Molecular approaches to parasitology Edited by John C Boothroyd and Richard Komuniecki, pp 560. Wiley‐Liss, New York, 1995.£ 49.95 ISBN 0‐471‐10342‐X (Ha...

Abstract

Of the currently known 12.5 million organic compounds, about half of them contain heterocyclic systems. Biochemists, of course, know very well the importance of such compounds in all life processes, not to mention the bases--and sugars--in DNA itself. High school and preliminary undergraduate chemistry courses, in contrast, do the heterocycles poorly. In this country, most children in high school taking Chemistry and Biology know the names of the bases in DNA but would be hard pressed to write structures and would know nothing of their chemistry. The present book is comprehensive and very concise. It recognises its debt to Acheson'sAn Introduction to the Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds (third edition, 1976, Wiley) and to the Katritzky Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry series (Pergamon). It will serve more as a reference for the advanced worker than as a …