44 BioEssays Vol. 5 , No. 1

BOOK REVIEWS

Although the realm of carbon-based chemistry and the frank biological content comprise slightly less than half the book, this discussion is the best short treatment of the world of the organic this reviewer has seen. Ranging from the special properties of carbon-carbon bonds to the nature of brain function, the biological scope is as broad as one might wish. Furthermore, the standard of accuracy is high; there are a few errors (there are not 20 ‘brands’ of tRNA but closer to 40, in one of the figures the double bonds are mysteri- ously dropped, etc.) but these are trivial and do not detract from the quality and coherence of the over-all treatment.

Apart from its value as review, however, this book should have a second useful- ness for biologists. At a time when so much of the emphasis in molecular biology is on the informational aspects of macromolecules, it is invaluable to be reminded of the remarkable and diverse properties of the materials that comprise cells and organisms and the ways that cellular and organismal properties ulti- mately derive from the nature and interactions of their molecular constit- uents. Beyond the world of genetic information there lies a whole realm of cellular properties and epiphenomena that we have only just begun to understand. At a price of E17.50, this

book puts to shame many much-higher- priced books that have far less to say.

The book fittingly ends at the limits of the material world, with a discussion of brain structure and function and the question of the reality of free will. Given that the relationships between brain and mind comprise one of the most chal- lenging frontiers of science, might we someday expect an equally informative ‘ Cambridge Guide to the Psychological World’?

A. S . WILKINS is staffeditor of BioEssays and is at the Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing St., Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK.

THE AIRPORT PROFESSOR On Food and Drink Travelling in the economy class is a necessity for many of us, even on long-haul itineraries. If the flight is fully booked it can take. as long as three hours before your meal gets to you. On eastbound flights from North America to Europe that often means you get your supper just at the time when your body wants to sleep. There is a way in which you can increase your chance of being served : when you book your ticket have your agent order a special meal for you. The choice can be surprisingly large. TWA, for example, lists about a dozen u la carte meals in economy class on long-haul flights. Once boarding is complete, identify yourself by name. The flight attendant will probably bring your special order the moment meal service begins, because they cannot readily get back to the galley once the carts with the regular meals are in the aisles. Note, however, that if you switch flights within the last 24 hours before departure you will lose your special meal.

Now, what do you want to drink with your food? Business Traveller magazine for December 1985 listed British Airways as having the most awful wine in economy and business class. Air New Zealand was top in business class. The French suppliers to British Airways commented in The Times of London that the airline’s insistence on using 185 ml bottles was part of the trouble. It seems the wine would improve magically if poured from standard 750 ml bottles. Will you join my campaign to persuade TWA to serve US domestic wine in economy on its international flights? It is true that the European wine lake is still large, but it is likely to remain so until standards at the bottom end of the market are raised. Californian jug wine is generally superior to the generic vin de table gushing all over Europe, and I would prefer to see TWA supporting domestic wineries.

Later in 1986 British Airways is to be sold to the public. In Britain we call this process ‘privatization’ - as many will know the same semantic confusion extends to our ‘private’ schools, which are called ‘public’ schools. The prospectus offering shares will be eagerly scanned by regular users of the airline because it is expected that shareholders will get special deals. In the case of British Telecom, for example, shareholders received vouchers towards their telephone bill. How about complimentary Cali- fornian wine?