The present work is an attempt to provide a systematic treatment of genetic linkage in diploid heredity. Part A presents a general account of statistical methods which can be brought to bear on the problem. The primary emphasis is on the practical aspects of estimation. A large proportion, if not the majority, of mutant genes fail to match up to 'textbook' genes-with faultless segregation ratios and expression-yet, these are the materials with which the practical researcher has to cope. For this reason, it is important to know how to deal with the assortment of genes which may display significant deviations from expectation. Part B examines the accumulated data on linkage for most of the laboratory mammals and provides a comprehensive and up-to-date survey. The need for a critical review has often been expressed and it is hoped that the present analysis will fill the gap. The volume of material is probably the most important in the animal kingdom other than that for Drosophila species.

The present work is an attempt to provide a systematic treatment of genetic linkage in diploid heredity. Part A presents a general account of statistical methods which can be brought to bear on the problem. The primary emphasis is on the practical aspects of estimation. A large proportion, if not the majority, of mutant genes fail to match up to 'textbook' genes-with faultless segregation ratios and expression-yet, these are the materials with which the practical researcher has to cope. For this reason, it is important to know how to deal with the assortment of genes which may display significant deviations from expectation. Part B examines the accumulated data on linkage for most of the laboratory mammals and provides a comprehensive and up-to-date survey. The need for a critical review has often been expressed and it is hoped that the present analysis will fill the gap. The volume of material is probably the most important in the animal kingdom other than that for Drosophila species.

Contributors detail up-to-date guidelines for using molecular techniques, cytogenetic and linkage analysis, and cellular methods, emphasizing human cells and medically relevant research. They present results of recent applications of techniques and step-by-step protocols for cloning large DNA molecu

The purpose of the first four volumes of the Handbook of Genetics is to bring together collections of relatively short, authoritative essays or an notated compilations of data on topics of significance to geneticists. Many of the essays will deal with various aspects of the biology of certain species or species groups selected because they are favorite subjects for genetic investigation in nature or the laboratory. Often there will be an encyclo pedic amount of information available on such species, with new papers appearing daily. Most of these will be written for specialists in a jargon that is bewildering to a novice, and sometimes even to a veteran geneticist working with evolutionarily distant organisms. For such readers what is needed is a written introduction to the morphology, life cycle, reproductive behavior, and culture methods for the species in question. What are its particular advantages (and disadvantages) for genetic study, and what have we learned from it? Where are the classic papers, the key bibli ographies, and how does one get stocks of wild type or mutant strains? Lists giving the symbolism and descriptions for selected mutants that have been retained and are thus available for future studies are provided whenever possible. Genetic and cytological maps, mitotic karyotypes, and haploid DNA values are also included when available. Volume 4 deals with certain vertebrate species that have been studied in considerable detail from the standpoint of genetics or molecular cytogenetics. Such data are available for only a relatively few vertebrates.

The papers in this book represent the proceedings of the Third International Symposium, which was held at the Addiction Research Foundation in Toronto in July, 1979. The purpose of this meeting was to bring together experts in the field from a wide variety of backgrounds in an attempt to gain some clarity and insight into the problems of alcohol and aldehyde metabolism. One might ask, "Why have such a meeting and a collection of research papers?" The answer is clear. The societal problem of alcoholism is, unlike many other health problems, growing instead of abating. Treatment efforts are largely ineffective (e.g., Griffith Edwards' classic work)', and fundamental research has yet to identify rational therapy based on sound mechanisms for this disease which effects 5% of the population severely and a much greater percentage to a lesser degree or indirectly. I have become impressed with the possibility that this lack of progress may be-in large part-due to a fundamental oversight on the part of investigators in the field of alcohol research. Simply, this possible problem could be stated as follows: an alcoholic is defined the same way as all other alcoholics. Attempts to identify possible subpopulations of alcoholics with defined and treatable diseases have been minimal. One could argue, however, that little evidence, with the exception of the gross psychiatric definitions (e.g., Jellinek) exists that there are different types of alcoholics. This argument is countered, first, by the dismal lack of progress made in this field by classifying an alcoholic equal to other alcoholics, and second, by analogy with cancer research. Now we know that "cancer" is only a generic term which defines a broad group of diseases, some caused by specific environmental chemicals, others by viruses, etc. Progress was only possible after suitable animal models were developed. More importantly, however, is the fact that once specific forms of the disease (i.e., once the diseases themselves were separated from the generic term) were identified, it was a relatively easy task to develop tests for early identification of some forms of the disease (e.g., the pap smear, etc.). This analogy can be extended to alcoholism's. First, let us assume that we have failed to develop tests for early identification of alcoholisms because the population is not carefully defined into subgroups. If we assume that subpopulations of alcoholics exist, we can again turn to the cancer literature for examples of how to proceed. Much progress in this field rests. On the careful development of strains of animals which differ in their susceptibility to certain carcinogens. By analogy, distinct forms of alcoholisms could be identified by the use of genetics (e.g., Goodwin). First, distinct phenotypes need to be developed for certain characteristics suspected to be important in alcoholism. Second, a test specific for early identification of this specific phenotype can then be developed. Third, longitudinal studies must be performed in humans to see if the animal work can be applied to man. Implicit in this rationale is the thought that progress is not possible by studying alcoholics 20 years after primary changes had occurred, nor even by studying pre-alcoholics until specific sub forms of the disease are identified. Thus, the need for fundamental research into the mechanisms responsible for alcoholism is required. Unfortunately, alcohol research appears to suffer some of the stigma of the alcoholic

Advances in Immunology

The Laboratory Rat, Volume I: Biology and Diseases focuses on the use of rats in specific areas of research, ranging from dental research to toxicology. The first part of this book retraces the biomedical history of early events and personalities involved in the establishment of rats as a leading laboratory animal. The taxonomy, genetics and inbred strains of rats are also elaborated. The next chapters illustrate the hematology, clinical biochemistry, and anatomical and physiological features of the laboratory rat. This text concludes with a description of infectious diseases that may be contracted from laboratory and/or wild rats. This volume is a good source for commercial and institutional organizations involved in producing rats for research use, specialists in laboratory animal, animal care and research technicians, as well as students in graduate and professional curricula.