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The article discusses a bibliography for a seminar on evolution. Colleges and universities in the U.S. teach evolution as a seminar course. Since the field is broad, journals and other papers have appeared with discussions and other necessary data useful to students and instructors alike. Leading evolutionary biologists in America have been welcomed to participate with the recent papers. The contributors include Dean Amadon of he American Musesum of Natural History, George W. Beadle of the California, Alan A. Boyden of Rutgers University, Bayard H. Brattstrom of Adelphi College and others.

This article is a critique of the meaning and importance of some of the recently published work in the field whose development as a special area began with papers by Zuckerkandl & Pauling and Pauling & Zuckerkandl entitled Chemical Paleogenetics, Molecular Restoration Studies of Extinct Forms of Life and the paper by Margoliash on the evolution of cytochrome c. The primary emphasis is on conclusions and inferences derivable from amino acid sequences, followed bya section on nucleotide sequences. These are preceded by a brief indication of some of the literature that antedates the origin of the genetic code as it now stands. This will not treat immunoglobulin evolution, reviewed by Gally & Edelma and Smith, Hood & Fitch or related material on the evolution of enzymes and proteins reviewed by Smith and Arnheim. The functional interpretation of these changes has made significant progress [Dickerson and Takano et al]. For the evolution of metabolic pathways, see brew, Vogel, and Lejohn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the variety of treatment as regards teleology in several textbooks in biology. No effort was made to obtain statistical sampling; nor all of the recently published textbooks. The method of selection is that use by Herrick. Also, no effort was made to read the entire volume. Certain items, such as "adaptation," "evolution," "mimicry," "tropism," "vitalism," and others. One outstanding difference among these text is that some clearly state the inadequacy of teleological explanations; others seem to omit the point altogether.

The author focuses on the efficient study of principles in general biology. He implies that the study of principles in biology should be more effective so students will have more time to learn new principles that are developing, explore discovery and inquiry experimentation, experimental techniques, application of principles and study biology in relation to other studies. He lists the theories and relational laws in biology, including cell theory, classical gene theory and general theory of organic evolution.