Customer Reviews

Cells, Gels and the Engines of Life

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This book is heretical and courageous, and - if it can escape burning - may become a seminal landmark in our understanding of living systems. Based to a large extent on the pioneering (and often unfairly derided) work of Gilbert Ling, the book focuses on the importance of the gel-like nature of living cytoplasm - the interior of living cells - at the expense of the vaunted cell membrane. It turns out that cells can do fairly well without intact cell membranes because many functions attributed to the membrane are actually accomplished by gel properties of sub-membrane cytoskeleton of actin, microtubules and other protein structures. Pollack provides evidence that patch clamp techniques, which claim to study isolated membranes (and have provided much of the "evidence" for membrane ion channel and ion pumping mechanisms) include sub-membrane actin cytoskeleton which, according to Pollack, is actually regulating ionic fluxes and concentrations.

The book describes how cytoplasmic gels manifest collective phase transitions such as polymerization of actin proteins with accompanying ordering of cell water and exclusion of large cations. According to Pollack, these collective phase transitions can explain not only ionic fluxes, but also voltage gradients, propagating action potentials, mitosis, muscle contraction and cell movement. Ion channels and pumps are not mythical, but overstated. Pollack traces the roots of (in his view) the "membrane-centric" misconceptions and his proposed revolution is believable. Our cells are not bags of liquid governed by membrane activities, but protein matrix-based gels covered by a thin semi-permeable membrane "skin". The cytoplasm is intrinsically reactive and able to maintain cell homeostasis and functions. The cytoplasmic gel best captures the essence of the living state.

Molecular biologists, biochemists, membrane physiologists and others will no doubt gnash their teeth over this book, and many will dismiss it out of hand, citing ever-expanding knowledge in their respective fields. However ultrareductionist "bind and grind" techniques quite often fail to see the forest for the trees. Pollack encourages readers to compare his ideas to conventional approaches as espoused in mainstream textbooks. Any objective biologist should do so.

The book is easy to read, clear and understandable, and well illustrated with simple diagrams. Those willing to curb their dogma will find it stimulating and delightful.

During my senior year of bioengineering at ASU, one of my instructors recommended that I read this book. I went on Amazon and purchased a copy. Tragically, I let it sit on my shelf for almost six months without reading it. About a year ago, I picked it up and read it, expecting it to be a labor-intensive read. It was not. Instead, in very simple terms and using simple yet convincing examples, Pollack managed to challenge everything I ever learned in school in two days (It only took two days because I found myself reading this book every chance I got; I coult not put it down).

Challenging even many of the basic tenets of cellular biology-- from even the existance of selective ion channels in the fluid mosaic model of the cell wall to blowing the lid off of what every student is taught in school about the way muscle cells contract--Pollack writes a book that has been and will continue to be challenging, because it challenges the premises of the life-long work of many scientists.

While I'm sure that some of his critiques of the beliefs of the faith of cellular biology today will prove to be wrong, Pollack is not afraid of the challenge or the community backlash against him. I applaud the work. I recommend it as required reading for just about everybody: the writing style makes it accessible for even high school students, but it is not too plebian to challenge even a professor or researcher in the area.
-Jacob

This great book fundamentally changed the way I think about cells. It is not one of your typical cell biology textbooks that only show you the a priori views about cells, leaving out the findings not fitting their overall picture. This book takes you from the very basic laws of physics and chemistry and explains the common cell functions step by step. On the way, it challenges many dogmatic views about cells and introduces very logical and simple new mechanisms. It has a great narrative, which makes you think and speculate, almost like a good mystery novel. I strongly recommend this book to any open-minded science-lover with an interest in cell biology.

Have you ever wondered if there is anything further to understand in modern biology? Don't we know all? Don't we only need to do a computer search among the dazzlingly long catalog of gene sequences, membrane pumps, pores, channels, receptors to receive an answer to just about any relevant question? Or, do you feel uneasy about the enormous complexity of the cell put forth in biology textbooks and wonder whether some common, simple mechanisms may operate in the background? If you are of the latter type, the book is for you. Pollack puts us in the driver's seat and takes us on a heartpoundingly exciting, courageous and fascinating journey. Rather than lecturing, the author challenges us to question mainstream ideas of cell biology in a highly enjoyable, easy-to-understand and thought-provoking manner. An unorthodox conceptual view is put forth that attempts to globally explain how the living cell functions. We are rewarded by the unparalleled joy of feeling part of a discovery itself. This intellectual journey is well worth every minute. And, who knows, Pollack might be right, too!

In this captivating book really worth to read the author developed a highly interesting almost radical concept in cell biology that may clarify a lot of current inconsistencies. It is very impressive and convincing to see how he has succeeded to formulate a new concept of elementary functions of life considering phase-transitions as a common denominator of all fundamental biological functions. Highly recommended reading for scientists!

Very thought provoking. Challenges accepted concepts. Written extremely well. Highly recommended reading for scientists as well as for non-scientists.

As a non-biologist (nuclear chemist/experimental physicist) I read Dr. Pollack's book with interest, in 2006, and found it relevant to our work - and plausible. However, I made a mistake and read a review, by apparently a fellow Faculty (Alexander Stein), enclosed below.
Reading it - peremptorily, admittedly - I decided not to learn more about biology...
Recently I found out that Dr. Pollack got the highest reward from his fellow Faculty for his research. By the way, it still is very relevant to our research. We do plan to pursue it.
It's true I should have gone deeper into this - but one simply cannot do everything.
The way Amazon manages these reviews is flawed ("the highest and the lowest"). Perhaps there should be a warning that there is a significant probability that some reviews may not be done in good faith.

The flawed review:
"Dr. Pollack is an embarrassment to his field and his University. This book is a collection of old results (from as far back as 50 years ago) that puzzled the world's scientists at the time they were first published. There has been much progress in the intervening decades that Dr. Pollack would do well to read and understand. All of the ancient science upon which..."
Robert F Holub
Research Professor
CARES, Clarkson University
Potsdam, NY

This book explains the basic physiological function of the living cells. The author puts forth the thesis that living and non-living substances have a common functional origin. He explains step by step some of the most complicated physiological events without invoking mysterious premises or ad hoc preconditions. Besides providing a fresh understanding of living cell functions, this book provides some of the best evidence for the evolutionary theory of life. According to the author's theory, the non-living world basically accounts for the development of living organism. The writing style is easy and brilliant. Suggested readers: open-minded researchers, students, as well as the broad public.

Pollack's book is extremely insightful, although sometimes controversial. It looks at cell biology from a unique viewpoint. After reading this book, I have re-evaluated many established concepts in cell biology with new understanding and perspective. This is a must read for any serious student or researcher in the field of cell biology. I highly recommend this book.

Written in a detective story style, Dr. Pollack intently looks behind the doors of scientific dogmas known to cellular physiology. He challenges these theories by asking the reader down-to-earth questions, and analyzes possible alternatives in a mind-stimulating way. In the last chapters, the reader discovers the "murderer" by being introduced to a unique scientific concept that could be the basis of a new, powerful theory of cellular physiology.

"Cells, Gels and the Engines of Life" is a fascinating book, recommended to intellectuals at all ages who are open-minded and want to analyze exciting biological process i.e., how cells divide, change shapes or move. Guaranteed to find thorough answers within this extraordinary book!