Biochemistry, Cells, and Life

Fungi, protists, and algae are among the most diverse life forms on the planet. Tiny protists range from plants to animals. Algae range from single celled plants to 60-foot-long kelp. Fungi occupy a kingdom of their own. Although their place in nature-neither truly plants or animals-may make them seem strange, they are actually quite familiar to us for their use in various foods, medicines, and biotechnologies. Indeed, our consumption of bread or reliance on penicillin would not be possible without these diverse eukaryotic organisms. This intriguing volume delves into the taxonomy, structure, and function of each group and evaluates their wide-ranging natural and societal impact.

The sometimes insidious effects of bacterial diseases and viral infections can obscure the incredible significance of the microscopic organisms that cause them. Bacteria and viruses are among the oldest agents on Earth and reveal much about the planet's past and evolution. Moreover, their utility in the development of new cures and treatments signals much about the future of biotechnology and medicine. This penetrating volume takes readers under the lens of a microscope to explore the structure, nature, and role of both bacteria and viruses as well as all other aspects of microbiology.

A single cell can be a self-sustaining organism or one of trillions in a larger life form. Though visible only with the help of a microscope, cells are highly structured entities that perform a myriad of functions in every living thing and store critical genetic information. This fascinating volume examines the organization of various types of cells and provides an in-depth look at how cells operate alone to generate new cells and act as part of a larger network with others.

The development and evolution of all species can, in many ways, be traced to a few biochemical reactions that facilitate metabolic and/or photosynthetic changes in each life form. Indeed, advances in the field of biochemistry have intimately depended on the study of these processes and the way basic molecules fragment and synthesize to produce elements vital to the survival of each organism. 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.

The building blocks of all life-human and otherwise-are basic chemical molecules common to all organisms that simultaneously unite all species and set them apart. Together, nucleic acids, amino acids, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates determine our genetic makeup, power our movements, and generally enable some of the most vital and complex chemical reactions of the body. This volume examines the structure and function of each of these fascinating elements and the interrelationships between them, which nurture all existence.