Facts and experiments are only the bare bones of science, which must be covered with a flesh of theoretical concepts. Many scientific disciplines have a somewhat forbidding exterior, so that their charms are not always immediately apparent. Indeed, a special exposition may be needed to indicate how fascinating, rich, and attractive many of these disciplines actually are. The quarterly journal, Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, is devoted to ideas and concepts which cast new light on the biological sciences and indicate their real vitality. From this journal the editor, Dr. Dwight J. Ingle, has selected 23 contributions which broadly discuss some of the important aspects of modern biology.
The studies fall into seven major groups, dealing with evolution, metabolism, the circulatory system, the nervous system, cancer, and finally some specialized topics that are well aggregated as "The Temple of Life." Of the 26 authors, no less than 6 are Nobel