30-Second Biochemistry
The 50 vital processes in and around living organisms, each explained in half a minute
Published on 5. October 2021
Book
Hardback
160 pages
978-0-7112-6367-3 (ISBN)
Description
The successful 30-Second series tackles biochemistry, the science of the chemical processes which underpin the workings of all organic life.
30-Second Biochemistry takes 50 of the most significant ideas relating to the study of the chemical processes connected to living organisms, simplifying each concept using just 300 words and one picture.
By using chemical procedures to tackle biological challenges, biochemistry reveals the behaviour of complex molecules and how they combine to form the building blocks of life.
Through this book you will gain a clear understanding of a fascinating area of science, embarking on a journey that reveals how new life is created, the path molecules take to develop from microscopic cells into complete organisms and how energy is harvested and harnessed to help organisms function efficiently.
Have all the key terms of this fascinating science explained in simple, bitesize chunks of information-rich text, as well as meeting the key figures who have helped make biochemistry what it is today.
30-Second Biochemistry takes 50 of the most significant ideas relating to the study of the chemical processes connected to living organisms, simplifying each concept using just 300 words and one picture.
By using chemical procedures to tackle biological challenges, biochemistry reveals the behaviour of complex molecules and how they combine to form the building blocks of life.
Through this book you will gain a clear understanding of a fascinating area of science, embarking on a journey that reveals how new life is created, the path molecules take to develop from microscopic cells into complete organisms and how energy is harvested and harnessed to help organisms function efficiently.
Have all the key terms of this fascinating science explained in simple, bitesize chunks of information-rich text, as well as meeting the key figures who have helped make biochemistry what it is today.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Quarto Publishing PLC
Illustrations
60
Dimensions
Height: 230 mm
Width: 180 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-7112-6367-3 (9780711263673)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Stephen Contakes
30-Second Biochemistry
The 50 vital processes in and around living organisms, each explained in half a minute
E-Book
11/2021
Ivy Press
€21.49
Available for download
Person
Stephen Contakes is Associate Professor of Chemistry at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, where he teaches courses in inorganic, analytic and physical chemistry. With a background in organometallic and bioinorganic chemistry, his research interests involve the preparation of redox-active hydrogen bonded assemblies and photoactive nanoparticle catalysts for use in pollutant remediation.
Content
6 Introduction
Chapter 1: Biochemistry's Context
12 GLOSSARY
14 Life's Scale
16 Life's Units
18 Life's Power
20 Life's Rules
22 Life's Matrix
24 Life's Give & Take
26 Profile: Lawrence Henderson
28 Life's Organizing Force
Chapter 2: Building Blocks
32 GLOSSARY
34 Elements
36 Bonds: Life's Handedness
38 Chains: Biological Polymers
40 Lipids
42 Sweetness: Carbohydrates
44 Profile: Frederick Sanger
46 Life's Letters: Nucleotides
48 Workforce: Amino Acids
& Peptides
Chapter 3: Machinery
52 GLOSSARY
54 Protein Folding & Aggregation
56 Shape: Protein Structure
58 Profile: Max Perutz
60 Roads & Rafters: Structural
Proteins
62 Motors
64 Transport & Storage
66 Membranes, Messengers
& Receptors
68 Making Life Go: Enzymes
Chapter 4: Harvesting Energy
72 GLOSSARY
74 Life's Currency
76 Using Big Carbs
78 Using Small Carbs
80 Long-term Storage
& Burning Fats
82 The Central Hub
84 Profile: Hans Krebs
86 ATP From Air
88 Mobilizing the Cell
Chapter 5: Making Life
92 GLOSSARY
94 Burning in Reverse:
Photosynthesis
96 Bringing in the Nitrogen
98 Pooling the Amino Acids
100 The Making of the
Message Bearers
102 Maintaining the Code
104 Profile: James Watson, Francis
Crick & Rosalind Franklin
106 Reading the Book
108 Doctoring Decoding: Epigenetics
110 Finding the Source
Chapter 6: Staying Alive
114 GLOSSARY
116 In & Out: Digestion & Excretion
118 Blood, Breath & Balance
120 Moving
122 Profile: Hugh Huxley
124 Biochemistry on the Brain
1 26 Detox
128 Electrolyte Balance
130 Coordinating the Defence
Chapter 7: In Sickness & Health
134 GLOSSARY
136 Things We Need
138 Staying Fit
140 Progeny & the Pill
142 Maintaining the Right Balance
144 Repelling the Hijackers
146 Profile: Gertrude Elion
& George Hitchings
148 When Cells Break Bad
150 Gene Editing
152 Appendices
154 Resources
156 Notes on Contributors
158 Index
160 Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: Biochemistry's Context
12 GLOSSARY
14 Life's Scale
16 Life's Units
18 Life's Power
20 Life's Rules
22 Life's Matrix
24 Life's Give & Take
26 Profile: Lawrence Henderson
28 Life's Organizing Force
Chapter 2: Building Blocks
32 GLOSSARY
34 Elements
36 Bonds: Life's Handedness
38 Chains: Biological Polymers
40 Lipids
42 Sweetness: Carbohydrates
44 Profile: Frederick Sanger
46 Life's Letters: Nucleotides
48 Workforce: Amino Acids
& Peptides
Chapter 3: Machinery
52 GLOSSARY
54 Protein Folding & Aggregation
56 Shape: Protein Structure
58 Profile: Max Perutz
60 Roads & Rafters: Structural
Proteins
62 Motors
64 Transport & Storage
66 Membranes, Messengers
& Receptors
68 Making Life Go: Enzymes
Chapter 4: Harvesting Energy
72 GLOSSARY
74 Life's Currency
76 Using Big Carbs
78 Using Small Carbs
80 Long-term Storage
& Burning Fats
82 The Central Hub
84 Profile: Hans Krebs
86 ATP From Air
88 Mobilizing the Cell
Chapter 5: Making Life
92 GLOSSARY
94 Burning in Reverse:
Photosynthesis
96 Bringing in the Nitrogen
98 Pooling the Amino Acids
100 The Making of the
Message Bearers
102 Maintaining the Code
104 Profile: James Watson, Francis
Crick & Rosalind Franklin
106 Reading the Book
108 Doctoring Decoding: Epigenetics
110 Finding the Source
Chapter 6: Staying Alive
114 GLOSSARY
116 In & Out: Digestion & Excretion
118 Blood, Breath & Balance
120 Moving
122 Profile: Hugh Huxley
124 Biochemistry on the Brain
1 26 Detox
128 Electrolyte Balance
130 Coordinating the Defence
Chapter 7: In Sickness & Health
134 GLOSSARY
136 Things We Need
138 Staying Fit
140 Progeny & the Pill
142 Maintaining the Right Balance
144 Repelling the Hijackers
146 Profile: Gertrude Elion
& George Hitchings
148 When Cells Break Bad
150 Gene Editing
152 Appendices
154 Resources
156 Notes on Contributors
158 Index
160 Acknowledgements