Includes bibliographical references and index.

Magazine: hot topics in biochemistry :The genetics of breast cancer -- Stem cells: science and politics -- The science of happiness and depression -- Humans versus flu -- Malaria -- Aging-looking for the biochemical fountain of youth -- Proteins and magnets: nuclear magnetic resonance in biochemistry -- G-protein-coupled receptors -- Biochemistry and the organization of cells -- Water: the solvent for biochemical reactions -- Amino acids and peptides -- The three-dimensional structure of proteins -- Protein purification and characterization techniques -- The behavior of proteins: enzymes -- The behavior of proteins: enzymes, mechanisms, and control -- Lipids and proteins are associated in biological membranes -- Nucleic acids: how structure conveys information -- Biosynthesis of nucleic acids: replication -- Transcription of the genetic code: the biosynthesis of RNA -- Protein synthesis: translation of the genetic message -- Nucleic acid biotechnology techniques -- Viruses, cancer and immunology -- The importance of energy changes and electron transfer in metabolism -- Carbohydrates -- Glycolysis -- Storage mechanisms and control in carbohydrate metabolism -- The citric acid cycle -- Electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation -- Lipid metabolism -- photosynthesis -- The metabolism of nitrogen -- Integration of metabolism: cellular signaling.