Book excerpt: Advances in Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry, Volume 8, presents five papers covering topics that range from biochemical aspects of the genetics of the various mutants of the fruit fly Drosophila to the physiological, biophysical, and biochemical mechanisms in diving animals. The first study on the biochemistry and genetics of purine metabolism in Drosophila melanogaster examines purine nucleotide biosynthesis and interconversion, catabolism of purines, genetics of catabolic enzymes, and purine auxotrophy. The second study on central nervous system regulation of pituitary melanocyte-stimulating hormone presents experiments with amphibians, reptiles, and mammals that test nervous-neuroendocrine control of MSS release. The third study examines the comparative physiology of calcium regulation in submammalian vertebrates, including fishes, amphibians, and birds. The fourth study looks at the cerebellum of fishes. The final paper deals with the comparative physiology of diving in vertebrates. The book will be useful to biologists given their appreciation of functional biological principles, as well as a reference tool for specialists.