Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

• A carefully focused textbook of biochemistry and molecular biology, which is perfect for all science, bioscience and health science students meeting this subject for the first time.
• Reflects the latest understanding of topics and principles from across the discipline, providing a comprehensive text, but with excessive detail eliminated, so that students will find a conceptual approach that is intellectually satisfying.
• Widely-praised writing style combines an approachable narrative with lots of explanation to promote understanding.
• Biological context is provided throughout so students can appreciate the relevance to life of the molecular concepts introduced.
• Extensive cross-referencing between chapters facilitates their use in any order.
• Online Resource Centre features additional resources for both lecturers and students.

New to this edition

• New chapter on the RNA world, micro RNA genes, and RNA interference reflects major advances in our understanding of this field.
• New Part 5, Molecular Biology in Health and Disease, gives a new focus to this section of the book.
• More boxes throughout, particularly to relate the concepts presented to human health and disease.
• Enhanced artwork and refreshed page design make the book even more reader-friendly.
• Extended Online Resource Centre, now featuring a testbank of questions for lecturers, and an online quiz for students.

Readership: Undergraduate students taking a course in biochemistry and molecular biology as part of any science or bioscience-related degree programme, including biology, biochemistry, and biomedical science. Also of value to those studying medicine and health science programmes, without previous experience in the subject.

William H. Elliott, Emeritus Professor, Department of Biochemistry, University of Adelaide, Australia, and Daphne C. Elliott, Department of Biochemistry, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia

"Difficult concepts are beautifully and uniquely covered with simple analogies to encourage understanding. The discoveries in biochemistry and molecular biology in the last few years have been very exciting and this book is one of the few texts able to convey this excitement with its unique style." - Lynn Rogers, The University of Adelaide, Australia

"I feel it is one of the best in its class in terms of depth and level for students on multidisciplinary biology and biomedical science courses. I also very much appreciate the increasing emphasis on human examples." - Dr Alison Caswell, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK

"This is a well-written, accessible book, which should appeal to students during their first major encounter with biochemistry and molecular biology. Throughout the book, reference is made to health, disease and treatment, which should make the text more relevant and interesting to undergraduate students, especially those on medically-related courses." - Dr Caroline Owen, Kingston University, UK

"I liked the last edition but it looks as if this will be better. I see an obvious attempt to identify areas which students find difficult and a willingness to take on approaches which help students learn. The book seem to me to be written with its target audience always in mind. I particularly liked the way in which fundamental biological principles are never forgotten. This made my reading of the chapters quite stimulating." - Dr John Wright, University of East London, UK

Part 1 Basic concepts of life
1: The basic molecular themes of life
2: Cells and viruses
3: Energy considerations in biochemistry
Part 2 Structure and function of proteins and membranes
4: The structure of proteins
5: Methods in protein investigation
6: Enzymes
7: The cell membrane and membrane proteins
8: Muscle contraction, the cytoskeleton, and molecular motors
Part 3 Metabolism
9: Food digestion, absorption, distribution to the tissues and appetite control
10: Mechanisms of transport, storage and mobilisation of dietary components
11: Principles of energy release from food
12: Glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the electron transport system
13: Energy release from fat
14: The synthesis of fat and related compounds
15: Synthesis of glucose (gluconeogenesis)
16: Strategies for metabolic control and their applications to carbohydrate and fat metabolism
17: Why should there be an alternative pathway of glucose oxidation? The pentose phosphate pathway
18: Raising electrons of water back up the energy scale - photosynthesis
19: Amino acid metabolism
20: Nucleotide synthesis and metabolism
Part 4 Information storage and utilisation
21: The genome
22: DNA synthesis, repair and recombination
23: Gene transcription and control
24: Protein synthesis and controlled protein breakdown
25: The RNA world - RNA microgenes and RNA interference
26: Protein sorting and delivery
27: Cell signalling
28: Manipulating DNA and genes
Part 5 Molecular biology in health and disease
29: Special topics: blood clotting, xenobiotic metabolism, reactive oxygen species
30: The immune system
31: The cell cycle and its control
32: Apoptosis
33: Cancer