Embryonic Encyclopedia of Life Sciences

Even in its “embryonic” state, the Encyclopedia of Life Sciences shows great promise for becoming an indispensable resource. When it is launched in its complete form in 2001 it will contain over 3,000 articles on topics ranging from biochemistry and molecular biology to ecology, evolution, and systematics. Currently about half that number is available. The publisher acknowledges an emphasis on cell and molecular biology, especially as it relates to medicine, but this emphasis does not seem to have harmed the other areas.

The articles are authored by a corps of over 5,000 biologists who are organized into ten general disciplines,...