Mitosis and Apoptosis: Matters of Life and Death

  • I. D. Bowen,
  • S. M. Bowen &
  • A. H. Jones
Chapman and Hall: 1997. Pp.182 £24.99, $49.95, (pbk)

A book of modest size but great ambition, this endeavours to explain cell proliferation and cell death at the molecular, cellular, physiological and philosophical levels. It is aimed at students at graduate and advanced undergraduate levels, and covers a broader area, but in less depth, than the title suggests.

For example, in addition to the mechanics of cell-cycle control and apoptosis, one of the six chapters is devoted to signal transduction. Because signal transduction controls both proliferation and death, this chapter nicely links the two topics. But there is a price to pay. In exchange for the broad coverage, the reader gets short-changed on several concepts central to cell division and cell death.

There is no serious discussion of chromosome dynamics, and DNA replication is covered in just a few brief paragraphs.

The chapters on cell death are more complete, including some useful discussions on non-apoptotic types of death. In general, the book is fairly up to date and contains many references to primary research articles. If a brief introduction to cell proliferation and cell death is required, this concise, enjoyable book might well be it.