Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology (Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology 2nd Edition)

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Summary: Bergey's Manual comes in two very different forms, each good
Review: Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology is a four-volume set covering virtually every known species of bacterium; articles on each species and extensive articles on higher taxa describe a great deal of value to the undergraduate microbiology student or teacher, often including hard to find information about culture methods and ecological roles. The high cost and heavy format of the four large hardbound volumes make them unsuitable for use in the laboratory, however. Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology is a lower-cost, paperback companion volume containing very brief genus descriptions but extensive tables of biochemical and growth charateristics necessary for the laboratory identification of bacteria. Student labs should include these paperback volumes near every workstation; once students have identified their bacteria, a trip to a departmental library or reading room to learn more about the organism from the four-volume set is in order. Together, these volumes are indispensible for any well-equipped microbiology program.