannot,however, recommend it without reserva-tion for the nonspecialist aiming to enterthe field or for students.
Albert JeltschJacobs-Universit�t Bremen (Germany)
Functional Biochemistry inHealth and DiseaseBy Eric Newsholme and Anthony Leech.
Wiley–Blackwell Oxford 2010, 560 pp., soft-cover $ 75.00.—ISBN 978-0-471-93165-2
As might be an-ticipated fromsuch well-respect-ed authors, EricNewsholme andTony Leech havecreated muchmore than justanother biochem-istry textbook.Not only is thistext refreshinglyeasy to read, but they have also ap-proached things differently. A realstrength of this work is that they havecarefully put biochemistry into a physio-logical (and often medical) context. Thisbrings the subject to life. This is furtherhelped by the fact that the text is writ-ten with rare clarity and supportingtables and figures are very helpful. Onmany occasions, there is a description ofrelevant historical events and this is a
very useful way to both understandseminal moments of discovery and toput current understanding into context.It is the careful positioning at the inter-face between biochemistry and physiolo-gy that allows this book to work so well.
The text is logically set out with intro-ductory chapters dealing with some es-sential basic concepts before progress-ing onto a more detailed description offundamental biochemical (and physio-logical) processes and systems. The latersections of the text deal with specificscenarios, systems or diseases. Through-out, there is a clear attempt to place in-formation into context (ranging from be-haviours such as physical activity andacute episodic events such as traumathrough to chronic diseases such asatherosclerosis). There are also suppor-tive online resources in the form of fig-ures and tables in PowerPoint format.
This text and resource will appeal tobiochemists looking to better translatetheir knowledge and understanding intoreal situations. It will particularly appealto physiologists and medical studentshoping to unravel the biochemical pro-cesses that underpin the physiology oflife. This work serves as an excellent in-troduction for a novice, but experts willappreciate having this on their shelfwhen they are looking to refresh theirunderstanding or to track down informa-tion that would be otherwise difficult tolocate.
Dylan ThompsonUniversity of Bath (UK)DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201100008
Bringing the Subject to Life
970 www.chembiochem.org � 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim ChemBioChem 2011, 12, 970
