by Gerald H. Pollack Ebner and Sons (2001) 305 pages. ISBN 0-9626895-1-3 $27.95
Ever since seeing a book entitled Why People Believe Weird Things,I've been meaning to sit down and read it. Although I haven't yet gotten around to reading that particular book, I recently read a different book that raises the same question.
Cells, Gels, and the Engines of Life attempts to explain cell biology in terms of gels, discarding virtually all of molecular biology in the process. Cell membranes are the first thing to go. The book starts off by asserting that cells can be cut or punctured without affecting their physiology, implying that membranes do not act as boundaries. This leads to an immediate dismissal of ion channels and pumps. After all, if there is no barrier, there is no need for channels. In order to explain why the cell's contents don't leak out after cutting,...
