X-Message-Number: 18859 From: Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2002 02:31:34 EST Subject: Dr. James D. Watson on C-SPAN2 (& hyperlinks) CryoNet: I watched Dr. Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of the DNA molecule, tonight/last night (3/24/2002) on Book TV CSPAN2. He's just like they say he is: a real character. He was speaking from some book club in NY, NY (I think), it was recorded on 3/7/2002. He was promoting his new book titled "Genes, Girls, and Gamon: After the Double Helix." He says the book gets its name, in part, due to his disappointment that the discovery never net him any women: "...there were no groupies..." He also said no one much gave a hoot about the discovery for half a decade (except some loudmouthed detractors from the established Biochemistry field). He's real good natured though. Audience liked him. He laughs a lot and has an amiable manner and smile -- but maybe a little wacky here and there. I happen to be reading (and rereading) a book he co-authored titled "Molecular Biology of the Cell." Actually it's considered to be a more of a reference book in the field, but it's very readable. These days it's standard issue for undergraduate (molecular) biology students and also perhaps for first year graduate school. Valuable for first-year medical school too, I hear. It's about 1,400 oversized pages and so heavy I had to have it rebound into eight smaller volumes so I can read it more comfortably from my rocking chair. Its last publish date was 1994 for the Third Edition. That's what I have (it was about $100 from Amazon). However, I found that the Fourth Edition is apparently ahead of schedule and is supposedly available this month -- Amazon.com may not be 100% sure about its actually availability. Good thing, I would have bought it. Now I hope not to because it may be on the web before long. The Third Edition is. I found it this weekend. Could not believe it. All the excellent graphics and photographs appear to be there too. I also found the "major competitor" for this work. Both are hyperlinked below. And I found the source for several other pertinent books online and have included their URL too. This is a good development for mass information dissemination. There will be high school students around the world who will now get an early jump start into the sciences, and will be more significant contributors because of it. Could be CI should consider adding the hyperlinks to its website when that section is next updated. These works are what it is all about right now. It's our future. For those who are interested, the hyperlinks below will take you to the first few chapters. You will have to experiment yourself to figure out how to get to the "Prefaces," or get to other chapters, etc. It takes some "getting use to," but its all there. The writing styles and approaches are really quite different for the molecular biology works in several ways. It is great to get the alternate perspectives. Once someone gets these basics down, s/he can come pretty close to understanding much of the current research and discoveries as regularly published in the various science journals (online and hard bound). I found I had to quit for a few months to restudy some general and organic chemistry, and also some physics, but am now back on track as time will allow. But, things are happening pretty fast. Here are the books: "Molecular Biology of the Cell" by Alberts, et al: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?tool=bookshelf&call=bv.View..ShowSec tion&searchterm=all&rid=cell.section.d1e25 "Molecular Cell Biology" by Lodish, et al: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?tool=bookshelf&call=bv.View..ShowSec tion&searchterm=The&rid=mcb.chapter.d1e1297 The PubMed Bookshelf Itself: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=Books A book I got for Christmas that I'm liking a lot is "ANATOMICA: The complete Home Medical Reference," 2001, by numerous authors/experts, and out by Barnes & Noble. It's even more massive in size, but is also well written and well illustrated. It is an excellent companion to the molecular level works as it takes it from that dimension on up to the tissue, organ, system and whole body level. It's covers anatomy, physiology, medicine and more. Not for everyone, but over the last two or three years, a lot of things have been falling into place regarding my understanding of what is real. It's a challenge, but it's fun. Regards, D.C. Johnson, Raleigh, NC PS: Thanks, Mike Darwin, for the lead on Bob's Carson Show appearances. I just might give Mike Perry a call sometime in the less than distant future about the audios (even though I gave away the Sony reel-to-reel 20 years ago). Sure, I understand all these broadcasts are all still streaming 360 degrees across the entire cosmos in perfectly retrievable electromagnetic fidelity, but man, what a hassle... PSS: I recently read about some additional vitrification success in industry with pig embryos via the partial "chemically collapsing" of their cellular cytoskeletons with natural cell regulators (i.e., intracellular ionic messengers, hormones, etc.) prior to cooling. I will try to remember to find the web reference and post it before long. PSSS: Squirrels ate my lichens experiment. No joke. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=18859