Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Reviews of Second Edition '...well cross-referenced...Students should find it particularly useful ...altogether, an exceptionally produced publication.' Society for General Microbiology 'If...you are often bewildered by the multitude of new terms that litter much of the literature of molecular biology this second edition...will prove invaluable.' Trends in Biochemical Sciences '...a linguistic bridge for one of the fastest growing branches of science...the uniqueness is in its concise and clear description of terms...extremely comprehensive and easy to use.' ARBA '...very informative and extensive...valuable reference tool.' Febs Letters

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

This new edition of the standard microbiological dictionary (2nd ed., 1993) takes in a very broad field, including descriptive, medical, agricultural, industrial, and molecular aspects, and covering the organisms traditionally known as viruses, bacteria, algae, protozoa, and fungi. It is not a dictionary of molecular biology, as the many important aspects found only in more complex organisms are omitted, although the acronyms, abbreviations, genes, and enzymes prevalent in this field are covered fully. Entries are arranged alphabetically, with no attempt to group related items. Each term has a full explanatory description, sometimes extended to more than two pages. Only occasional use is made of chemical and metabolic diagrams and there are no other illustrations, but the concepts are defined clearly, giving the necessary amount of background information, and cross-references are sufficient. Both current and older terms are well covered. Much of the content is unchanged; some subjects receive a perfunctory additional paragraph, and a moderate number of new articles have been added. There are many literature references, but most are old and now irrelevant. Technical vocabulary is used throughout, making this dictionary suitable for the information needs of advanced students and professionals. No current practical alternative exists; the closest approximation would be standard medical dictionaries. Recommended for academic libraries. D. Goodman Princeton University