Features
- Cover Type: Paperback with 104 pages
- Published by: Oxford University Press, USA March 14, 2002
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 0199248990
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-0199248995
-
Book Dimensions:
9.4 x 7.4 x 0.4 inches
- Weighs: 7.8 ounces
Product Description
Chemical biology is born out of a desire to understand the molecular basis of life. What are the molecules found in cells? How do their intrinsic properties equip them to perform all the complex processes found in cells? This book introduces the fundamental chemistry of the molecules that are essential to all cells. The molecules covered include amino acids and sugar phosphate derivatives, and the macromolecules derived from them (proteins and nucleic acids respectively). In such a short text it is not possible to provide a comprehensive account of the chemistry of these molecules; instead this book introduces important concepts concerning their intrinsic chemistry. The aim is to provide the fundamental ideas relating to the chemistry of life that can then be applied to more advanced aspects of chemical biology.
About The Author
C. M. Dobson is in the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford. J. A. Gerrard is in the Department of Plant and Microbial Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. A.J. Pratt is in the Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury.
Reader ReviewsThis book is one of the few titled with "chemical biology" although quite a few university chemistry departments have inserted it into their names. Within 100 pages all necessary facts are laid out in a clear format and logical flow. The size and brevity allows easy reading in a repetitive fashion which is a necessary practice in mastering this science. One can have a good grasp of the science in learning the subject or can flip through it within several hours as a reminder of certain facts. The references are very good selections too. One of them, "why nature chose phosphates", can be extremely revealing to anybody in the fields of chemical biology and biotechnology. Dr. Dobson is one of the leading scientists in protein folding research with many influential publications in Nature, Science etc. I was able to listen to his speech delivered in 2007 at Welch Foundation Annual Conference. This background has been very positively reflected in the book where relevant research frontiers are mentioned and revealing statements were presented such as "ATP is a condensing agent acting as DCC in organic chemistry". One has to admit it is a rare event for a scientist of this status to write an introductory book.
Search for books at
