Isotopes in Biology

Isotope is Biology is a six-chapter supplementary text that covers the properties and application of isotopes as labels or analytical tools in biological research. The first chapters deal with the physico-chemical properties and radioactivity of isotopes. These chapters also explore their synthesis, preparation, radiation decomposition, and decay of radioactivity. The succeeding chapter considers other aspects of isotopes, including their effect of health, disposal, spills, and laboratory use. Another chapter examines the chemical and biochemical behavior, natural abundance, and the chemical stability of isotopic compounds. The final chapters describe several isotopic methods, namely, isotope dilution, paper chromatography, and autoradiography, with emphasis on their application in biological studies. This book will be of value to biologists, and graduate and undergraduate biology students.