The Facts on File Dictionary of Biology (Facts on File Science Dictionary)

The Facts On File Dictionary of Biology, Fourth Edition defines the basic principles and terms used. Approximately 300 new entries have been added to reflect new information, and current entries and back matter have been revised as needed. Pronuciation symbols have been added.

The previous editions of both of these dictionaries were published in 1999. Geared specifically to address the needs of high-school students (and also suitable for college students in introductory courses and the general public), these volumes are written in clear, concise, easy-to-understand language. Entries range in length from a sentence to several paragraphs. Black-and-white line drawings, tables, and charts supplement the texts.

The biology dictionary now contains about 3,700 entries, more than 300 of which are new. Also new are 2,500 pronunciations of terms not in everyday use. Examples of specific entries are Apomorphy, Entoprocta, Genetic engineering, Hormone, Ligule, Meiosis, Nitrogen cycle, Rapid eye movement, Spermatogenesis, Teleostei, and Zygomycete. Appendixes include outlines of the animal and plant kingdoms, amino acids, related Web sites, and a brief bibliography. The chemistry volume also has more than 300 new entries for a total of around 3,000, with 1,700 pronunciations. Sample entries are Alcohol, Carbocation, Electrode potential, Fehlin's solution, Oxygen, Relative density, Stalactites and stalagmites, and Vulcanization. Appendixes provide a listing of carboxylic acids, amino acids, sugars, nitrogenous bases, and nucleotides; a list of the chemical elements; a periodic table of the elements; the Greek alphabet; Web sites; and a brief bibliography.

Both volumes are worthwhile for consideration by libraries in need of up-to-date, relatively inexpensive dictionaries that cover basic biological and chemical terminology. High-school, public, and academic libraries might consider their purchase. Nancy Cannon
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