Book review
1
Book Review Biochemistry Laboratory: Modern Theory and Techniques, Second Edition Rodney Boyer, Prentice Hall, 2012, 384– pp., ISBN-13 978-0-13-604302-7; ISBN-10 0-13-604302-X (paperback, $62.00). ‘‘Biochemistry Laboratory, Modern Theory and Prac- tices’’ is a companion handbook for the biochemistry laboratory. It provides descriptions and the theoretical basis of common techniques, allowing it to be used as an accompanying text to any number of laboratory activ- ities, including more open ended, problem based labora- tory experiments or research based laboratory curricula [1, 2]. Each chapter contains study exercises integrated into the text (some with worked out solutions) and end of the chapter study problems. The answers to the odd problems are available in the back of the book. The first chapter is an overview of basic skills needed for any biochemical laboratory activity, including safety, record keeping, solution preparation, pipetting, and sta- tistical analysis. It includes an explanation of different water purification methods and when they are appropri- ate. The statistical techniques focus on mean, standard deviation, and the 95% confidence interval. The second chapter is significantly revised from the first edition and provides an overview of conducting back- ground research including using computers in Biochemis- try. Much of the ‘‘Using Computers in Biochemistry’’ sec- tion, however, consists of definitions that most of the read- ers are familiar with, such as Internet, Ethernet, freeware, web browser, HTML, and Google. However, it does provide helpful lists of directories, databases, and online tools, with the caveat that the addresses are susceptible to web rot. Chapter 3 focuses on general laboratory procedures, including buffers and pH, determination of protein and nucleic acid concentrations, dialysis and concentration techniques, and radioactivity. The buffer and pH section includes a good explanation of the use of electrodes (including both pH and oxygen electrodes), a derivation of the Henderson–Hasselbalch equation, and a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of commonly used buffer systems. There are useful tables of properties of common buffer systems, and explanations of linear and serial dilutions. The measurement of protein solutions sec- tion includes comparisons of the Biuret, Lowry, Bradford, BCA, and A 280 methods, including possible interferences. Subsequent chapters focus on particular techniques commonly used in biomolecular applications, including centrifugation (Chapter 4), chromatography techniques (Chapter 5), electrophoresis (Chapter 6), spectrometry (Chapter 7), binding interactions and catalysis (Chapter 8), nucleic acids (Chapter 9), recombinant DNA and clon- ing (Chapter 10), and protein purification (Chapter 11). The binding interactions and catalysis chapter seems out of order, as one would need to purify either the protein or DNA of interest before conducting binding or kinetic experiments. The chapters provide overviews of the technique, general steps of the procedure, analysis of typical results, potential complications or problems that may be encountered, and end of the chapter problems. The procedures are overviews, not actual protocols, so another resource would need to be consulted for experi- mental design. However, it is in keeping with the spirit of the book: a resource to accompany detailed laboratory procedures (from the literature or otherwise) that explains how the techniques work. The appendices provide useful information, including buffer information, molecular weights of common proteins, common abbreviations used in biomolecular work, units of measurement, and a table of elements (though a periodic table may have been a more concise way to present that information). All together, this book succeeds in its purpose of offer- ing a resource that describes the theories and processes used in the biomolecular lab. It would be highly useful for the biomolecular teaching or beginning research labora- tory. Its cost ($62 on Amazon) should not be prohibitive but might require actual homework assigned from it to convince students to purchase it. The availability of online resources is useful, assuming the publisher keeps the links updated. REFERENCES [1] K. Knutson, J. Smith, P. Nichols, M. A. Wallert, J. J. Provost (2010) Bringing the excitement and motivation of research to students; Using inquiry and research-based learning in a year-long biochemis- try laboratory, Biochem. Mol. Biol. Educ. 38, 324–329. [2] G. DiTrapani, F. Clarke (2012) Biotechniques laboratory: An enabling course in the biological sciences. Biochem. Mol. Biol. Educ. 40, 29–36. Ann Taylor Department of Chemistry Wabash College Crawfordsville, Indiana 47933 DOI 10.1002/bmb.20639 This paper is available on line at http://www.bambed.org 1 Q 2012 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EDUCATION Vol. 00, No. 00, pp. 000–000, 2012
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Transcript of Book review
Book Review
Biochemistry Laboratory: Modern Theory andTechniques, Second EditionRodney Boyer, Prentice Hall, 2012, 384– pp., ISBN-13978-0-13-604302-7; ISBN-10 0-13-604302-X (paperback,$62.00).
‘‘Biochemistry Laboratory, Modern Theory and Prac-tices’’ is a companion handbook for the biochemistrylaboratory. It provides descriptions and the theoreticalbasis of common techniques, allowing it to be used asan accompanying text to any number of laboratory activ-ities, including more open ended, problem based labora-tory experiments or research based laboratory curricula[1, 2]. Each chapter contains study exercises integratedinto the text (some with worked out solutions) and end ofthe chapter study problems. The answers to the oddproblems are available in the back of the book.
The first chapter is an overview of basic skills neededfor any biochemical laboratory activity, including safety,record keeping, solution preparation, pipetting, and sta-tistical analysis. It includes an explanation of differentwater purification methods and when they are appropri-ate. The statistical techniques focus on mean, standarddeviation, and the 95% confidence interval.
The second chapter is significantly revised from the firstedition and provides an overview of conducting back-ground research including using computers in Biochemis-try. Much of the ‘‘Using Computers in Biochemistry’’ sec-tion, however, consists of definitions that most of the read-ers are familiar with, such as Internet, Ethernet, freeware,web browser, HTML, and Google. However, it does providehelpful lists of directories, databases, and online tools, withthe caveat that the addresses are susceptible to web rot.
Chapter 3 focuses on general laboratory procedures,including buffers and pH, determination of protein andnucleic acid concentrations, dialysis and concentrationtechniques, and radioactivity. The buffer and pH sectionincludes a good explanation of the use of electrodes(including both pH and oxygen electrodes), a derivation ofthe Henderson–Hasselbalch equation, and a summary ofthe advantages and disadvantages of commonly usedbuffer systems. There are useful tables of properties ofcommon buffer systems, and explanations of linear andserial dilutions. The measurement of protein solutions sec-tion includes comparisons of the Biuret, Lowry, Bradford,BCA, and A280 methods, including possible interferences.
Subsequent chapters focus on particular techniquescommonly used in biomolecular applications, including
centrifugation (Chapter 4), chromatography techniques(Chapter 5), electrophoresis (Chapter 6), spectrometry(Chapter 7), binding interactions and catalysis (Chapter8), nucleic acids (Chapter 9), recombinant DNA and clon-ing (Chapter 10), and protein purification (Chapter 11).The binding interactions and catalysis chapter seems outof order, as one would need to purify either the proteinor DNA of interest before conducting binding or kineticexperiments. The chapters provide overviews of thetechnique, general steps of the procedure, analysis oftypical results, potential complications or problems thatmay be encountered, and end of the chapter problems.The procedures are overviews, not actual protocols, soanother resource would need to be consulted for experi-mental design. However, it is in keeping with the spirit ofthe book: a resource to accompany detailed laboratoryprocedures (from the literature or otherwise) that explainshow the techniques work. The appendices provide usefulinformation, including buffer information, molecularweights of common proteins, common abbreviationsused in biomolecular work, units of measurement, and atable of elements (though a periodic table may havebeen a more concise way to present that information).
All together, this book succeeds in its purpose of offer-ing a resource that describes the theories and processesused in the biomolecular lab. It would be highly useful forthe biomolecular teaching or beginning research labora-tory. Its cost ($62 on Amazon) should not be prohibitivebut might require actual homework assigned from it toconvince students to purchase it. The availability ofonline resources is useful, assuming the publisher keepsthe links updated.
REFERENCES
[1] K. Knutson, J. Smith, P. Nichols, M. A. Wallert, J. J. Provost (2010)Bringing the excitement and motivation of research to students;Using inquiry and research-based learning in a year-long biochemis-try laboratory, Biochem. Mol. Biol. Educ. 38, 324–329.
[2] G. DiTrapani, F. Clarke (2012) Biotechniques laboratory: An enablingcourse in the biological sciences. Biochem. Mol. Biol. Educ. 40,29–36.
Ann TaylorDepartment of Chemistry
Wabash CollegeCrawfordsville, Indiana 47933
DOI 10.1002/bmb.20639
This paper is available on line at http://www.bambed.org 1
Q 2012 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EDUCATION
Vol. 00, No. 00, pp. 000–000, 2012
