Building Blocks of Life

The amazing diversity of fungi, protests, and algae is, in many instances, difficult to detect with the naked eye. Readers will learn all about the internal structures, genetic material, biochemical processes, and taxonomy that define these varied, small yet complex eukaryotic organisms. This volume demonstrates the many important functions that fungi, protests, and algae serve in the natural world, as well as in the lives of humans through various foods, medicines, and biotechnologies.

Nucleic acids, amino acids, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates are the basic chemical molecules that are vital to life for all organisms, human and otherwise. They determine our genetic makeup, provide energy, and enable important chemical reactions. This volume delves into the structure, function, and interrelationships of these components of life. Sidebars on chemists, molecular biologists, and researchers link the biochemical discoveries of the past with the latest scientific advancements and their applications in health and medicine.

Bacteria and viruses are among the oldest agents on Earth and reveal much about the planet's past and evolution. As scientists and doctors make progress in fighting the harmful effects of bacteria and viruses, they also often make discoveries that can lead to life-saving vaccines and antibiotics, making the fields of microbiology and biochemistry more intriguing and challenging than ever. In this volume, readers will venture into the realm of bacteria and viruses to explore these constantly changing agents and the roles they play in nature, medicine, and disease.

Cells breathe fuel chemical reactions, communicate with one another, and reproduce. The study of these minute factories in plants and animals has unraveled many mysteries of how organisms function and has provided a basis for the development of therapies to treat debilitating human diseases. This dynamic volume explains the structure, evolution, and intricacies of this versatile unit of life. Students will learn about the difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, the organelles that support a cell's functions, and the history of cell research from its discovery to current debates about the use of stem cells.

Biochemical reactions, which facilitate metabolic and or photosynthetic changes in each life form through the actions of enzymes, make all life possible. This insightful volume considers the various types, causes, and results of different reactions that operate at the cellular level and beyond to sustain biological activity. Readers will explore the early discoveries of the first biochemists and trace these developments and their impact to the latest advancements in and applications of biochemistry, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of life on Earth.