Biochemistry

This text is intended for an introductory course in bio- metabolism concludes with photosynthesis. The last sec- chemistry. While such a course draws students from vari- tion of the book, Part IV, TRANSFER OF GENETIC INFOR- ous curricula, all students are presumed to have had at MATION, also opens with an introductory chapter and then least general chemistry and one semester of organic chem- explores the expression of genetic information. Replica- istry. tion, transcription, and translation are covered in this or- My main goal in writing this book was to provide stu- der. To allow for varying student backgrounds and for pos- sible needed refreshers, a number of topics are included as dents with a basic body of biochemical knowledge and a thorough exposition of fundamental biochemical con- four appendixes. These cover acid-base calculations, principles of cepts, including full definitions of key terms. My aim has of organic chemistry, tools biochemistry, and been to present this material in a reasonably balanced oxidation-reduction reactions. form by neither deluging central topics with excessive de- Each chapter includes a summary, a list of selected tail nor slighting secondary topics by extreme brevity. readings, and a comprehensive study section that consists Every author of an introductory text struggles with of three types of review questions and a large number of the problem of what to include in the coverage. My guide- problems.