Customer Reviews
A handy reference - By: Magnus Johnson, 29 Dec 2008 
I got this as a freebie along with its companion "Oxford Dictionary of Earth Sciences" & I use both now & again. I'm not sure that it is possible to produce a single volume dictionary to a subject as diverse as "biology" (which includes zoology, marine biology, botany, molecular biology etc) that will satisfy all of the people all of the time. However this is a good starting point & worth investing in.
I wish I hadn't bought this - By: Ms. Lin Taylor, 20 May 2008 
Like other reviewers I find this dictionary constantly frustrating. It is not comprehensive, & more often than not it doesn't have the term I am looking for, meaning I have to resort to the internet or textbooks. For example, it has the definition for 'jaw' but lacks 'qualia' & 'geosmins'. Not recommended for anyone above A level.
a little too basic for a Biology BSc. - By: funkyfish01, 22 Jan 2008 I have found this Biology dictionary to be lacking many important termsin the second year of my degree, & I have generally been disappointed with it. I believe it is fine for A-levels, & acceptablein a first year biology degree; but this needs companion texts for later degree years as modules advance.
Maintain that resting potential, now! - By: B. S. Mann, 01 Dec 2006 
The question was: what (or whatever) maintains the resting membrane potential nowadays! I always thought that it was the sodium pump (or Na K ATPase etc.). Recently, I heard: No, it is not the sodium pump that maintains the resting potential. So I checked both the Oxford & the Penguin Dictionaries of Biology. Oxford says that the resting potential is maintained by the sodium pump; however, the Penguin says it is the leaky potassium channels, & sodium pump plays a slight role. Well, it is one of those academic debates, it would seem--which really mean nothing--because nothing is at stake! The debate is from confusing maintenance, recovery, & repair--perhaps. Is it the resting potential (a thing being maintained) or is it the repolarization after a depolarization (a thingin recovery) that we are talking about? Is maintenance still maintenance if you spend energyin extruding the smaller atoms out--well: a running car can be maintained only by spending money? Perhaps, after all, it is only the usual confusion of the frogsin a well: they can only see the starsin their own horizons. The whole biological process has several components, & to know which is the one--well, just take one out & see if the process holds & functions. Which brick is the most importantin a wall? Clearly, the truth is never simple, & possibly there is no such thing as the truth. Things evolve using all of the components--and are what they are. So, I guess it is always the context & it is always relative: point of view etc. There is no simple correct answer because the question is incorrectly formulated--without the necessary context. What is more importantin the running of a car: the engine or the gas? So get both the Oxford & Penguin--they complement, & both are useful when viewed & understoodin the right context: neither can replace the textbook; & no textbook replaces all the source materials--but you need to start somewhere. For a rich fantasy life read Ayul Zamir's Intern Beth. Now, whatever maintains that resting membrane potential!
What not to buy - By: , 13 Dec 2005 if your looking for a dictionary for a degree course this would not be it. many biological terms & definitions are not listed. your better off buying either the henderson biological dictionary or the penguin one, as these have far more terms & are listedin a more clear & consise manner.
