Book Review: Molecular Biology

Soybean: Genetics, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. Biotechnology in Agriculture No. 14 D.P.S. Verma and R. C. Shoemaker, eds. 1996. ISBN 0-85198-984-5 (cloth US$90) 270 pp. CAB International, Walingford, Oxon OXIO 8DE, UK
- From the first chapter looking at the genetic diversity of soybean through the final chapter reviewing the successes, failures, and limitations of transforming soybeans, the editors clearly attain their goal of increasing the understanding of soybean genetics, molecular biology and biotechnology. There even is a good smattering of biochemistry. This book provides an excellent overview of current knowledge useful to the novice and established soybean researcher alike. Each chapter is evenly paced, beginning with development of background upon which to build current understanding and ending with suggestions for the logical next step. The authors carefully present problems one faces when working with soybean genetics and limitations that must be considered before moving forward to improve soybean as a crop.

This book provides a wealth of information for someone just beginning to work with soybean as well as for the experience soybean breeder. Molecular biologists, and biochemists planning to work with soybean also will find this book very helpful. I found this book particularly helpful in understanding the soybean genome and as a source for mapped markers on linkage groups. My undergraduate and graduate. research students have found the book essential. The compilation of references at the end of each chapter is particularly helpful and the editors have been successful in obtaining an even level of presentation that makes it easy to read this book.

Because this is so well edited, contains fundamental information, and is easy to read, I recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about what approaches might be made to manipulate this important crop to maximum commercial efficiency. - Robert I. Bolla, Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63103

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