Product Description
Medical Biochemistry at a Glance provides a concise and accessible introduction to this complex subject and a revision aid for medical students. Following the familiar, easy-to-use at a Glance format, each topic is presented as a double-page spread with key facts accompanied by clear tables and diagrams encapsulating all the students need to know.

This new edition of Medical Biochemistry at a Glance:

• Has been completely re-organised, revised and updated
  
• Is written by the author of the hugely successful Metabolism at a Glance
  
• Contains a second colour throughout to enhance the visual appeal, making the subject even easier to understand
  
• Presents line drawings and biochemical pathways on the left page and concise explanations of the right, providing a user-friendly overview of medical biochemistry
  
• Condenses medical biochemistry into 60 digestible double-page spreads

Medical Biochemistry at a Glance will appeal to medical students in the early years of their course, and those revising for final exams. The book is also suitable for biological science and biochemistry students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great little Supplement for visual learning of Medical Biochemistry
This book saved me in the first year of medical school.I had a very poorly organized biochemistry textbook, with lectures that were not any better.I am a visual learner and needed large, detailed pictures that give an idea of the 'big picture.'That is where this small text excelled.Most of the major, basic pathways needed in medical biochemistry are covered--from TCA cycle to purine, pyrimidine, fat, and amino acid metabolism.I was not a science major in college so I needed major reviews on biochemistry.

Each 'system' is usually depicted on 2 adjacent pages, with many annotations, and usually a short, concise clinical note; but overall the majority of the page is taken up by the diagrams.

If you like systems diagrams to learn with, and need some good, visual, 'big picture' biochemistry study aids, I highly recommend this text.

well orgainized summary
I am a first year med student with only a little previous knowledge of chemistry and therefore was a little daunted by the prospect of biochemistry. I found Salway's book allayed a lot of my fears. the reason I found it so helpful was that the format of highlighting each path and discussing the key substrates and enzymes helped focus me in on what was important. I found this a great adjunct to my main biochem text and would highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description

This fully revised translation of the world-renowned German edition covers the complete and modern knowledge of plant biochemistry. The book presents the topic in a concise and simplified manner so that students can digest the message and gain a basic knowledge of the entire field of plant biochemistry, from photosynthesis (the synthesis of natural plant products) to all kinds of genetic engineering with its many commercial applications. Topics include cell structure and function, lipid and polysaccharide metabolism, nitrogen fixation, phloem transport, synthesis and function of isoprenoids, phenylpropanoids and other secondary metabolites, plant growth regulation and development.Heldt provides a comprehensive description of photosynthesis, primary and secondary metabolism, the function of phytohormones and molecular engineering.The text covers research findings until the end of 2003 and identifies areas of future research. There are extensive references to the most recent scientific literature.

* Illustrated with two-color diagrams and well designed metabolic schemes
* Plant metabolism presented in the context of the structure and function of the plant
* Many examples of commercial applications for the protection and quality improvement of harvest crops, plant breeding, and the production of raw materials for industrial use
* Coverage of the latest research findings ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Plant Biochemistry-Heldt
The service appreciably quick, the cover is slightly damaged in one corner. Otherwise the book is in great shape.

Excellent book!
This book is advanced, BUT is well written, easy to understand, and has good diagrams.
This is an EXCELLENT book. HIGHLY recommended! ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
The third edition of The Physiology and Biochemistry of Prokaryotes covers the basic principles of prokaryotic physiology, biochemistry, and cell behavior. It presents microbial metabolism in the context of the chemical and physical problems that cells must solve in order to grow.

Written in a clear, straightforward manner, the book provides a modern perspective on the diversity of microorganisms, and an updated account of the major aspects prokaryotes, such as cell structure, metabolism, developmental biology, environmental adaptation, biofilm formation, and cellular signaling pathways. It is organized according to topic rather than by organism, therefore helping students understand the general principles of physiology and metabolism. Each chapter ends with thought-provoking study questions, a summary, and an extensive list of references to outside research literature students may go to for more information and detailed explanations of material in the text.

The Physiology and Biochemistry of Prokaryotes, Third Edition, is ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses on microbial physiology of bacterial metabolism. It can be used in conjunction with a laboratory manual, Microbial Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory: A Quantitative Approach, by David White and George D. Hegeman.

Features of the Third Edition


·Includes New Material on: Cell Division, Cell-Cell Signaling, Cell Development, Biofilm Formation


·Contains boxed asides that cite interesting historical information about important discoveries and notable people in the field from the 19th Century to the 1960s ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Excellent!
The book was new and I was happy to receive it on time! I recommend it to other people that want to buy it and need it fast.

satisfactory purchase
The book is indeed in good condition, few notes taken. The pages are clean and like brand-new. The seller was fast in response to my questions. And the order arrives pretty fast, in two days. Overall, vary satisfactory with the purchase. BTW, this is a pretty readable book!

Old School vs. New School Bacterial Metabolism
As the review title suggests, I come from the old school of studying bacterial metabolism.My choice, still all these years after grad school and years of research & work, is H.W. Doelle's Bacterial Metabolism (unfortunately out of print).However, I discovered White's text while visiting the University of Oklahoma 2 years ago (the 2nd edition). The 3rd edition is an improvement with better diagrams and drawings.The collection of symbols and equations at the front of the book is very usefull with having it all in one place.However, Doelle'a approach is in some ways more stimulating with the first 2 chapters dealing with the thermodynamics, enzymology, and growth kinetics immediately.If you are weak in the areas of bacterial structures and dynamics, White gives an excellent approach to all of the cellur structures of prokaryotes.Doelle on the other hand concentrates exclusively on the actual chemistry of bacterial metabolism.Another strength of White is his introduction to solute & protein transportation.Along with this, White's final 2 chapters on adaptation and environmental stress response are very valuable additions.Without White's approach to increasing the reader's understanding the environment and its impact on the microbe, the study of metabolism is only an esoteric exercise. One of my major frustrations with White's work was the lack of extensive references of the various metabolic pathways and types with specific genus and/or species of bacteria.It is left up to the reader to find alternate sources for this application.Doelle, on the other hand, provides copious references.In the end, I believe White's work to be a central addition to the understanding and manipulation of the microbial metabolic processes.With the microbial world being "our enemy - our friend," White's work will go along way in helping us fragile humans to compete and coexist with this diverse group that co-inhabits this singular orb with us.

An Essential Microbiology Reference
This is an excellent resource for biochemical pathways, relationships, and diagrams of prokaryotic physiology. The written material is particularly lucid, which is greatly appreciated. While the diagrams are simple and in black-and-white print, their reduced complexity lends clarity to the concepts illustrated. I highly recommend this book to anyone in the microbial sciences at the upper-undergraduate level and beyond.

A difficult but useful book
Although it seems impossible to have just one text on the huge field of microbial physiology, this book makes a very valiant effort to be just that.The details are painstakingly researched, the text is concise and clear (no fluff anywhere!), and for such a small book, the author does a masterful job of presenting a huge amount of useful information.

Of course, every book has its downfalls, the main one of this book being its lack of helpful illustrations.Sometimes you just MUST HAVE some help visually to understand something (e.g. mixed acid fermentation, sporulation) and this book often didn't offer that.(Even if there WAS a figure, it was so hard to decipher that you'd be better off with nothing at all.)Also, some huge areas of microbial physiology were completely left out like bacterial stress response.

Overall, not the best but not the worst.It's certainly not a waste of money, but you might want to have some sort of companion book to supply your diagrams and illustrations. ... Read more

Product Description
Research on the biochemistry and molecular biology of lipids and lipoproteins has experienced remarkable growth in the last 20 years, particularly with the realization that many different classes of lipids play fundamental roles in diseases such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.The 5th edition of this book has been written with two major objectives.The first objective is to provide students and teachers with an advanced up-to-date textbook covering the major areas of current interest in the lipid field.The chapters are written for students and researchers familiar with the general concepts of lipid metabolism but who wish to expand their knowledge in this area. The second objective is to provide a reference text for scientists who are about to enter the field of lipids, lipoproteins and membranes and who wish to learn more about this area of research.All of the chapters have been extensively updated since the 4th edition appeared in 2002.

Key Features:
* Represents a bridge between the superficial coverage of the lipid field found in basic biochemistry text books and the highly specialized material contained in scientific review articles and monographs.

* Allows scientists to become familiar with recent developments related to their own research interests, and will help clinical researchers and medical students keep abreast of developments in basic science that are important for subsequent clinical advances.

* Serves as a general reference book for scientists studying lipids, lipoproteins and membranes and as an advanced and up-to-date textbook for teachers and students who are familiar with the basic concepts of lipid biochemistry. ... Read more

Product Description
Nutritional Biochemistry takes a scientific approach to nutrition. It covers not just "whats"--nutritional requirements--but why they are required for human health, by describing their function at the cellular and molecular level. Each case study either leads to a subsequent discovery or enables an understanding of the physiological mechanisms of action of various nutrition-related processes. The text is "picture-oriented" and the commentary is directed towards explaining graphs, figures, and tables.
Nutritional Biochemistry includes a discussion of relevant aspects of physiology, food chemistry, toxicology, pediatrics, and public health. Experimental techniques for nutritional science are emphasized, and primary data is included to help give students a feel for the nutrition literature. This "real-world" approach provides students with a realistic view of the basis for much of our understanding of nutritional biochemistry.

* Integrates biochemistry and nutrition in a case-oriented method
* Emphasizes a hands-on approach to learning - case histories and clinical and research data illustrate all major points
* Places emphasis on metabolism - metabolic pathways, enzymology, nutrient requirements (including RDA values)
* Reveals the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, the biochemistry of exercise, the cell signaling pathways, how nutrition can influence the development of cancer, and the anthropometry and genetics of obesity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Nutritional Biochemistry by Tom Brody
This is one of the best books I have ever read, for spcialists as well as lay readers. Wish all science books were written so clearly and comprehensively. Look forward very much to the third edition and prepared to reserve and pay for my copy as of now.
Nabil Megalli, Cairo, Egypt

Why not muchcustomer review?
At time of writing, majority of listed reviews are written by the author himself. I would be really interested in this book should the reviews come from some real name readers.

Wait for the new edition !
While this book on nutritional biochemistry was adequate when it came out in 1999, much has changed in seven years.Without an update of the way daily allowances are now determined, new findings in the area of molecular biology, etc. the potential buyer may be rewarded by waiting for the next edition.It is interesting to note that most of the reviews came from the author.

From a review by Prof. W.R.Bidlack, California State Univ.
The following is from a review by Prof. W.R.Bidlack, Dean of College of Agriculture at California State Polytechnic University (Journal of the American College of Nutrition (2000) Vol. 19:419-420):This well-written text integrates the relationships between nutrients from food and the chemistry of living organisms.The sequential presentation, the figures and tables, the case studies, the appendicies, each contributes to the quality of the work, one valuable for teaching biochemistry, nutrition, medical or health professional students . . . In many cases, the author has included discussion of historically important nutritional deficiencies as well as more contemporary problems that can be controlled wiht appropriate nutritional intervention, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease . . . The layout of the text permits the integration of nutrition into a medical school curriculum.If first establishes biological structure and its relation to genetic expression.Next it presents a very systematic discussion of digestion and absorption . . . The chapter on lipids includes important consideration of phospholipids and sphingosine-based lipids, but emphasizes cholesterol, lipoproteins, and cardiovascular disease . . . Protein . . . is covered in greater detail than by most texts, clearly in an effort to provide good understanding of the concepts, basic and applied. . . Both the vitamins and minerals are presented in standard formats.However, the vitamins are presented in terms of their role in metabolism, rather than simply water soluble and then fat soluble vitamins . . . Throughout the book, the author underscores the importance of nutrient interactions--some positive, some synergistic, and some antagonistic.In addition, major emphasis is placed on interorgan relationships . . . The book can be recommended as a teaching text.It is pleasurable to read . . . There are stimulating exercises in most chapters and a large number of references . . . (From review by Prof. W.R. Bidlack, Dean, College of Agriculture, Calif. State Polytech. Univ. Pomona)

Another printing and a third edition is on its way.
The amazon.com site states that Nutritional Biochemistry is "out of print."Fear not!According to the editors at Academic Press in San Diego, another printing is on its way.Furthermore, the editors are interested in publishing a third edition of this textbook.The third edition will probably have more than one author. ... Read more

Product Description
This specialized text presents a review of general biochemistry and an in-depth exploration of biochemistry unique to the eye. As a readable introduction to this challenging topic, it describes the molecular structures and biochemical events that occur in the eye. Specific clinical examples link basic science to clinical practice and provide a concrete basis for understanding complex concepts. This edition includes new, updated information in revised chapters plus two additional chapters on ocular fluids and pathology. General biochemistry is discussed in each chapter, with examples of biochemical pathology and disease processes such as age-related cataract formation and ocular diabetes. ... Read more

Product Description

You'll never find an easier, more efficient, and more focused way to ace biochemistry and biochemistry-related questions on the USMLE and course examinations than the USMLE Road Map. Designed to provide maximum learning in minimum time, this fully updated USMLE Road Map offers a concise, creative, and well-illustrated approach to mastering biochemistry.

Product Description
This edition covers all aspects of the subject needed by medical students. It is a volume in the Illustrated Colour Text series, with the subject matter divided into double-page spreads; this makes the information very accessible to the reader. Full use is made of flow charts and other graphics; clinical "boxes;" summary points; case histories; and clinical photographs.The whole orientation of the book is to concentrate on how clinical biochemistry relates to the care of the patient and to ensure that the medical student understands how to interpret laboratory.

• Covers clinical biochemistry from the point of view of the clinician using the diagnostic service
• Presents topics in easily accessible two-page spreads
• Includes mini case histories, key point boxes, flowcharts, and summary points
• Well illustrated with four-color drawings and clinical photographs

Customer Reviews (3)

review by Tarek musslimani
This is a good concise book for beginners.It has some good information about the clinical laboratory in biochemistry.It is however not comprehensive and does not contain all the information for the clinical laboratory.Please see the index of this book before you buy it.

TM

Concise and informative
This is an excellent book, which is well-written and understandable.

I am currently using it as a required text in a graduate course. It assumes that the reader has had previous courses in physiology and biochemistry, yet the authors give a concise definition of terms when warranted. I am going to keep this book rather than sell it because I think I will need it in the future.

Great for 1st years
This is a great resource for first year medical students who want to develop a good basic understanding of biochemistry in the clinical setting. I have been using this text/atlas a great deal as a good tool to get a quick idea of topics (which are actually written in quite good depth) and then to bring concepts together. If you like to learn through pictures and diagrams, then this is a must have! ... Read more

Product Description
Harry R. Matthews, PhD, Richard Freedland, PhD, Roger L. Miesfeld, PhD

No scientific discipline has experienced such explosive growth or attracted so much popular attention over the past several decades as the study of life at the molecular level. The most quantitative of biological sciences, biochemistry studies the chemical components of living matter; the reactions these components undergo; the energetic changes that accompany such reactions; and the organization, replication, and expression of genes.

Biochemistry: A Short Course introduces students to the fundamentals of this fascinating scientific discipline. Based on the authors' years of experience teaching graduate, undergraduate, and professional courses, this comprehensive introduction caters to the specific needs of researchers and students who must familiarize themselves rapidly with core concepts, principles, and theories. Students are afforded a unique opportunity to arrive at a full understanding of important current and pending achievements in the field, without having to wade through extraneous technical details and lengthy theoretical discussions more appropriate to a lab manual or specialized text.

TM Identifies key concepts and covers the essentials for nonmajors and anyone looking for a concise review of modern aspects of biochemistry

• TM Ideal for quick review, follows the critically acclaimed Short Course format, with abundant clear illustrations of key concepts
• TM Includes closely related areas of molecular and cell biology
• TM Features practical examples, including cancer and other diseases, drawn primarily from humans

Here is the ideal textbook for medical students as well as graduates and undergraduates in biochemistry, medical biochemistry, and molecular biology courses. It is also an excellent selection for technicians and related professionals who want to review modern aspects of biochemistry in a concise format. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

biochemistry book
delivered in a timely manner. would buy from this seller again. book was in awesome condition.

Great Biochem Resource
This book is a fabulous resource for anyone who wants a better understanding or really any decent understanding of biochemistry. What I liked most about this text is that each section starts generally (ie: purpose of the process, how it ties in as a whole, key steps and enzymes/products) then moves to the specifics (ie: all the steps,enzymes, products, and other details that are nice to know but not likely to be tested on). The book also constantly incorporates links between different processes/cycles and reminds you of where certain products are used, things that interfere with enzymes/products, etc. I will give the disclaimer that this book is a bit more prose versus quick bullet point review, although it is informative without being overly detailed, yet is rich in information. It is an easy read though. I'd recommend this book, it helped me out alot my first year of med school.

Useful text or supplement
I purchased this as a gift for an outstanding student to use at college. It is colorful, concise and speaks well to the the reader who has to master a difficult subject.
It's imperative that students of science understand how pervasive chemistry is - not just a course to "get through" - a body of knowledge which gives insight into how their science "works".
Well-organised and well-written! ... Read more

Product Description
PreTest is the medical student's most dynamic weapon for acing the USMLE Step 1. It is great for course review and exams, too! "Biochemistry and Genetics: PreTest" asks the right questions, so you'll know the right answers. Open it and start learning what's on the test. PreTest is the closest thing you can get to seeing the test before you take it. This one-of-a-kind test preparation guide helps you to: get to know material on course exams and the USMLE Step 1; practice with 500 clinically-oriented multiple-choice questions; review key facts for exam success; and build confidence, skills, and knowledge. There are plenty of answers out there. But, only PreTest delivers the right questions. "Some questions on the USMLE seemed to have come right out of my PreTest!" - a medical student who recently passed the USMLE Step 1. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Helpful for genetics boards
This book is extremely useful in preparing for the medical genetics, genetic counseling, cytogenetics/molecular board exams.However, be aware that some o fthe inheritance mechanisms/risk calculations are incorrect since they require Bayes which is not covered in the book.Overall, the other sections do provide good review questions.

This book will test you!!!
I used this book while studying for the GRE in Biochemistry.The questions are detailed and hard.If you are a wimp who slept in class - this book will kick you. You will feel really low...For preparing for the GRE or the USMLE with their new explanded biochemistry format which is getting heavier into genetics and biochemistry this book will be the new Q-bank you will have to have.My only issue is I was use to using Lange, Appleton & Lange, and Kaplan q-bank books where you get 50 questions set of questions most of the time.This book has a bit different format by subject.So a 50 question timed set may force you to jump around.I am still working the book for the USMLE. ... Read more

Product Description
Biochemistry: The Chemical Reactions of Living Cells is a well-integrated, up-to-date reference for basic biochemistry, associated chemistry, and underlying biological phenomena. Biochemistry is a comprehensive account of the chemical basis of life, describing the amazingly complex structures of the compounds that make up cells, the forces that hold them together, and the chemical reactions that allow for recognition, signaling, and movement. This book contains information on the human body, its genome, and the action of muscles, eyes, and the brain.

*Thousands of literature references provide introduction to current research as well as historical background
*Contains twice the number of chapters of the first edition
*Each chapter contains boxes of information on topics of general interest ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

the best biochemistry textbook for the post-genomic era
In this book you find classical biochemistry, and a lot of it. In contrast to most other biochemistry textbooks which drift away from the topic and go more and more into cell biology, immunology and the like, Metzler concentrates on the central topics of biochemistry, the enzymes and their mechanisms. There is no other book where one is more likely to find detailled infomation on the structure-function relation of just about any enzyme (with the only downside of having only black-and-white pictures, even for structures). This book is, however, to be treated with caution: it is not covering the topics of most biochem beginners courses (or is providing too much information that is about to overwhelm inexperienced readers, respectively). Still, it will be an unavoidable desk reference to any biochemist who cares about enzymes and will be highly valuable at least as long as the previous edition from 1977.

A terrible textbook to study biochemistry
The book is horrible! I used many textbooks to teach students biochemistry: Voet, Stryer, Lehninger, Devlin and others. Voet's Biochemistry although too detailed in some places is good for chemistry majors, but is a nightmare for medical students for which Stryer and Lehninger is great. In all tasks these books are better then Metzler.
Metzler's Biochemistry is simply overwhelming. You will hate it if:
- you are medical student or just a novice in the field. What's the point in reading a whole page about "Does lysozyme distort its substrate?" or next 5 pages about xylanases, hemicelluloses, galactanase, glucocerebrosidase..? Though if you know organic chemistry inside out you'll find 300 pages of bioorganic chemistry quite a good review (of what you probably already know).

- you are a graduate student in biochemistry and need a reference. Get something else. For example, speeking about proteases and phosphatase Metzler mostly enumatates some thirty enzymes, but gives the details for only a few. In this book you'll find excessive treatment of one thing on 50 pages and a brief mentioning of 100 things on the next 50 pages.

To sum up I'd like to say that this book is good for a professional biochemist who likes reading encyclopedias before going to bed or wants to expend his/her knowledge in bioorganic chemistry.

You've got to bear in mind that it weighs 16 pounds and trust me you'll never want to take it any where from your shelf (unless you are fond of powerlifting). Such books like dinosaurs will either get extinct or be covered with dust in the library. ... Read more

Product Description
Now in its third edition, this classic textbook includes basic concepts and applications in agriculture, forestry, environmental science, and a new section entirely devoted to ecology. This revised and updated edition guides students through biochemical and microbial processes in soils and introduces them to microbial processes in water and sediments. Soil Microbiology, Ecology, and Biochemistry serves as an invaluable resource for students in biogeochemistry, soil microbiology, soil ecology, sustainable agriculture, and environmental amelioration.

NEW TO THIS EDITION:
* New section on Ecology integrated with biochemistry and microbiology
* Sections on exciting new methodology such as tracers, molecular analysis and computers that will allow great advances in this field
* Six new chapters: bioremediation, soil molecular biology, biodiversity, global climate change, basic physiology and ecological interpretations
* Expanded with contributions from leading soil microbiologists and agronomists on both fundamental and applied aspects of the science
* Full-color figures
* Includes a website with figures for classroom presentation use ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Soil Microbiology, Ecology and Biochemistry, Third Edition
Soil Microbiology, Ecology and Biochemistry, Third Edition by Eldor Alvin Paul

The topics that the editor selected, are well developed and its updated bibliography. This book serves both query for the teacher as the degree and postgraduate student.

My best wishes

Very good text book
This book has some excellent introductory material if you want to learn about soil microbiology. It is nicely organized with chapters (check the table of contents). A very good improvement over the previous edition in that it talks about some of the recent technology such as metagenomics. I would not recommend it as a reference book for graduate students, but a very good intro text book for grad and undergrads.

Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry, Second Edition
Book in very good condition when arrived, was new when purchased.Cost was a little high at 62.00 dollars.Received in a timely manner.

Standard text for soil microbiology
I was a graduate student in soils and forestry when I took a class in soil microbiology that used this text. It is essentially the gold standard for soil micro texts. It isn't overly technical, but it includes a thorough analysis of the basic concepts needed to understand most aspects of soil microbiology research and application. The book uses mostlyagronomic examples, but there is enough variety of ecosystems to make it useful for those working in forestry, grasslands, and almost any type of soil. Those interested in detailed discussions of molecular microbial methods or biotechnology may be disappointed, but for the general student looking to understand what those billion microbes per teaspoon of soil are doing, this book is the best introduction out there. ... Read more

Product Description
Functional Biochemistry in Health and Disease provides a clear and straightforward account of the biochemistry that is necessary to understand the physiological functions of tissues or organs essential to the life of human beings. Focusing on the dynamic aspects of biochemistry and its application to the basic functions of the body, the book bridges the gap between biochemistry and medical practice.

Carefully structured within five sections, each biochemical, physiological or medical subject that is covered in the book is presented in one complete chapter. Consequently, each subject can be read and studied in isolation although cross-sectional links between the subjects are included where necessary. Background material, both biochemical and medical, that is necessary for an understanding of the subject, is included at the start of each chapter and clear, relevant diagrams enhance students' understanding.

• Focuses on medically relevant aspects of biochemistry written from a physiological rather than a chemical perspective.
• Clear presentation that minimises the use of jargon.
• Each chapter contains boxes on related topics, relevant diagrams and a brief glossary.
• Coverage includes athletic performance, apoptosis and the immune system.
• Key historical developments are included to show how modern biochemistry has evolved.

By linking biochemistry, medical education and clinical practice this book will prove invaluable to students in medical and health sciences, biomedical science and human biology taking an introductory biochemistry course. In addition it will appeal to biochemistry and biology students interested in clinical applications of biochemistry. ... Read more

Product Description
The Oxford Dictionary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology provides a comprehensive survey of current biochemistry and molecular biology. Over the last few years, the language of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has expanded enormously to the extent that few scientists can expect to be familiar with all aspects of it. This is partly due to the Genome projects and the successive -omics projects which have provided comprehensive information about genes, the functions of gene products, and cellular processes. At the same time, terms from other subject areas appear increasingly in the biochemical literature. The popular Dictionary has been comprehensively reviewed and updated to include many important new concepts and words. The entries are short but informative, providing up-to-date information on a broad range of topics, including definitions for selected terms from Bioinformatics, Biophysics, Cell Biology, Chemistry, Genetics, Immunology, Mathematics, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Systems Biology, and Toxicology. There are over 21,000 main entries, which give details of biochemical substances and the processes in which they are involved, define methods and concepts in molecular biology, and give definitions of biochemical symbols and abbreviations. It points out pitfalls where terms are often confused. It explains the precise syntax of biochemical terms, such as Greek letters and other formatting, which are lost when searching the Internet. In addition the dictionary is illustrated with over 900 chemical structures.

The Oxford Dictionary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology will serve as an invaluable reference for biochemists and molecular biologists seeking information outside their own fields, and for those wishing to revisit fundamental principles. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Complete and mostly accurate
How does one review a dictionary? If the aim is to arrive at a reasoned and mature assessment of the book the ideal way would be to keep it on my shelf for five years or so, noting how often I find it useful to consult it, how often I am happy with the result of the consultation, and how often I am unhappy. Unfortunately, however, the job needs to be done more quickly than that, so I shall adopt a more superficial approach, checking a selection of definitions to see how accurate and helpful they are.

Opening the book at random led the definition of "elasticity coefficient". The definition given is accurate enough as far as it goes (setting aside the presence of two undefined quantities in the equation given), but I wonder how much illuminated a reader will be who consults the dictionary in the hope of understanding the (important) difference between an elasticity coefficient and a control coefficient. The definition fails to mention that elasticity coefficients are usually called just elasticities, and it fails to give a cross-reference to "control coefficient" (perhaps just as well, as the dictionary has no entry for control coefficient), but it does give a rather unhelpful suggestion to "see controllability coefficient" --- unhelpful because following the suggestion leads only to the information that this is a "former name for elasticity coefficient". Would it not save the reader trouble just to include this information in the main entry?

What about something that I knew nothing at all about before, such as myocilin? This is apparently also called TIGR, which was news to me as I thought TIGR was The Institute for Genome Research, and that is also what the entry for TIGR says, without any cross-reference to myocilin. Anyway, myocilin is a protein of no known function expressed in many tissues---not especially muscle, despite the entry a few lines up that says that myo+ is a prefix denoting muscle. Is this important enough to justify a five-line definition? Apparently it is, because the gene for myocilin is implicated in glaucoma.

As an illustration of the maxim that one picture is worth a thousand words, the definition of "Fischer projection" runs to more than 150 words, but lacks the simple diagram that would have rendered the words more readily intelligible.

A common fault in elementary biochemistry textbooks is the lack of understanding that some authors display of the ionic states of biochemical species in neutral aqueous solution. This is now far better than it was a generation ago, but there are still some authors who have not yet seen the light. So how well does the dictionary fare? Less well than I would have hoped. Phosphoric acid derivatives are normally shown in ionized states, but carboxylic acids and primary amines do less well: threonine, thyronine, thyroxine, tranexic acid, tryptophan and tyrosine all appear in physically impossible states in the space of a few pages.

All this led me to consult the entry on "zwitterion", which defines it as "an alternative name for dipolar ion". This seemed to be an example of defining the familiar in terms of something less familiar, but I see that several textbooks do prefer the latter term. Anyway, a dipolar ion or zwitterion is "a molecule containing ionic groups of opposite charge in equal numbers". So the form of aspartate that exists in neutral solution is not a zwitterion? If we want a word that includes all the common amino acids at pH 7 we need amphion (or amphoion if we prefer it and can think of a way to pronounce it), a term that I have never encountered (in either spelling) in any paper I have seen in the biochemical literature. Anyway, it would have been nice to see more expansive definitions of these terms, and it would be hard to argue that there was no space available in a dictionary that has room for nine lines to discuss the pronunciation of Linux. It is dangerous, anyway, for a biochemistry dictionary to include terms from computing that are in danger of becoming obsolete before the ink is dry: Netscape, for example, is "a popular browser available for a variety of computers and operating systems", but this is 2006, and who uses Netscape Navigator in 2006? Have young biochemists even heard of it? Incidentally, despite the bold type there is no entry for browser.

If any of the editors read this review they will doubtless find it very pedantic. I have to plead guilty to that, but reviewers of dictionaries need to be pedantic, and in an ideal world compilers of dictionaries would be pedantic as well.

Excellent reference for the biochemist!
I have been using this book as a general reference since I bought it three years ago. It describes most terms in general biochemistry, molecular biology, organic chemistry and genetics. I find it easier to have one reference book where one can look up terms, than having to search through various textbooks to find the descriptions.

keep handy when you're trawling through science literature
As someone involved in biochemical research, I spend loads of time reading a variety of life science journals. Just keeping up with the latest research is hard enough, but as my areas of interest become ever larger and intermeshed with other disciplines such as medicine and physics, I've found myself delving into this book more and more. But the pace of research is also a problem for a book like this, because to remain useful, new editions cannot appear fast enough to keep up with the latest batch of techniques, genes and proteins. Ultimately an Internet version of this book that gets updated on a regular basis would be the most useful. Never the less, once you get in the habit of using this dictionary, you'll want to keep it nearby when you're browsing the life science literature. Is this book good value? I think it's expensive compared to all other books, but well priced for an academic textbook. I find that using this book is still more rapid and direct than browsing the web for the definition of a word I don't know, and the brief definition given in this book is a good starting point for hunting down more detailed information.

FAIR: DEPENDING ON YOUR NEED
This revised edition of "Oxford Dictionary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology" is comprehensive, clinically relevant, and fairly up-to-date. It has a good coverage (for degree students), although that advanced researchers may need something more extensive. Its ability to correlate biochemical terms and data is appreciated. But with just over 17,000 definitions, its listed price is a bit on the high side. Buyers could get a better illustrated, more voluminous Biochem dictionary at that price.

Every Definition you'll need
Great for Science majors, all the definitions or words you used to know but can't remember from class to class.Very thorough.much better than a textbook glossary. ... Read more

Product Description
Authoritative. Concise. Easy-to-Use.

Schaum's Easy Outlines are streamlined versions of best-selling Schaum's titles. We've shortened the text, broadened the visual appeal, and introduced study techniques to make mastering any subject easier. The results are reader-friendly study guides with all the impressive academic authority of the originals.

Schaum's Easy Outlines feature:

• Concise text that focuses on the essentials of the course
• Quick-study sidebars, icons, and other instructional aids
• Sample problems and exercises for review
• Expert advice from authorities in the field

Customer Reviews (4)

Awful
What a waste of paper.I bought this book because I was on the verge of failing my first exam.This book was useless and failed to provide basic information onterminology you need to know to even pass biochem.I have so many issues with this book, it would take me until the end of time to list them.Save your money and buy another book.

Not helpful for college level biochemistry
I was hoping for a supplemental to my undergrad biochem course.This book breezes over topics a little too quickly.I thought the enzyme kinetics chapter could have been more detailed.I wouldn't recommend this for college students, might be good for people generally interested in biochemistry without any of the details.

Brief overview
Very concise and great for a brief overview, but not much detail for important topics.

Excellent outline and overview
This little review and outline packs a lot of information into only about 130 pages. This means it makes for fairly dense reading given the technical level but it's obviously intended for the biochem or serious student. The book consists of 15 chapters ranging from 5 to 20 pages in length, depending on the subject. Key concepts or facts are emphasized and often highlighted in dark gray boxes throughout the text, and some chapters include solved problems. A sampling of the chapter titles includes Proteins; Lipids and Membranes; Enzyme Catalysis and Kinetics; Carhohydrate Metabolism; the Citric Acid Cycle; Nitrogen Metabolism; and Gene Expression and Protein Synthesis.

There are about 100 illustrations ranging from graphs and tables to the usual molecular structures and also diagrams of more complex molelcular reactions that require several steps or mechanisms such as the elongation step of polypeptide synthesis, the metabolic pathways of beta oxidation, as well as illustrations of longer ones requiring many steps, like the citric acid cycle, the role of amino transferases and glutamate dehydrogenase in nitrogen metabolism, the urea cycle and metabolism, and others.

Overall this is a useful little book that is one of the most concise and informative presentations of the most important concepts in biochemistry that I've seen, and at only nine bucks the price is right too. ... Read more

Product Description
Essential Biochemistry offers chemists a streamlined approach to the field, focusing on the chemistry behind the biology. The selective approach allows them to understand the main ideas without needing to memorize many specific details. The second edition offers the most up-to-date coverage, placing more emphasis on the coverage of molecular structure, laboratory techniques, and problem solving. It retains core topics of biochemistry, using real examples of chemical reactions and molecular structures. Integrated media also provides chemists with a review of difficult concepts along with molecular structure tutorials and interactive animations. ... Read more

Product Description
This book offers a critical and exhaustive review of extremophiles and the harsh environments in which they thrive. This new work also examines the molecular mechanisms which have enabled them to adapt to extreme conditions. ... Read more

Product Description
Biological chemistry has changed since the completion of the human genome project. There is a renewed interest and market for individuals trained in biophysical chemistry and molecular biophysics.The Physical Basis of Biochemistry, Second Edition, emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of biophysical chemistry by incorporating the quantitative perspective of the physical sciences without sacrificing the complexity and diversity of the biological systems, applies physical and chemical principles to the understanding of the biology of cells and explores the explosive developments in the area of genomics, and in turn, proteomics, bioinformatics, and computational and visualization technologies that have occurred in the past seven years. The book features problem sets and examples, clear illustrations, and extensive appendixes that provide additional information on related topics in mathematics, physics and chemistry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Messy Failure
Concept-wise, the physics in the book is superficial, often fuzzy, sometimes plain wrong. (As a simultaneous example of the latter two, just read a paragraph allegedly explaining why atomic orbitals of the wrong symmetry do not contribute to a given molecular orbital. The author hardly knows simple group-theoretical explanation, so he provides nebulous metaphysical fertilizer instead). IMHO, the author merely does not understand physics well enough to help reader's understanding.

References to nonexisting equations (e.g. Eq. 6.104 in Chapter 6), numerous numerical errors (e.g. to convert answer from Joules to calories, the author multiplies (rather than divides) by 4.2, "typos" like C(n,n)=0 instead of C(n,n)=1,and other types of sloppiness do not help either.

I had much better luck with Nelson's
"Biological Physics : Energy, Information, Life" - much more instructive and insightful exposition, which reads like a strenuous hike over a beatiful terrain

A bad book with good intentions
The author attempted to write the Feynman's Lectures of biophysical chemistry, but he failed miserably. The book has a messy structure, unclear discussions, poorly drawn diagrams, and is infested with errors, even inequations that belong to high-school level physics courses. The first thirdof the book is basically a review of freshman physics and hardly touchesbiological systems, while the rest is a combination of dry formalexposition of thermodynamics and kinetics, and overly philosophicalabstract and qualitative discussion of biological systems. The three partsof the text fail to communicate as they should.

Although I doubt thatanyone will benefit much from this book, I am sure that many biochemistrystudents would benefit greatly from a book that Dr. Bergethon actuallyWANTED to create. Until such a book appears, for physical basis ofbiochemistry buy "Physical Chemistry: Principles and Applications inBiological Sciences" by T inoco, Sauer and Wang and supplelent it withany of the better introductroy physics texts.

One professor's opinion
I bought this book just before teaching Physical Chemistry. It started with a strong development of model use which laid a strong foundation for the remainder of the book. I found it a pleasure to read, if one canimagine that in a p-chem book. A true physical chemist would find theirtreatment an oversimplification. I thought it was a great single step upfrom undergraduate biochemistry courses towards physical chemistry. ... Read more

Product Description
KEY BENEFIT The latest edition of this successful text provides readers with a modern and complete experience in experimental biochemistry.Part I, Theory and Experimental Techniques, provides in-depth theoretical discussion organized around important techniques. A valuable reference for instructors and students, it's particularly useful to instructors who prefer to use their own customized experiments. Part II, Experiments, offers optimum flexibility through 15 tested experiments designed to accommodate the capabilities of laboratories and students at most four-year schools. Alternate methods are suggested and labs may be divided into manageable hour segments. The book offers the latest safety and environmental precautions in each experiment to inform students and instructors of potential hazards and proper disposal of materials.For anyone interested in science. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent reference material and a great way to thinkup new experiments.
I had to get this book for a class (experimental lab).For that it was practically useless since the instructor showed us everything anyway for fear of us breaking things :-)

Now, this book needs to be thumbed-through every time you are stuck, lookingfor a new or different method to analyze something in your biological experiments.Every time I do that I get a new idea which, of course, had nothing to do with my original idea.

Also, I did not get the hardcover version.I got the cheap softcover, printed in India with ink peeling off on my fingers and printed on nearly toilet paper.However, I cannot lessen the stars for the review -- I got exactly what I paid for, a very cheap version of a great reference book.

Awesome BOOK!
This book is a very good guide for all the modern biochemical technology. It includes all the technical and chemical aspects in each method.It also comes with some study problems at the end of each chapter. They are quite useful to study for your test. For my biochem research technique course, I have to write tons of lab reports on most experiment. This book gives you a complete explanation of the usage of each material and steps to perform. I don't even have to search on the internet for any additional info but mainly rely on the text book. I am sure you won't resell this book after you find out how useful it is. ... Read more