Molecular biology of aging /

As the instructor of an undergraduate course in the biology of aging, taught primarily to nonscience majors, this reviewer will certainly recommend that our library acquire this volume. It represents the proceedings of a symposium on the molecular basis of aging held in 1984, which attracted participants who are experts in the field from the US and six foreign countries. The 30 chapters are grouped under five subheadings: Wear and Tear Hypotheses; Aging in Cellular Proteins; Changes in DNA with Age; Diseases Featuring Altered Rates of Aging; and Future Directions in Aging Research. Although the details of the individual chapters may be of greatest interest to scholars at the graduate level and above, the chapter references make this an important reference source for undergraduates interested in biology of aging. Another benefit for undergraduate users is the inclusion of transcripts of public lectures by three renowned gerontologists-E.L. Schneider, Alex Comfort, and Lewis Thomas. These lectures-and the questions and answers that follow-provide important information in relatively nontechnical language. The breadth of interest of this volume makes it a worthwhile addition to any library collection.-L.A. Meserve, Bowling Green State University